How Do I Go About Finding A New PM - Pain Management Message Board

DogMom22 · 07-24-2006, 11:47 PM

I want to find a new PM. My existing one is not bad or horrible but I am not satisfied with him, I tell him my pain is not under control yet nothing changes. I know I need a LA med or an increase (although I have never asked out right for fear of being labeled druggie). The PM I am with now is my first one and I have been with him for about 5 months now. At my last appointment I got very clear indications that now that they are done doing all the possible injections and tests that they are not really interested in continuing to treat me. (When I went to check out with the Admin person, normally she makes another appointment for one month later. This time she didn't and when I asked, she said the doctor didn't put any instructions down other than to call and make an appointment as needed. I went home and called and made the appointment for next month to give myself time to get another PM. This PM works out of a Ortho clinic and works as a PM 2 days a week and I am thinking I need a multi-disciplinary PM clinic. I have no problems with contracts and pill counts or urinalysis - don't like it, but I understand why and will submit to whatever to keep my pain under control.

So, once I identify who (clinic) I want to go to, how do I go about the business of making my my first appointment (what do I say) and then how do I handle the first appointment? I have always gone by honesty is the best policy, but I also don't want to say anything bad about my previous PM. I know I can't except meds from a new doc without notifying (firing) the old, so I would consider the first visit a consultation. Any suggestions or advice would be welcome. One thing to keep in mind is that I have lots of tests and results that I can get a hold of but I have no diagnosis or anything that accounts for the pain that I have - so I can not explain what my condition is when I make the appointment or during my first appointment.

bulletinboard25 · 07-25-2006, 12:49 AM

What type of pain do you have, if you don't mind me asking?

charliecat31 · 07-25-2006, 02:25 PM

I'm interested in how to find a new PM doc as well. I LOVE mine, but am considering moving to another state in the next year or so and have no idea how to go about finding a new doc.

Thanks for any help

mergatroy · 07-25-2006, 05:18 PM

If we knew what city you were going to, we might be able to help.

[removed] I called to see if they were taking any new patients. If they were accepting new patients I told them my insurance and that was it.
They asked if I had a referral and I said I had a PPO insurance, therefore did not need a referral.

The lady was VERY nice and told me I needed a referral from my current doctor. So I got one. That was it. He brought me and my records in, I did a bunch more tests and was set up on Avinza and demerol. That was about 8 months ago.

hurtin4sure · 07-26-2006, 07:16 AM

I guess I can only speak for myself, but I am sure that most of us at one time or another have came to the conclusion of wanting or needing another pain management doctor due to a number of reasons, mostly becuase we feel our pain isn't under control. I have been to a number of PM doctors and I have yet found one doctor that can take all of the pain away. I know it is sad to say this but I believe that you are going to have to live with a certain amount of pain, but by no means should you suffer. I always have had to have a referall from my primary doctor to get into a PM Clinic. The ones I have been too the doctors are so GUN SHY, they think every LAW ENFORCEMENT Officer in the world is going to be after thier license if they treat you properly so I can understand your situation fully. My situation got so bad that after years of use of oral Meds, they wouldn't even put a dent in my pain, and my blood pressure was escalating, I was having chest pains etc and my doctor recommended a Morphine Pump, becuase the medicine that is used in these pumps are far more effective than the oral meds or at least what the PM Doctor will give you, and my pump gives me great relief for my L5/S1 problems. It is a Codman 3000 continuous pump that always is giving me a dose of Morphine in the intrecal space of my spinal cord. No fogginess like with oral meds, and way greater relief and it certainly doesn't seem to me that the doctor is scrutized by the Law over this type of treatment as if you wanted to abuse it, I don't think abuse is possible anyway so therefore no hassles from anyone. Inquire about a pump and see if you would be a canidate for a trial, if so, let them first try an external one on you then if all goes well let them implant it. It is the best thing I ever done. Doctors that give high dosage opiods, muscle relaxers, zanax etc run the risk of causing you respitory failure in they medicate you to where you don't know if you are coming or going, sure you are out of pain but who want to run the risk of something terrible happening to someone, and doctors don't want to put them selves in that position. I hope this helps you out and good luck with your pain issues, it sure isn't a picnic in the park. Jeff