Hi, CRPSjames:

In the United States, my American primary care physician would prescribe my strong narcotic painkillers for me, with the agreement of my American pain management doctor.

In Tahiti (French Polynesia), my French primary care physician prescribes my strong narcotic painkillers for me, without working with "the" pain management doctor. This pain management physician, who is neither knowledgeable nor caring, is not my doctor. Not only he does not agree with the American multiple doctors' diagnoses of RSD and choice of treatment, he also spends his time criticizing them. I do not get along with this hateful pain management physician.

I chose not to ask these questions (the ones from my original message) to my French primary care physician, who prescribes my narcotic painkillers now, to avoid him thinking I do not like them and want to be weaned off of them. I just wanted to know their "bad sides", if any, from other patients using them or from medical professionals using this site.

I cannot get a second opinion. In the past, about 220 doctors accepted the public health system's insurance from French Polynesia. Since a few days ago, only about 15 doctors accept this insurance. I cannot afford getting a second opinion. The public health system's insurance from French Polynesia only pays for part of the consultation fee of one doctor.