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Pain Management neglect

Stone Fighter #14E681May 16, 2026👁️ 2.2k❤️ 173

Strategy: Patient journey

I’ve passed over 20 kidney stones in the last 20 years. I always head to the ER. The usual IV pain meds etc. I always end up back in the ER 1-2 times before it completely passes. Upon discharge I’m usually given something for breakthrough pain such as Percocet which can be a god send and keep me from going back to the ER. My most recent visits they have only prescribed me 5 5/325 Percocets and my first visit they prescribed nothing upon discharge and the doctor who gave me 5 seemed extremely hesitant to do so. I have zero history of substance abuse. I feel the opiod epidemic has made doctors neglect true pain patients. Tylenol and ibuprofen do nothing to alleviate the pain. It never used to be like this. I’m on week 3 of suffering before I can get seen at the VA on the 15th. What’s everyone’s experience? It had only recent become like this the last few years. I average 1 stone a year

Comments (14)

Stone Fighter #55983EApr 30, 2026

Ive had like 8 stones in my 31 years. When I had my first one at 16 I was sent home with so many oxy pills and used those for future stones no issues. Ran out a few years and few stones later and was prescribed another like 10-15 after when I had another stone. But its been about 6 years now and had a few stones here and there and I was out. Had a kidney stone at the beginning of the month and they only sent me home with 4 pills. Ran out and they gave me an additional 3. They did not want to ...

Stone Fighter #CE87F0Apr 30, 2026

Ya my work is starting to suffer. I can’t concentrate or anything. I don’t know what to do. I almost want to go back to the ER but my last visit it was like the doctor was trying to scare me talking about having to stent me etc. I just had a CT done showing the stone. He asked me what I wanted to do, he’s the doctor. I’m not going to beg for pain meds, I don’t want to have to. It just sucks having to suffer through this when there’s an effective way to manage it but doctors are now he...

Stone Fighter #72299FApr 30, 2026

What about your primary care? They can prescribe a 3 day course here in FL and you can tell them you need percoceet 10mg every 6 hours. That's 12 pills and you can break them in half to effectively have 24 5mg pills. Just be honest about things, and don't expect more than those "3 days" worth. You have a valid source of pain verified by CT and documented by ER trips. You can also try your urologist or pain management. I have a spinal fusion so I get a steady supply of hydrocodone, but no chan...

Stone Fighter #97CA31Apr 30, 2026

I’ve had a bunch of stones and over the years they have for sure been more strict with pain meds, they used to give me oxy or Vicodin and now they only give me some weak drugs and not a lot of them. I’ve only ever used them for stones and never have a history of substance abuse. I wouldn’t want to use them for anything but stones because it’s the only thing that helps

Stone Fighter #CF1570Apr 30, 2026

The system is absolutely broken, but I also understand the reason why. Opioids have ruined so many lives, my own included that started with a parent getting addicted to opioids after a major car accident in the early 90's that spiraled into illegal drugs and ruined their life and my childhood. I have had to jump through hoops while passing a stone to get any kind of pain medication. Yes, it absolutely sucks having to do anything more than show a stuck stone on my CT scan to prove I need pai...

Stone Fighter #8B892CApr 30, 2026

Yes to this a million times. I feel so judged when going to the doctor or hospital with a kidney stone. I want to scream I am not here for freaking pain pills but I need some assistance in managing this pain and ibuprofen doesn’t cut it! My husband recently almost cut his finger off at work. The sent him home stitched up and with 800mg ibuprofen. I had to go pick up paperwork the next day and the person at the front desk was like, I can’t give you any pain killers, sorry. It was so odd. I w...

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