Surgeon has referred me to pain management - Pain Management Message Board

dovvoid · 03-05-2008, 08:19 AM

I guess what was my last visit to my Neurologist on Monday after seeing him since 2005 I have been referred to Pain Management. My insurance only lists two PM doctors and one of them is not accepting patients. The other one I can not get an appointment until May or June. One interesting note about my last visit was the fact that he reassured me that I had been through allot and it made me feel better. I did not want him to feel like the work he had done was in vain, but yet I still had reservations after I had decided to have my hardware removed in 2006. And to carry it a step further I am now reading and learning that a two level fusion for the treatment for back pain may not have been the greatest choice? And after being diagnosed with stenosis above the fusion it really makes me wonder. The doc didn't seem to put much weight behind the "mild to moderate" stenosis at the level above the fusion site but he assured me that I was fused and that we should now look to symptom control. Is symptom control. So I contacted my GP and let them know that I would not be able to be seen by the PM doc for several months and asked if they would Handel my meds in the interim. Well they claim that they normally go 30 days for PM. They said they would call me back. Interesting thing concerning meds...the GP last month had prescribed me percoset 7.5 every 6-8 hours. I am finding that I get better relief with the lortab. Sorry for the long post but I am very perplexed and discouraged about my whole situation. I have classic stenosis symptoms and yet no response from ESI or the doc about it and still have pain from the fusion site!

thanks for listening to me.

Executor · 03-05-2008, 08:58 AM

It seems to me that either your GP or neurologist will have to handle you meds until you can get in to see the PM Doc. Surely, one of them could call the PM Doc and get you moved up somehow. Also, I think there is an ethical duty by the Doc that did your surgery & etc. to see you until you are comfortably transitioned to a good PM Doc.

Just speculation here, but the one PM Doc that isn't accepting new patients is probably very good and that's why he/she is booked. You may try to see if your neurologist can sneak you in....Sometimes when one specialist calls another specialist, they'll work with each other.

Good luck, and hope everything works out ok.

Ex

ozzybug · 03-05-2008, 10:46 AM

Dov-
I'm really sorry your options are so limited and that the earliest appointment is so far away. I had to wait a long time too. I was actually referred for pain management early August, and when I called to make sure the referral from my GP went through and make the appointment, the earliest one they had for new patients was mid October. I accepted the appointment but asked that they put me on their waiting list so if anyone canceled prior to my actual appointment date, I might get in sooner. They did put me on the list but never got any cancellations.

My GP did tell me they would manage my pain until the appointment with the PM, but they really didn't do much. They gave me a scrip for 800mg Motrin 3 times a day and then 5mg Vicodin 1 time a day. I almost cried, but was thankful to at least have something rather than nothing. (It's a shame we have to be thankful for scraps isn't it? I mean, we are already down, and then we get kicked while we're down?)

I agree with Executor- please do try and get one of the two doctors to manage your pain until you get in with the PM doctor. I hope they can do something for you because dealing with chronic pain in the mean time will make the wait seem so much longer.

I also agree with Executor in that you may try and see if your neuro can pull some strings for you. Sometimes these doctors know each other and can actually have a bit of pull in moving things along more quickly.

Maybe the new PM can place you on a waiting/cancellation list if they have one. Please take care and know we are here to help.

brianpain33 · 03-05-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dovvoid

Interesting thing concerning meds...the GP last month had prescribed me percoset 7.5 every 6-8 hours. I am finding that I get better relief with the lortab.

If you get better relief with the Lortab then tell your GP this and have him switch you back. I am also on Lortab and can say that it has a different "feeling" from the Percocet. I think this "feeling" has a lot to do with taking the pain away. I know that it seems to help with depression although this is definitely not the reason to take it. Whatever helps with your pain is what you need to stick with.

Brian