Pain Management Community

Hi guys! I am a 48 yr old female, and while I've lurked on this board for a long time, I don't think I've ever posted.

I recently moved to Kissimmee, FL from NE Pennsylvania and haven't found a new doctor yet. I'll try to make my post as short as possible but I do tend to talk....and talk....and talk.......LOL! Please forgive me in advance if this is too long!

I've had chronic pain from a kidney disease since very young, plus Fibromyalgia for almost 10 years, arthritis, etc. I'm a former nurse who has been on SS Disability for almost 9 years (although I keep my license current in case of a medical miracle

I am in pain every day of my life......some days are worse than others. What can I say.....life is a struggle....you guys know all about that already!

When in PA though, I had a wonderful family doctor and Rheumatologist. My pain management was taken care of really well by my family doc. While my meds have been changed over the years depending on my pain level, for the last almost 3 years I've been on Methadone every 6 hours, which works very well to keep my pain at a (mostly) manageable level.

Well, now I'm living in Kissimmee, FL and have probably less than a month left of my pain meds, and I'm starting to panic. Someone on another message board (not a pain board, just a regular discussion board) said that in Florida, family doctors can NOT prescribe pain meds. Is that true?? Do you have to go to an actual Pain Clinic?

If there is anyone here who either lives in Florida, especially the Orlando/Kissimmee area, or is just familar with the medical community here, and knows a good, compassionate doctor, please, please let me know! Or, a good pain clinic. While of course I'd rather find one close by, I would drive where I need to if I found a great doctor or clinic who was up to date on Fibro, chronic pain.

I found one pain clinic online that sounded very knowledgable about chronic pain, but then at one spot they stated that "chronic pain patients are RARELY treated with opiates due to the risk of addiction".......which is just not true!

As I'm sure you all know, there are thousands of chronic pain patients who are treated with opiate medications......and, there are only a small percentage of actual pain patients who become addicted to their meds. It drives me to insanity but I think most people confuse "physical dependance" with "addiction"!

I'm so scared that I'll run out of my medications and not be able to find anyone to prescribe them for me. That in itself would be an emergency, I know that you guys know that you can't just stop this type of meds suddenly.....not to mention the agony that would overtake me as they wore off.

I really don't know where to begin to look for a new doctor, I've never been in this situation before. When I was still working, as a nurse you get to see and interact with the doctors, and you can tell who is compassionate and truly cares about their patients, and who doesn't. I no longer have that kind of access so I feel lost beginning my search.

Oh, in case this makes a difference regarding doctors, I have Medicare.....I also have to find a new Medicare Advantage plan in Florida! I want to choose one where I can pick my doctors to make it easier to find one.

I can understand if anyone doesn't want to name doctors by name on the public message board......so if you have any recommendations, feel free to message me or email me, however it works on this board.

Thank you so much in advance for any help anyone can give me!

I hope you all have a good night, and are as free from pain as you can be!

(((((((((gentle hugs))))))))))

Roni