A VA medical appointment Question on Pain Therapy?

The VA will not drug test you. But you need to remember any "therapy" you get that the VA doesn't know about can hinder you.

Pain clinics often have you sign a "contract" indicating that you agree to random drug tests. These contracts are put in place because of concern that you may consume narcotics (or other illegal substances) from elsewhere. There is a real possibility that anything you are taking that is not prescribed by the pain clinic would have serious adverse effects.

If this is your first visit, then it is very likely that they will perform a drug test at that time. You can refuse the drug test, and in turn they can refuse to issue you narcotics or other types of medications for your pain (if it turns out that is what you need). The problem with rescheduling is that it will take that much longer to come up with a viable plan to manage your pain. Your call.

The VA has no ability to punish you for a bad drug test.

They don't refer you for prosecution, call your employer etc.

The only effect from a positive test would be a change in the drugs the doctor will prescribe you.

The VA is not DOD, my doctors all knew I smoked, I have no reason to hide it from them.

Rescheduling a VA appt takes about 90 days, so the decision is yours.

Just one word of caution, the VA, teaching hospitals and pharma are all in bed together. Vets are used as a large drug trial.

Make sure you research each and every drug before you take it. My last visit to a pain clinic was my last visit to the VA for regular treatments in 1995. I ended up with vertigo and tinnitus from a reaction to a non-narcotic pain killer. I was 32 years old and the VA had me taking 36 pills every day. Pain killers, antidepressants, and then several drugs to combat the side effects of my main drugs. Cost me my vocational rehabilitation and 18 months of misery, until I just quit all the stupidity

I would suggest asking about biofeedback clinic and a tens unit to relieve some pain. Both are non invasive and are not drugs, so they are not usually recommended unless you ask about them..

If your pain clinic doc has a prob with your marijuana use then I would suggest to him that he needs to do some research into the subject instead of accepting the Government propaganda on the subject. Specifically if there is no medical benefit to using marijuana, then why does pharma make marinol and sativex?

Good luck.

Jack

MM1(SW/SS)

70% service connected disabled veteran

service 1978-1992

I have been attending the pain management clinic for years and have never had to do a drug test , not that it would matter , I don't do drugs. Any time you have labs in the VA they tell you the reason for doing them, or at least that has been my experience , and I have been using their services for 40 years now.