DrugBuyers.Com: Really weird PM Doc Experience, age discrimination

Well folks, it Tis I JR once again with a rather odd update.

Went to my PM Doctor for a follow up after my unsuccessful Thoracic Epidural. I told him about how the pain became worse after the procedure.. He sat there looking at my records for a while and told me that I "know too much" being in the medical field at age 21. This is how the conversation started.. And it got weirder he proceeded to tell me that I was F**ked, he used that term.. The F word and all.. And he proceeded to use that term throughout the appointment. Now I'm all cool with a doctor trying to bring himself "Down to an age group" but this is ridiculous!

He then told me he would like to start me on long term opiod therapy because that I had very very real pain.. But then he sat silent for a minute and said.. "Considering you are just a young man going on 22 years old, I guess medication would be a bad idea". He then proceeded to tell me that if he prescribed for my pain that I would become an "Addict".. I stared at him in disbelief once again, and then spoke up and told him that 1. If someone is in chronic pain, which isn't helped by a more conservative method such as the epidural he gave me (which failed) and they have a valid need for such medication one doesn't become an addict..

His response was "JR look at it this way, you are at a fork in the road right now, and also look at it from this analogy - You are like a fish in a fishbowl that jumped out because his little castle is burning in the bowl. Now he's laying on the counter unable to breath" he then proceeded to say "JR you are like this fish, either way you go you will be F'd" He then proceeded to tell me about a prosthetic disc surgery.

He began by telling me that he would never have it unless he would be "Crippled if he wouldn't have the surgery, or that he had a cancerous growth on the disc".. I stared at him again and said "So doc what do I do?".. He proceeded to tell me the names of various neurosurgeons that would do this surgery.. Then I reminded him that I already had been to a neurosurgeon (and stated his name) and that he told me that "he wouldn't touch my back with a ten foot poll". The neurosurgeon I mentioned, who I had seen is one of the top experts in this field. So Mr. PM Doc told "I guess that is one fork in the road we won't travel then"...

So I asked him again "What do I do now?". He told me "JR again, I'd put you on Opiate therapy because you are obviously in alot of pain, but again you are 21 going on 22 and you will become and ADDICT. Not only that your performance at the hospital will lower, your family bond will be destroyed, and you will be in a constant state of numbness".. This statement he made really ticked me off, because the pain has caused all of the above, the horrible pain. And I told him this point blank.. And again his response was "JR, you are really (F Word) F'd.".......... I can't believe this.. Isn't this denying care to a patient? Isn't this completely wrong? Isn't this really bad Dr. Conduct? To tell me this is what you need, but you can't have it because you'll become an addict? And I talked to him at length what my definition of an addict was.. But he didn't want to hear it.

This is a point blank case of denying care due to age discrimination.. Not only that but he went on to explain that he treats people who are 30 years older than me with opiate therapy, that lead totally productive lives and told me he feels comfortable doing this because "Older people do not become addicts, that medication effects older people different, and that older people do not need the same amount of medication as a young person like yourself". This totally contradicted his above statement about a medication regiment causing me so many problems..

If it can help "Older People be more productive, and lead normal lives" WHY THE HECK CAN'T IT DO THE SAME FOR ME! I went on to explain to him this but he again said "Son, you know too much for someone your age, even considering you are in the medical field. You can study the PDR all that you want (I never told him I did) but the fact remains that if you looked up Aspirin in the PDR and read all the side effects you would never want to take it" And he further stated that "Again, due to your AGE I do not want to start you on a pain medicine regiment"..

So I asked him point blank "Are you giving up on me". And he stated "I've been in this field for 12 years, and the older people never become addicted, not one. I wish I could say the same for the people in your age bracket"......... My jaw dropped to the floor.. He told me to follow him to the billing area where he wrote me a script for 50 7.5 lortabs and I thanked him because I was in horrible pain, and still am.. He replied by saying "Don't get used to it, we are getting a traction machine (he called it a chiropractor in a box) and I think you will benefit highly from it"

So.. Is your head spinning like mine is? After his speal about not prescribing me anything because "blah blah blah, ad nauseum" he goes and writes me a script? What do you think of this guy, and his situation? What should I do? Is the OP Route the way to go like YOD? I feel that I'm in a maze and can't find my way out.... I just don't know what to do..

He's got me so scared now I'll become an "ADDICT" because I need pain medication to live a normal life......... Any input you guys have would be greatly appreciated. And I apologize for the long rambling post.
Sincerely,
-JR

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Common Sense over common thought - Me