PM Dr. and medications...felt threatened - Pain Management Message Board

Sage48 · 03-05-2008, 11:27 AM

Wow, I had a visit with my "newish" PM Dr. (have seen him for proceedure - SI injection..previously) This is my first visit with Pm Dr. regarding medications. I have been on oxycodone 10/325 4 tablets a day..(somedays I only take 3)...Ok...he starts off telling me that he will not prescribe anything stronger...and that he wants me on 3 tablets a day (to which I replied, I don't know about that...I take 3 some days...but the pain requires 4 on more days.)..He says that he will not fill more that 100 tablets for 30 days..and if I run out...so be it. He says if the medicaton stops working..well, we will do a drug holiday (I asked what that was...and he said we would stop meds. for 2 or 3 weeks....I told him...that may not be possible, not because I can't stop the meds. but because of the return and amount of pain..it may not be very livable..) Well, he is very unmoving on all of this...basically take it or leave it. So for now, I grabbed my script and ran...yikes... I felt very threatened by this interview. I have been in pain mgmt. for over 4 years...and never had an experience like this...this scared me. The thought of just having my medication stopped...for a "vacation"...well I don't think would be good...I'd probably be crying and rolling on the gound by day 2 or 3.... Would not a change in meds. be more appropriate???? The other seems rather barbearic.. I have been on the same dose of meds. for almost 2 years...and I told him this..and I really haven't asked for any extra meds...EVER.. He has my records...so why am I being treated this way. I am not 20 years old...closer to 60...and I found this entire episode very insulting.....besides scary.
Anyone else been treated this way?? If my neurosurgeon doesn't find a solution for the pain in the near future..well, we will have to have a discussion as to a new PM Dr. I don't care how well trained & recogonized this one is...this is not a nice way to treat a patient.

Leslie

ozzybug · 03-05-2008, 12:07 PM

Sage-
Hey there. Wow, I know this had to be shocking for you- especially since you've been taking these meds for a couple years now. To go in and be treated by the doctor like you are some kind of criminal? Ouch!

Were you seeing a different PM prior to this one, or being treated by your neuro? If you had been seeing a different PM, why the change? If not, and your neuro has been treating you and referred you to this PM, I'd recommend getting a referral to another, more compassionate PM doctor who won't treat you like a criminal.

I understand the need for rules & guidelines by doctors, but instead of treating everyone as a "one size fits all" kind of thing, they really should take some time to read your file & background/history and the treatments that have been and are currently successful.

I would have been put off by his actions too!

ms_west · 03-05-2008, 12:20 PM

Sage - This is terrible. I am amazed at how pm doctors treat their patients. The more I read the more frightened I get of our futures as chronic pain patients. I agree take your medicine and run.

In the mean time I would try to take your pian meds as directed and if you find that you are needing more days of 4 pills I would call and let him know. Hopefully he is just being hard nosed up front to set up a firm set of rules/boundaries. I know my current doctor was hard nosed in the beginning but each time I ask to increase my meds temporarily because of a flare, he agrees and tells me to take the least amount possible.

I would also explore other pm options. In my case because I am on an HMO, I don't have the flexibility to see others so I am stuck with what I have.

Sage48 · 03-05-2008, 12:34 PM

Thanks Ozzy & Diet...

Well, I was in PM management with one PM Dr. for over 4 years...he reached the end of this limits - knowledge (whatever) He was tired of seeing me...and discouraged that I wasn't getting better (how does he think I feel..??) Well, after about 1 1/2 years of hearing him say...why not see what someone else can do...I went to this new PM Dr...at the request of my neurosurgeon...This PM Dr. is the SI joint injecton - and supposedly confirmed the SI joint problem. I was on the same med. for almost 2 years....I do not abuse my meds.....I do not take more than 4 tablets a day....NO MATTER WHAT kind of pain I am having. Some days are pretty bad too...but I would not take a 5th tablet. Now with this new PM...wow....taking the 4 tablets may be a problem for him...ouch.

Diet...I was so diappointed in this Dr. I do not deserve to be treated this way...but until I get it figured out...with the neurosurgeon....I will stay with this guy..for a couple of months anyway. I do not like his attitude. I am not a criminal... I do not get any enjoyment from taking pain medications (wish I did)...it just helps me function and have a life, up to a point. I over did it yesterday...and am paying the price today....I was up half the night & my meds are not all that helpful today...guess I have to stay out of the gardens..I do love to work in them...but they are really not liking me.. BUT, I would not dream of taking an extra tablet...this increase in pain is my own fault...so I will be suffering for a few days...then hopefully back to the normal pain. But to be told he could take me off of my medications for a "holiday"...ha...don't think so...I'd be in the hospital very quickly...my daughter saw what I was like when I tried to wean down last fall...it wasn't the not taking meds., it was the pain caused by my not taking the meds. that had me nuts. She said I can't do that again. She is a paramedic and knows what pain looks like..she also teaches the courses at the college, so she is pretty smart..if I do say so myself!! Best part is she loves her Mama!!!
Off tract there....I was just so shocked...I did not appreciate the scare part...it is causing me anxiety...and we know that is not good.
Thanks for replying.
Hope you both have a good day...

Leslie

ihavtwins · 03-05-2008, 01:13 PM

sorry post went in the wrong place- don't know why