duttin
03-11-2006, 09:14 PM
Why do they send you to a psychologist before seeing a pain Dr?I have a 4 hour appointment at the cleveland clinic prior to seeing a pain specialist.I'm being sent there because I have failed back surgery syndrome x2 , polyneuropathy and multiple sclerosis.Plus many allergies to meds they have tried to use.Any in sight would be helpful.
Toni
Toni
Sponsor
ARANGER
03-11-2006, 09:26 PM
Hey Nuffs,
I also have Failed Back Sugery Syndrome and see a PM. My PM does not require a Physc exam first though. At least for me he didn't.
PM Dr's are under the light of the DEA. More than any other type of Dr's, they risk having their license suspended and criminal charges if they are suspected of over-prescribing or someone Dr Shopping etc. It is very important for a PM to have a thick file on a person they are treating. This way if they get audited by the DEA, they can prove that the patient has legitimate pain, and that the patient adheres to a strict policy (pill counts, no early refill, etc.) A Physc test is just another tool and addition that the Dr can have assurance that you're not an addict, that your not using the meds imporperly, that you have physical pain, etc.
Going to a PM is much different than going to other Dr's. We must follow every direction to the T and they must assure themselves and others that they demand that compliance.
I've taken many Physc tests before and they can be a little weird, so I understand your frustration. But you'll probably find many people on this board that have had to take the test.
Good luck with the test. Hope everything works out well for you. Take Care
I also have Failed Back Sugery Syndrome and see a PM. My PM does not require a Physc exam first though. At least for me he didn't.
PM Dr's are under the light of the DEA. More than any other type of Dr's, they risk having their license suspended and criminal charges if they are suspected of over-prescribing or someone Dr Shopping etc. It is very important for a PM to have a thick file on a person they are treating. This way if they get audited by the DEA, they can prove that the patient has legitimate pain, and that the patient adheres to a strict policy (pill counts, no early refill, etc.) A Physc test is just another tool and addition that the Dr can have assurance that you're not an addict, that your not using the meds imporperly, that you have physical pain, etc.
Going to a PM is much different than going to other Dr's. We must follow every direction to the T and they must assure themselves and others that they demand that compliance.
I've taken many Physc tests before and they can be a little weird, so I understand your frustration. But you'll probably find many people on this board that have had to take the test.
Good luck with the test. Hope everything works out well for you. Take Care
duttin
03-11-2006, 09:52 PM
Aranger,
Do they make you stop taking your current meds?I really need the 3 I take nexium zanaflex and baclofen(last 2 are for spasticity associated with MS)If I don't take these I suffer greatly.Percs didn't do crap and the vicidon(10/500)they had me taking 2 4x a day.Quit taking them ,they were not helping.
I went to a PM Dr. about 14 months ago and they done a series of epidural injections,I said no more,they didn't do squat.He wanted to insert a pain pump and I told him no.This was before the polyneuropathy and MS diagnosis.He told me not to come back.
Are all PM docs this way or just this one?
thanks for the info
Toni
Do they make you stop taking your current meds?I really need the 3 I take nexium zanaflex and baclofen(last 2 are for spasticity associated with MS)If I don't take these I suffer greatly.Percs didn't do crap and the vicidon(10/500)they had me taking 2 4x a day.Quit taking them ,they were not helping.
I went to a PM Dr. about 14 months ago and they done a series of epidural injections,I said no more,they didn't do squat.He wanted to insert a pain pump and I told him no.This was before the polyneuropathy and MS diagnosis.He told me not to come back.
Are all PM docs this way or just this one?
thanks for the info
Toni