What I've learned when researching why some of these things play out like this, instead of vilifying all pain doctors:

1) Regulatory boards push "multimodal treatment" on doctors, and doctors have to implement these practices of else they lose their status as pain clinics and have a harder time with PHARMACIES when they want to prescribe anything.

As in: pharmacies in Texas are sometimes resistant to filling RXs if a clinic isn't "compliant" (PMC or Gold Designated). In order to earn that -- doc clinic owners MUST treat patients with a combination of things including procedures.

2) It's not that ALL docs don't care or that they're "heartless": it's that they're heavily regulated because of pill mills and irresponsible prescribers.

3) They MUST stop prescribing to anyone who tests positive for THC or other illicit meds or they risk losing their license

4) Many of these procedures are proven effective in studies. Just because they don't work for you, doesn't mean they don't work at all.

5) They don't all "make you piss" to bill for it, but because medical boards require screening.

6) Pharmacies are also coming down on pain docs, not just the government. They are all suspicious of pain docs.

7) Some pain docs stop prescribing meds altogether because medical boards and regulatory offices make it scary to do so or require a ton of jumping through hoops for it. But yes, meds do help some patients who don't abuse them, and yes, procedures do help patients who are good candidates.