Ok well this is whats goin on.... My last visit to my Pain Management Doc back on Sept 28... he told me to up my Oxycontin to 20mg 3 times a day...I was originally on 10 mg 3 times a day.... but he did not fill my script to cover the increase..... and did not give me another appointment until December 10....So I called yesterday and explained he did not give me my next appt till Dec... and that I only had 4 pills left...First thing he said was, well lets up your Oxy to 3 pills 3times a day.....and then again I tell him... I DONT HAVE ENOUGH MEDS!!! He says well I can write a script and leave it at the front desk for you to pick up.... then he goes on to ask me, "Have you seen John?" (John is the in house psychologist) I told him I did several months back but I could not afford the copay ....he wanted me to visit him 2 times a week and I can't afford $160 a month for this guy to basically tell me that my pain is basically in my head so to speak and if we get rid of the depression and stress the pain will go away... BOLOGNA!! but anyway.....my PM told me on the phone yesterday that he wanted me to see John this week, and would waive the copay for the first two visits.... and I told him ok, I could try to see him on Thursday... because I cant get there any other day because I dont have transportation... he says well if your can get in here tomorrow or Wed that would be better.... make one trip and I leave your script for your Oxy at the front desk.... so I talked to my partner and ask about Thursday and she said yes, thats fine.... so I call back an tell them I can come see John on Thursday... They IMMEDIATELY tell me that my PM DOC had left strict orders that NO! EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW! that if I could not comply with that, then he would not write me my script for my pain meds, and I could find another PM DOC! What the H#LL I am so sick of these docs telling me how I am going to do things, what they want me to do to help my pain... My opinion or what I want does not matter....I can just imagine how this appointment with this psychologist (Shrink!!) is going to go...I just hate to start all over with a new doc... having them learn my condition.... possibly want new MRI's ...etc etc...... What do ya'll think about this?? How this doc is treating me? How would you deal with it??

It's the game we all have to play unfortunetly.........Dave :)

Sorry that you're feeling so frustrated; if you can find a space to reflect you will note that the doctor is apparently acting responsibly, as I presume he wants to ensure that you're handing the pain mentally (as best you can possible) before allowing the ongoing increase of medication. It's no small feat to double your Oxy like that, maybe he thought he wasn't thorough enough when he last advised you to double up and now he's covering his tracks.

I had a meeting with my Pain doc last week and I enthatically requested an appointment with a Psycologist Pain Guru; I would like to think that I can be taught how to better handle my pain in certain circumstances, I will go to the meeting with an open mind wanting to find extra tools to use against my pain, I hope I can I don't want escalating opiates to be my only option, of course not!

Anyhow I wish you a good day and I hope you feel more settled on this matter before too long.

The second time you called the office, was it the receptionist (or nurse) who told you that the doctor left the "strict orders"? I ask because the receptionist at my doctor's office is a you-know-what, and I am sure that she does and says things just because she has the power and can get away with it. For example, she said I could not come in on the 27th day, even though she did not have any appts available on the 28th day. I don't think the doctor would like her treating the patients like that and making up rules. Before you jump to conclusions speak with the doctor directly. Maybe the front-desk person misinterpreted. As for having the "psych" requirement, I have to agree with the previous posters. At this stage in the dea-wod-game, we're lucky to even have access to the "heavy-hitters." Be thankful your doctor is increasing your dose even if there are some strings attached. He's just covering the bases. And he's waiving the co-pay, so it's not about the money. Try to meet the doctor half-way. If you can't go twice a week, offer to go twice per month.

-Wren