I'm looking for certain input on anybody's PM doc experience..... - Pain Management Message Board

igy76 · 01-25-2003, 04:19 PM

I know the general PM doc experience. I went to one awhile ago for a couple different problems, but we had a falling out. I've now seen a new guy once, but he told me that when I said my symptoms, my pain was most likely related to a current kidney stone I have (but the stone's in the kidney so many normal doctors and urologists doubt why I'm having pain), and in which case he couldn't ethically treat me. It'd be malpractice. That I had to go through a urologist. I am seeing a new urologist now, but he doesn't seem to be listening to me as far as what meds just aren't effective anymore. I've been on the stuff way to long for Vicodin 5mg to do anything. I know I'll have to talk to each doc about this (Urologist and PM), but I wanted to get any input from you guys too, because I want to see if I should go to the PM doc anyway (even though the urologist will be "treating" the stone) just for meds, because he'll have a better understanding that I need to be on very strong stuff. Plus there's the fact that I'm getting the stone broken up next week, which'll make my pain skyrocket. I know the two docs did have a talk about me, there was some kind of approval that was needed to be gotten. I mean, it'll suck to have to do two appointments all the time, but I don't have time to keep quibbling with this urologist to stop giving me regular Vicodin (because honestly, the amount I need to take for pain relief, I'm hurting myself more by the insane amount of tylenol I'm taking in). And I CAN NOT keep running to the ER twice a week. I hope I've worded what I'm looking for clearly enough. I guess I want to see if anyone else has had success with this route. I just have in my head still the PM guy saying "the problem being in the kidney I can't treat you", but now that that they had their official meeting about me, maybe he can, I don't know. Sorry this has been so long. I'm going out of my mind.

1goodgirl · 01-25-2003, 05:11 PM

I am not sure if I understand you, except I have the impression that you want to get pain meds both from your urologist and from your PM. If you need pain meds they should come ONLY from the doctor who is treating you for the condition causing the pain and only for the length of time that you have this pain.
Also I am not sure what kind of doctor the PM is, would you please let us know?

igy76 · 01-25-2003, 06:22 PM

The PM is my Pain Management doc, and no, I'm not trying to double up on medication. It's just that my urologist obviously is having reservations about having me on a certain level of medication, so I'd like to be able to have the PM handle that (and I thought maybe it was a possibility because they've conferred on my condition)

maildawn · 01-25-2003, 08:05 PM

Hi igy. Most likely, the urologist is referring you to the PM because he can't control your pain. That is what many doctors do when they 1) get uncomfortable trying to manage your pain, or 2) just don't know what else to do for you... Do you have the kidney stones often? I thought they were sort of a "blue moon" kinda thing. Have you been suffering with these long? I KNOW that pain is horrific - I've had them myself. I hope you'll be okay. The PM should be able to manage your pain better for you through this while the urologist manages his part. I'm sure that is all that is going on. Vicoden is probably all your urologist is comfortable prescribing and needs the PM to give you something stronger. Believe it or not, when I had mine all they would give me was DARVOCET!!!! Take care and I hope this is behind you soon. Hey, atleast you won't be with the PM forever like me!!!

1goodgirl · 01-26-2003, 10:34 AM

Sorry, when you said "general PM doc" I thought you were refering to a General Practioner.