Shoreline~please read!! - Pain Management Message Board

sadies mom · 08-17-2005, 01:03 AM

Shoreline~ I wanted to let you know of a problem I am dealing with and could use your opinion and experience. My back doc, who has taken care of me for 4 1/2 years~done moreinjections on me than I can count~that started me on narcotic painmeds now had decided (and told me via his med tech) that he won't be
ableto write scipts for my meds anymore!! That I should find another
pain
mgmt doc that knows more about dosing, long acting vs short acting
meds, etc. Now, I have had back surg~but still have 2 hernisted
discs
along with DDD, facet syndrome, spondylotheseis, and peripheral
neuropathy which led me to fall amd break my ankle to bits~3
surgeriesin that with pins and plates. Think I might just be in a little
pain?!?!?
So today I went to see a new pain mgmt doc. AFTER~ they took my
$30.00 copay she took me back and started off by saying they don't
take over meds on "narcotic patients" from another doctor and all
she could offer me is more injections, and a spinal stimulator trial.
She said she would dictate a letter back to my old doc saying that she
recommneds he increase my LA meds and Decrease the short acting
meds,
and that it was wrong of him to send me looking for another doc
after he started me on all this~at least she was right on that point. I am so upset I feel like screaming and can't do anything about
this.
I do have an appt with doc #1 tomm; and I swear if he doesn't agree
to start treating me in a humane way again ~I will report him to the
AMA!!!
I don't know what else to do??? I don't abuse my meds; in fact I
count them out and never go over what I should for the day. I've been told my condition is inoperable because my spine is too unstable~I am
crying now as I write this because I feel so helpless and angry.
If anyone has any suggestions or help they could offer i would be
most grateful. Thanks for listening; Sadies mom

Shore~is there a way to PM each other???

Shoreline · 08-17-2005, 05:16 AM

Hi sades mom, Something sounds funny Like you may not be getting the whole scoop.One of the ways a doc may be sanctioned is to revoke their DEA number, IF he is being investigated or has been investigated his DEA number may have been revoked from anywhere fom 3 months to permanantly. Or he may not be able to prescribe class 11 meds but can prescribe others. This wouldn't prevent him from practicing and doing TP injections and such, but He wouldn't be able to prescribe your courrent meds.

Have you done a search on the net to check out your doc to see if he has anything pending or a sancton or censure against him. I 'm assuming this is a PM doc and not a surgeon? Either way your stuck in a wrotten place and he needs to help you find a new doc quickly. I've seen where GP's have picked up the slack in the interim if you run out of meds. To cut you off cold with no notice or cause with the problems you have makes no sense and sounds lke patient abondonment.

After 4+ years and absolute compliance, he owes you an explanation. Your pharamcist would also likely know if his licence has been suspended. You can post his name and city and I can help search but unfortunately there is no way to send PM at this forum.

AS far as picking up other patients already on opiates, that realy doesn't make sense unles the doc was in trouble. Normally if your simply changing docs due to any other reasons, like he dropped your insurance, a new doc will and can pick up the prescribing. They may not be comfortable with your dosing or meds but as long as he has confirmation from your first PM he will not be prescibing any eds, the new doc canprescribe safely what she feels comfy with. Meaning she mightmake some changes if he/she doesn't agree with the present meds but if your willing to accept her plan, a letter from doc 1 shows your not doc shopping.

Given all the procdures it sounds more like he is a anesthesologist. If he has simply been warned about his prescrbing he may not want to take the chance of censure so that he can still practice anesthesiology during surgery. There are a number of scenarios, but I think after 4 years of absolute compliance he owes you the truth about the situation so you know what your facing. Patients from a doc that's been in trouble do seem to have a harder time being picked up by others but it's not impossible.

If he's in trouble, you can find out. You can offer him a chance to tell his side before you simply take out your own advertisement informing everyone in the comunity about what you may find, o call alocal TV station about the entire scenario. Which could hinder his ability to practice anethesiology in the surgical arena if he won't at least be honest about the situation.

Lets do a little digging and see what we can find and keep your apt and see what he has to say. When I went from my surgeons care to the PM clinic that started me on LA meds, there was a lapse where an exchange of information was going on, letters telling the clinic he would no longer prescribe and they would be taking over all aspects of my treatment, etc. Not that the surgeon was doing anything more than keeping me bed ridden with 30 5mg vicodin a week "more like 10 days" if I cought him on a good day.

I can only speculate right now but I do hope you got some pump information from medtronics and can start working from that list. IF your carrying some stigma from his misconduct or perceived misconduct you really need to know.

You mentioned the CC and if you live in Ohio I have a 4 year old list of PM docs in that area you would be more than welcome too. I have some in Kentucky and VA and a great one in Indiana and Tennasee. I can even ask my doc about potntial relocation to your area and likely find a few names.

I'm so sorry, this is every CP patients biggest fear. I don't mind calling medtronics and telling them I'm relocating to your area and see if I can get more info than you may have gotten, I'm a card carrying medtronics implantee. LOL

How is your med supply looking and wether he does one last fill will give you some more info. Take a deep breath and go to this apt with the absollute intentions of finding out why and what is going on if we can't find something first.

Take care and I'll check back frequently
Dave

sadies mom · 08-17-2005, 06:51 AM

Dave~ I don't have alot of time because I am on my way to see this doc now~9:30appt. But I live in NJ not Ohio. I counted out my LA's abd I am right on target with them. On my BT's I was given 120 tabs on 8/1 and have 72 now on 8/17. That works out to 3/day; which i don't feel is excessive at all.I am taking them with me to show him. How would I go about finding if he has been in or is now in trouble? He is a rehab and phys. med doc tied to a large ortho practice. Anything you could do to help will be great. I will check in when I get back later this afternoon. Thanks so much!!

Sadies mom (Jan)

Shoreline · 08-17-2005, 10:16 AM

Dear Jan, I'm so sorry about your recent loss. What a time for this mess to happen.
Let me know how things go at the docs.
Unfortunately we can't PM or exchange emails due to the terms of service.
Perhaps some day a Caring Bridge will make the net a little more personal.

Take care, Dave

sadies mom · 08-17-2005, 01:19 PM

Hi~ I saw my reg back doc this morning and feel somewhat better after soeaking with him directly. It seems the whole mess(for me anyway) was caused by his med tech not relaying the info properly which caused me to think he was cutting me off/abandoning me. I waited an hour for my 15 min. of time with the doc. But, from what he told me it's not me~it's the CDC/DEA being careful and profiling some patients from the practice. He said he recieved a letter stating some patients who seemed to be getting higher and higher doses of meds needed to be monitored and if he (my doc) couldn't manage them; that they should be sent to a pain management clinic rather than stay in a "regular" practice. I asked him directly if I was one of them and he said no. He said he called them and asked what was going on and they apparantly agreed that his practice was one of the legit ones and that they just want to be sure the patients that need higher doese are being cared for in the appropriate place. He then defended his med tech for the way he messed things up and for what I had to go thru. He even defended the tech saying he's been going thru a rough time with family health problems~I all but said~should he be working if he messes up things that important!?!
~So the end result is that he is not trying to discharge me and will not leave me without a Dr. He suggested trying Duragesic patches and continue the oxycontin BID; and to only use the Percocet if I'm at the end of my rope. He said the fact that I went to NY and Philly looking for other measures for relief~that it backs up everythng and will keep my chart on the up and up.
~So after all this it was him who was getting questioned~not me!!! I did bring the meds to show and account to him that they are being taken roperly. He want's to see me again in a month and fro me to call/email him if I have problems with the patches before then.
~The whole thing still sounds a bit cryptic to me but at least I know I am not being left in the lurch without any help. Thanks so much Dave; as always, for your info and support. Any other suggestions you have are always appreciated. Do you think this story from the Dr. makes sense? I still am feeling a bit unsettled about it all. Thanks again; Jan