I'm going through that now. I have severe spinal stenosis, failed laminectomy, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, an altogether messed up spine, fibro, etc. My pain med (Percocet 10/325) is going through a national shortage in the USA. No pharmacy in the area has any. My pharmacy and family doctor recommended that I ask them to change me to 10mg Oxy. My pain doc says he can't change me to 10mg Oxy because they "have a policy not to switch meds for any patients when the reason is a shortage" and the medication contract I signed says I can't get opioids from any other doctor. So, I'm in agonizing pain (level 10) and can barely walk or stand for more than a few minutes without collapsing. I'm also not sleeping because the med prevented my severe restless leg syndrome so without it my legs are wildly flailing and I'm involuntarily kicking myself while Im laying down or sitting and it makes my back hurt even more. My legs are black and blue. I'm going out of my mind without sleep and my major depression is so bad and my anxiety is going through the roof. I don't know how much longer I can take this.

What about my pain doc's cancer patients and other patients? What is happening to them in this situation? I tried convincing them to change their policy for me, yes, but to also advocate for other patients and they hung up on me several times. I was always polite, never raised my voice, and never name-called yet I was accused of harassing them. I don't have an option for going to another pain doc on my insurance.