Do Most Pain Mgmt Patients Get Drug Tested?

[Babs1469]

I have been seeing a Pain Management Doctor for over two years now and have not once been asked to submit to a blood or urine test? I read in these posts all the time about the troubles that people have gone through due to false negatives and "losing" meds etc. What I'm wondering is, do most CP patients get tested, is it the norm? Or like me, do most never have to submit to a test? Is the system broken?

[scarlettjoe]

Wow,  I guess I know how to stop a conversation!  Did you ever walk inot a room where everyone was chatting and the second you walk in, all conversation stops?  That's what I felt like when I looked on this forum again!  I am not on my computer very much, just when I feel like sitting for a little while.
I still would like to know more abut the new drug laws.  I went back to my pm dr.  3 weeks ago, and ended up in a hotel very, very ill.  My daughter had to come get me and I spent a week in the hospital, and my pm dr. said I had to find a Dr. closer to me, so does anybody know of a good pm dr. in Arkansas?
Thanks, and may God bless us all,
scrlettjoe

[scarlettjoe]

Hi, I just found this website and was reading about new laws that pm drs. are going to follow.  I live in a very rural area and have to travel 5 hours 1 way to my pm dr., whom I have been seeing for 10 years!
I just haven't heard of any new laws, but feel if we end up with gov. run medical insurance we'll be seeing a lot worse stuff!  I'd like to hear from anyone who knows more about new laws.  My pm dr. just changed me from ms to fentanyl patch 100mcg and I am to change it every 48 hrs.  I am having trouble with them sticking on, though I was outside working in my yard alot and getting really sweaty.
I have several pain issues from neuropathy, fibromyalgia, 6 ruptured discs at all 3 levels and very poor circulation, have had 2 failed back surgeries, stents put in my femoral arteries and in my heart, gastric bypass surgery because my diabetes was so bad and unresponsive to insulin injections that my Dr. said he wouldn't give me much more than 2 years to live.
Right now I am at a very low spot.  I feel like I have just too much to cope with.  My friends have dropped away one by one.  They are great at giving advise, but have never once tried to understand my medical problems, or even ask what my problems are!
Sorry, I didn't mean to dump everything on you all at once.  I guess venting is good at least to the one who is doing the venting. Thanks for listening.
scarlettjoe

[Tuckamore]

I have never been tested but again in Wisconsin CP patients are treated by their PCP. I have no problem with weeding out the abusers or the ppl that are diverting their medications.

I do have a problem that these tests are often inaccurate and patients don't get a second chance if you fail a test. I beleive that they must assure the validity of these drug screens before they become the "law." A 20-40% accuracy rate in my opinion is not acceptable.

Patients that take the prescribed narcotics faithfully as directed by their PMP can and do fail these drug screens. Regardless of the rapport you have built with your long term PMP or years of a "good record," in most instances you are immediately booted out the door. "Fail" the drug screen and you are automatically GULITY. You are tried, convicted and sentenced with no chance of appeal.  

There has to be a better way!! And that's Tuck's "vent" for the day.

[tata616]

I was initially tested and wish testing were more frequent for everyone. No I do not own Ameritox stock I just think it would keep drug abuse to a minimum. Also more testing means more false positives. I think if you test positive you should immediately be tested again so that  false positive can be found out right away.

[sandee1818]

I am not completely certain about this new law that is suppossed to go into effect but from my understanding doctors who treat pain will have to be certified in PM and they will have to submit records and give all access to the DEA and the FDA. I will look and see if I can find the whole story on it and post it. This is in addition to the new pill law.
I know that several PM clinics are looking to have to shut there doors because of this.
As I said I am not fully aware of all the nuts and bolts so to say but I am sure that drug testing is one of the things that PM doctors must do now.
I have had several different PM doctors in the past years but I only had one who regularly tested everyone each month. the test cups cost us 75.00 each month and instantly showed the results.

[kayromero]

I agree with nurseaudrea.  I have been seeing my Pain Mgmt Dr for 4 1/2 yrs and he just started doing them in the last 2 years.  It was put into place to have tighter controls in his office with the patients to insure they are taking their medication and not selling it.  I am not offended in the least because there is nothing to hide.  My doctor has zero tolerance for "failures."  They are released immediately, as he does not want his license to be in jeopardy.

Kathleen

[nurseaudrea]

I have been seeing my PM doctor for almost three years now and never have been tested. I say that now, but that does not mean it will not happen. I was told at my last visit that my PM doc received a letter telling him he had to start testing patients and had to do a certain number per month. He just started doing urine drug screens on his patients in the last two weeks. I have a very good raport with this office and their staff. The medical asst. came into my room while I was waiting for the doctor and we had a little conversation about this. She was the one who told me about this. I asked her how do they know which patients they will choose to do the tests on, she said basicly they test everyone who is on narcotics. Then she told me some of them got very upset about it and some did not. She said last week on one particular day they did 6 tests and three of them came back negative, they had no narcotics in their system. She then went on to say they could not believe it because two of them had been long term patients they have been seeing for longer than two years. The doctor then calls them in to explain why their are no drugs in their system and then he releases them from his care. He has no tolerance for this. She said if there is a good explanation they might give them another chance if they feel like they really know the person and can trust them if they have a good raport.
I was kind of puzzled when I left because they never asked me to do a drug test. I guess it is random, maybe next month when I go in they will do one. I know the patient before me had to do one, but why they did not do one on me, I don't know. They said everyone who is on narcotics does one. When I was leaving I asked why they did not do one on me, she said the doctor did not tell her to and she does not want to do them if she does not have to.
I think they will start having them more because of what is going on in the media. It's getting crazy and they need to stop the ones who come in just to sale it on the streets.

[RunningMom]

I've been in pain management for 10 months and I have never been tested.

[tresa47]

I see a pain management dr..have been with the same dr. for almost a year. I haven't been asked to submit to any kind of testing. My dr is certified in pain management.

[ChronicPain1]

I was tested upon starting, and tested every time I changed medications. I was randomly tested at a different place as well.

[Tuckamore]

I don't see a PMP. In my state PM doctors do not prescribe medications nor "follow" chronic pain patients . We are followed and treated by our PCP.

Sorry I could not participate in your poll.

Tuck