Aa
My Doctor Relocated and Need to Find New Doc in metro Detroit Area
Hi,
I'm new here and freaking out. My doctor recently told me he's moving; and only giving me 2 weeks notice! He told me during an appt (which turned out to be my last). He also wrote my prescriptions for MS Contin & Vicodin at that time, 3 weeks ago. My meds run out 1 week from now, so I need to find someone fast. I've been looking on the web, but with no luck. So I turn to your group for any help it can give.
I've been on pain meds for 7+ years for chronic pain, and now have to find a new doc which scares me as I don't (a) have much time and (b) want anyone to think I am doctor shopping. This is my reason to ask for a recommendation of a GP or pain mgmt doc (MD or DO) that is compassionate and not simply looking at a patient suspiciously because he/she has a chronic pain condition that has been treated for the past X years (7+ years in my case) with painkillers. My medical history is:
I herniated 2 disks in my cervical spine, C5-C7 in 1997, due to sports injury. I also had 2 surgeries : I had an anterior diskectomy with bone graft from my hip (illiac crest) to fuse my vertebrae at C5-C6 and C6-C7. Only 1 level fused. I had a 2nd surgery - a posterior laminectomy & foraminotomy with hardware/screws attached to my vertebrae, which is still there. After about 1 year, my 2nd surgery was a success, my other level had also fused. I was very pleased and thought I was on the road to complete recovery.....which was true, until about 5 years later, in the summer 2003, when my worse fear came true:
I was at a stoplight minding my own business when a gentleman, who was looking at his cell phone and not the road or red light, hit my car and rear-ended me at an estimated 45 MPH, w/out warning to brace myself (such as screeching brakes). I had severe whiplash. Fortunately, my airbag did not deploy (it is my understanding that airbags don't go off if you are rear-ended because your first head and body motion from the impact is to move backward, then forward).
After a few seconds, I processed what had happened, and immediately noticed pain in my neck. I also recall a distinct "pop" or other similar sensation in my neck. At that time, my adrenalin was running so fast, my heart racing, that I did not know what was going on. But I did know I had the neck pain. Due to my cervical spine medical history, I went to the hospital, where I had x-rays and an MRI. Fortunately, my fusion and plates/screws stayed intact, so that was a relief (although I am told from time to time that I have a few screws loose)! However, it was determined that I had worsened bulging disk at C3-C4 (based on prior MRIs), and that I had continuing narrowing of nerve canals immediately above and below my surgical site.
As I was getting ready to leave the hospital, I was given a script for a few pain pills, and told to follow up with my doctor. This was August 2003 and prior to the accident, and after my first 2 surgeries, I was not taking ANY medication. I was feeling pretty good prior to the accident; would only have an ocassional headache, muscle spasms in the neck, sporadic arm nerve pain, but nothing I could not deal with on my own. However, since August 2003, that has not been the case.
Since then, I have had a deteriorating and debilitating medical/health situation. Within 2-3 days of the accident, I began to have a severe headache on the right side of my head, near the temple. I have had that headache almost everyday since then....chronically. It becomes so severe at times that it makes me vomit, not be able to see straight, hear any noise and/or have any light in a room (migraine-like). This happens 2-3 times per month and usually lasts 1-2 days. And, when it does leave, it really doesn't; I still have a really bad, painful headache that is manageable with my medication (MS Contin and Vicodin - although I don't think Vicodin works well for my breakthrough pain). In addition to my right-side headache, I also get periodic headaches on the left-side and/or at lower back of my head. Although these headaches can become intense, they are not nearly as debilitating as my right side headaches.
Due to the herniated disks, I am also left with permanent nerve damage, that causes intense burning pain down my arms and pain in my shoulders. Additionally, the pressure on my cervical spine feels like my spine will just snap one day! Among other medications, I have tried Lyrica and Neurontin for the nerve pain - to no avail. Actually, there have also been several others, but I cannot think of them off the top of my head. Anyway, during the past 7+ years, I have had multiple forms of physical therapy, spinal epidural injections, nerve blocks, prednisone, other meds for pain (Topamax - hated it) and muscular relaxation (Skelaxin, flexiril, etc). I only throw that in, so you can understand that I haven't simply been on pain meds. for 7+ years, although I have due to the chronic (and debilitating) nature of my pain. There have been other treatments I have left out, I am sure of that, but don't want to remember 7+ years of trying to make my pain go away. And, to make matters worse, I recently found out in June I have a herniated (not bulging) disk in my lumbar spine. This causes constant pain in my left leg (siatica nerve pain) all the way down to my foot - I literally can't stand stationary for more than 1 minute without feeling like I want to jump out of my skin. I am not sure what I am going to do with that long-term. For now, I am trying PT and hope that will help ease the pain. But, really, even with all the neck, nerve, arm, lower back/leg/foot pain, I can almost deal with all of that, if I did not have the constant daily right side headache!
Well, that is my not-so-brief story. Up until now, I have been able to see a wonderful doctor, one who was (is) caring and listens attentively to his patients. I felt lucky to have him and was (I thought) especially happy because he was about 40 years old, from metro Detroit (where I live), and I thought we would have a long-term patient-doctor relationship. That feeling of luck ran out for me 3 weeks ago (as he moved a week ago - a week prior to this past weekend) Now, I am in a frightening situation and need to find a new doctor who can work with me and my situation.
I hope to (quickly) find a metro Detroit physician that is compassionate and will listen and understand my situation and condition. My medication makes it possible for me to make it through the day. It does not have any effect on my mentally; rather, I am just able to function like a normal human being does without the medication, albeit, in pain, but, for the most part, it becomes manageable pain, unless I have a migraine/migraine-type headache. It has allowed me to work most days and participate in society; I'd be lost without it!
If anyone can offer any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. I looked around on this board, but could not find anything that was a good match (doesn't mean it isn't out there; I just didn't come across it).
Thank you in advance for any help!!
Petrified and in Pain
P.S. My doctor moved almost 4 hours away from my home. I tried to tell him during that (last) visit that I was more than willing to make the trip to see him, as I know other people do travel some distances to see their physicians. He heavily discouraged that idea. However, if time (and my medication) almost runs out on me, I am thinking of trying to call him and request he see me as a "new patient" at his new practice to have the prescriptions renewed. I personally do not have any issue about getting my prescriptions from a new doctor. I am only afraid of either being told "no", treated like an addict and/or having someone "fill" my scripts partially and tell me to look for yet another doctor - which I think might technically be called "doctor shopping." Any thoughts on this sub-topic?
I'm new here and freaking out. My doctor recently told me he's moving; and only giving me 2 weeks notice! He told me during an appt (which turned out to be my last). He also wrote my prescriptions for MS Contin & Vicodin at that time, 3 weeks ago. My meds run out 1 week from now, so I need to find someone fast. I've been looking on the web, but with no luck. So I turn to your group for any help it can give.
I've been on pain meds for 7+ years for chronic pain, and now have to find a new doc which scares me as I don't (a) have much time and (b) want anyone to think I am doctor shopping. This is my reason to ask for a recommendation of a GP or pain mgmt doc (MD or DO) that is compassionate and not simply looking at a patient suspiciously because he/she has a chronic pain condition that has been treated for the past X years (7+ years in my case) with painkillers. My medical history is:
I herniated 2 disks in my cervical spine, C5-C7 in 1997, due to sports injury. I also had 2 surgeries : I had an anterior diskectomy with bone graft from my hip (illiac crest) to fuse my vertebrae at C5-C6 and C6-C7. Only 1 level fused. I had a 2nd surgery - a posterior laminectomy & foraminotomy with hardware/screws attached to my vertebrae, which is still there. After about 1 year, my 2nd surgery was a success, my other level had also fused. I was very pleased and thought I was on the road to complete recovery.....which was true, until about 5 years later, in the summer 2003, when my worse fear came true:
I was at a stoplight minding my own business when a gentleman, who was looking at his cell phone and not the road or red light, hit my car and rear-ended me at an estimated 45 MPH, w/out warning to brace myself (such as screeching brakes). I had severe whiplash. Fortunately, my airbag did not deploy (it is my understanding that airbags don't go off if you are rear-ended because your first head and body motion from the impact is to move backward, then forward).
After a few seconds, I processed what had happened, and immediately noticed pain in my neck. I also recall a distinct "pop" or other similar sensation in my neck. At that time, my adrenalin was running so fast, my heart racing, that I did not know what was going on. But I did know I had the neck pain. Due to my cervical spine medical history, I went to the hospital, where I had x-rays and an MRI. Fortunately, my fusion and plates/screws stayed intact, so that was a relief (although I am told from time to time that I have a few screws loose)! However, it was determined that I had worsened bulging disk at C3-C4 (based on prior MRIs), and that I had continuing narrowing of nerve canals immediately above and below my surgical site.
As I was getting ready to leave the hospital, I was given a script for a few pain pills, and told to follow up with my doctor. This was August 2003 and prior to the accident, and after my first 2 surgeries, I was not taking ANY medication. I was feeling pretty good prior to the accident; would only have an ocassional headache, muscle spasms in the neck, sporadic arm nerve pain, but nothing I could not deal with on my own. However, since August 2003, that has not been the case.
Since then, I have had a deteriorating and debilitating medical/health situation. Within 2-3 days of the accident, I began to have a severe headache on the right side of my head, near the temple. I have had that headache almost everyday since then....chronically. It becomes so severe at times that it makes me vomit, not be able to see straight, hear any noise and/or have any light in a room (migraine-like). This happens 2-3 times per month and usually lasts 1-2 days. And, when it does leave, it really doesn't; I still have a really bad, painful headache that is manageable with my medication (MS Contin and Vicodin - although I don't think Vicodin works well for my breakthrough pain). In addition to my right-side headache, I also get periodic headaches on the left-side and/or at lower back of my head. Although these headaches can become intense, they are not nearly as debilitating as my right side headaches.
Due to the herniated disks, I am also left with permanent nerve damage, that causes intense burning pain down my arms and pain in my shoulders. Additionally, the pressure on my cervical spine feels like my spine will just snap one day! Among other medications, I have tried Lyrica and Neurontin for the nerve pain - to no avail. Actually, there have also been several others, but I cannot think of them off the top of my head. Anyway, during the past 7+ years, I have had multiple forms of physical therapy, spinal epidural injections, nerve blocks, prednisone, other meds for pain (Topamax - hated it) and muscular relaxation (Skelaxin, flexiril, etc). I only throw that in, so you can understand that I haven't simply been on pain meds. for 7+ years, although I have due to the chronic (and debilitating) nature of my pain. There have been other treatments I have left out, I am sure of that, but don't want to remember 7+ years of trying to make my pain go away. And, to make matters worse, I recently found out in June I have a herniated (not bulging) disk in my lumbar spine. This causes constant pain in my left leg (siatica nerve pain) all the way down to my foot - I literally can't stand stationary for more than 1 minute without feeling like I want to jump out of my skin. I am not sure what I am going to do with that long-term. For now, I am trying PT and hope that will help ease the pain. But, really, even with all the neck, nerve, arm, lower back/leg/foot pain, I can almost deal with all of that, if I did not have the constant daily right side headache!
Well, that is my not-so-brief story. Up until now, I have been able to see a wonderful doctor, one who was (is) caring and listens attentively to his patients. I felt lucky to have him and was (I thought) especially happy because he was about 40 years old, from metro Detroit (where I live), and I thought we would have a long-term patient-doctor relationship. That feeling of luck ran out for me 3 weeks ago (as he moved a week ago - a week prior to this past weekend) Now, I am in a frightening situation and need to find a new doctor who can work with me and my situation.
I hope to (quickly) find a metro Detroit physician that is compassionate and will listen and understand my situation and condition. My medication makes it possible for me to make it through the day. It does not have any effect on my mentally; rather, I am just able to function like a normal human being does without the medication, albeit, in pain, but, for the most part, it becomes manageable pain, unless I have a migraine/migraine-type headache. It has allowed me to work most days and participate in society; I'd be lost without it!
If anyone can offer any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. I looked around on this board, but could not find anything that was a good match (doesn't mean it isn't out there; I just didn't come across it).
Thank you in advance for any help!!
Petrified and in Pain
P.S. My doctor moved almost 4 hours away from my home. I tried to tell him during that (last) visit that I was more than willing to make the trip to see him, as I know other people do travel some distances to see their physicians. He heavily discouraged that idea. However, if time (and my medication) almost runs out on me, I am thinking of trying to call him and request he see me as a "new patient" at his new practice to have the prescriptions renewed. I personally do not have any issue about getting my prescriptions from a new doctor. I am only afraid of either being told "no", treated like an addict and/or having someone "fill" my scripts partially and tell me to look for yet another doctor - which I think might technically be called "doctor shopping." Any thoughts on this sub-topic?
Designgyrl0112 - thank you for your reply post and excellent ideas and thoughts regarding my situation. It's nice to know there's others out there that have been or are in a similar situation regarding pain management.
This is really the first time I have looked around on this or any other similar website and actually posted to a pain management site. Until recently, I have had pretty good luck with my doctors and pain management. Thus, I did not know protocol regarding asking for referral on this site (but as I now think a out it, it makes sense that doctors/pain clinics should not be named here as other people may tryto see these named docs/clinics just to get meds and not get help). Anyway, I apologize to all for my mistake!
And, now for the temporary good news, my doctor's old partner decided to go ahead and write BOTH of my script refills! I am so thrilled as I have been worrying what was going to happen next Wednesday if I ran out of meds, which has never happened to me in all my years...thankfully. Now, I can pick those up those scripts tomorrow and turn my attention to my upcoming appointment with the new doctor.
Any suggestions regarding my upcoming appointment would be appreciated. I'm having my medical records sent to him next week, so I hope he will have reviewed them prior to appt and it goes smooth.
I am still worried, however, that he will be hesitant about continuing my current med and regimen, which has been working well for me the past year or so. How should I approach my conversation with him? In the past, I have basically told my doctor what happened, what hurts and why, degree of pain, anything that increases or decreases pain, what my daily tasks are and what medication has worked for me to allow me to make it through my day with all that ails me. Is that still a good strategy?
I have a few weeks to figure this out, so any suggestions are welcome! In the meantime, I am happy I advocated for myself; if I didn't, no one else would have and I would've been in deep you-know-what!
Thanks for listening (reading) to my run-on story!!!
Anyway, I
This is really the first time I have looked around on this or any other similar website and actually posted to a pain management site. Until recently, I have had pretty good luck with my doctors and pain management. Thus, I did not know protocol regarding asking for referral on this site (but as I now think a out it, it makes sense that doctors/pain clinics should not be named here as other people may tryto see these named docs/clinics just to get meds and not get help). Anyway, I apologize to all for my mistake!
And, now for the temporary good news, my doctor's old partner decided to go ahead and write BOTH of my script refills! I am so thrilled as I have been worrying what was going to happen next Wednesday if I ran out of meds, which has never happened to me in all my years...thankfully. Now, I can pick those up those scripts tomorrow and turn my attention to my upcoming appointment with the new doctor.
Any suggestions regarding my upcoming appointment would be appreciated. I'm having my medical records sent to him next week, so I hope he will have reviewed them prior to appt and it goes smooth.
I am still worried, however, that he will be hesitant about continuing my current med and regimen, which has been working well for me the past year or so. How should I approach my conversation with him? In the past, I have basically told my doctor what happened, what hurts and why, degree of pain, anything that increases or decreases pain, what my daily tasks are and what medication has worked for me to allow me to make it through my day with all that ails me. Is that still a good strategy?
I have a few weeks to figure this out, so any suggestions are welcome! In the meantime, I am happy I advocated for myself; if I didn't, no one else would have and I would've been in deep you-know-what!
Thanks for listening (reading) to my run-on story!!!
Anyway, I
First off I want to say hello and thanks for the information and the update. I did want to first say that here at Med help we are not doctors and we are really not allowed to give out doctors names. Most of those emails get deleted, MED help doesn't feel comfortable with that (I also live in KC so I actually don't know anyone in your area) but I wanted to say I'm so sorry that your in the predicament that your in. A couple of things that you could try. You said your old doctor moved to another city hours away and that you did settle on one doctor but can't get into him until the end of the month. I'd do a couple of things, if you haven't already. First, I'd call the new doctor office and ask to speak to the office manager, or nursing manager and try to explain the information. Maybe if they actually know the situation with you running out of prescription medication you could get in earlier. The second thing you could do actually make an appointment for the other doctor in the office. I know you spoke to the receptionist but I'd ask to speak to the office manager in regards to this situation too. My thought is that if you make a doctor appointment with the partner, it's a little harder on them to decline medication than just having the written letter. They can easily pass up the written letter but when you go in and they could pull your file and see what your medical issues are maybe he would have a change in heart.
The third thing would be your old doctor that moved. He did discourage you but if you get desparate you could possibly call and try to get an appointment to him and see if he will write you another month of prescriptions until you figure out who you will see. I'm sorry you didn't find someone so soon. I'm sure the doctor did think that you would be able to find a replacement in time. As far as ethically goes I'm not sure what the doctor office would be required to do. You've stated this doctor has never seen you so I'm not sure what the laws would be on that.
Anyway, please keep us updated on this situation and anything else we can support you with.
Karen
The third thing would be your old doctor that moved. He did discourage you but if you get desparate you could possibly call and try to get an appointment to him and see if he will write you another month of prescriptions until you figure out who you will see. I'm sorry you didn't find someone so soon. I'm sure the doctor did think that you would be able to find a replacement in time. As far as ethically goes I'm not sure what the doctor office would be required to do. You've stated this doctor has never seen you so I'm not sure what the laws would be on that.
Anyway, please keep us updated on this situation and anything else we can support you with.
Karen
Update - Since my post above, I researched several doctors and settled on one to make an appointment with. Unfortnately, I can't get in to see him until the end of this month. So, in the meantime, my pain medications will run out way before then.
Due to my predicament, I faxed and talked to my doctor's (now) former office to fully explain my situation with my pain meds. I requested that my doctor's old partner, who still is at and owns the office I've been going to for past several years, to write me my refill scripts since I am still a patient of this office. I even said, which is true, that I am willing to have this doctor be my new doctor if he's willing to do so. The reply back I got is concerning though; the receptionist said that the doctor has been reluctant and declining to re-write pain scripts for other patients, so she does not think he will do so for me. I asked that the doctor review my letter, call me if he wanted to talk to me, etc etc, so he has an better grasp about my situation and medical situation(as I never saw any other doctors while seeing my own there).
Sorry for being long-winded, but my question is really this: Since I am a patient of the doctor's office, and my insurance payments have been made to the remaining doctor's PC, which is his own name (ie J. Smith, MD PC - not real name, just example), doesn't he have a legal and/or ethical duty to refill my prescriptions? I realize that he does no have to continue to take me on long-term, but it seems unfair to patients, especially chronic pain patients who have a difficult time already getting pain meds, to not be given a reasonable amount of time to find a new doctor to oversee there continuing care and medicinal therapy.
I'd appreciate any comments regarding this doctor's legal, moral, and/or ethical requirements in a situation such as this.
Also, I'm still interested in being referred to any doctors in my area (metro Detroit) that do a good job of working with chronic pain patients and are willing to continue pain meds.
Thanks and God Bless
Due to my predicament, I faxed and talked to my doctor's (now) former office to fully explain my situation with my pain meds. I requested that my doctor's old partner, who still is at and owns the office I've been going to for past several years, to write me my refill scripts since I am still a patient of this office. I even said, which is true, that I am willing to have this doctor be my new doctor if he's willing to do so. The reply back I got is concerning though; the receptionist said that the doctor has been reluctant and declining to re-write pain scripts for other patients, so she does not think he will do so for me. I asked that the doctor review my letter, call me if he wanted to talk to me, etc etc, so he has an better grasp about my situation and medical situation(as I never saw any other doctors while seeing my own there).
Sorry for being long-winded, but my question is really this: Since I am a patient of the doctor's office, and my insurance payments have been made to the remaining doctor's PC, which is his own name (ie J. Smith, MD PC - not real name, just example), doesn't he have a legal and/or ethical duty to refill my prescriptions? I realize that he does no have to continue to take me on long-term, but it seems unfair to patients, especially chronic pain patients who have a difficult time already getting pain meds, to not be given a reasonable amount of time to find a new doctor to oversee there continuing care and medicinal therapy.
I'd appreciate any comments regarding this doctor's legal, moral, and/or ethical requirements in a situation such as this.
Also, I'm still interested in being referred to any doctors in my area (metro Detroit) that do a good job of working with chronic pain patients and are willing to continue pain meds.
Thanks and God Bless
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pain Management Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
