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Pain Management ACCUSATIONS!

I was recently referred to a pain mgmt specialist by my back doctor (back dr. was prescribing norco in conjunction with therapies for over a year). I received paperwork (complete with contract) before my appt. (which was on a WED.) with the new pain specialist and completed it. When I met with her I felt everything went well; she was putting me on gabapentin and continuing the norco. However the norco RX never arrived at the pharmacy but the gabapentin did. I picked up the gabapentin and concluded they were awaiting my drug test results to phone in the norco. By Friday the doctors office still hadn't instructed the pharmacy to fill the norco. I called, left a message with the receptionist and she said she would let the doctor know I hadn't recieved the norco. Well, on the 7th of August (6 days after my appointment), my wife recieves a certified letter in the mail. When I arrived home from out of town work, I learned that the new pain mgmt doctor was discontinuing my service on my behalf "due to your failure to follow the terms of your pain treatment. You left without giving a urine sample for drug screen when asked." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I pee'd in the cup and handed it right to the nurse following meeting with the doctor. I don't know what to do or where to go from here. I want to go to the dr. office and speak with the nurse and the dr. but I know they will be unavailable (high patient load). I don't currently have insurance and am already paying out the *** so I really don't want to see someone new (and don't want to be accused of drug seeking) but I am afraid they won't believe me. Confused, frustrated, and bewildered... please help!
7 Responses
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547368 tn?1440541785
I have been trying to "get to know" you and your condition by reading you replies to others on this and other forum. Wow! What a story I've been able to piece together. My heart goes out to you.

This is an old thread - and the person you replied to is not longer active in MH. Unfortunately that happens often.

You have been going through heck - no one should have to run around that you have endured. I know, I was little sports car was hit head on by a loaded dump truck and my story is very similar - though my wounds were much different- pain is pain.

I want to encourage you to begin a new thread "Question". You'll find much better support here, more visibility and replies. Our members don't often read or reply to these old threads - indeed I almost didn't.

I hear your anger and frustrations and you have every right to those feelings. Life is not fair. A kind D.O. told me we all get dealt hands in life and it's not the hand that counts but how we play it. That didn't make a lot of sense to me when she first said it - but as time has passed I get it.

It was a D.O. that not only DX (diagnosis) me but kept my pain under control for almost ten years. I encourage you to keep searching for a good D.O.

Again please begin your own thread. It doesn't even have to be a question. It can just be a "rant" -  cause we all do that now and again. :0)  Or it can be your  "Story" but please do post. You'll find there is support here.

Wishing you Pain Relief and Peace,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
1446517 tn?1304546575
ITS BULL and you are NOT alone in your frustration. I have been referred around and around and around.
They take my co-pay after I fill out 10 pages of paperwork only to refer me to someone else.
Finally I got referred to a PAIN CLINIC but they need information about my 4 level ACDF, before they will give me an apt,
I am requesting that my primary care doc write me a script for KADIAN ER, because I use to take it and it worked great.
One time request until I get appointment with pain clinic.
Is that unreasonable?
That pain mgmt doctor retired and his patients are now referred to where I am HOPEFULLY going to go.
Primary care doctor is such a wus about the "N" word as they call it.
He wrote me my oxycodone prescription for a couple years, but I was told I had to wean down, so I did. I am now on half the dose, 20 mgs from 40mg and I only take it BID not TID.
8 screws in my neck and a titanium plate and he thinks I am a drug seeker? IT IS THE MOST RARE multi-level fusion, that has left me with foraminal narrowing from C-2-C-6 with SPURRING.
Some neurosurgeon told me, "your problems are muscle spasms, and we are not writing you any prescription for pain meds for a muscle.
What a jerk..the entire back of my skull & SPINE down to S-I joint + across both shoulder is one giant THROBBING PAIN. My whole head throbs & I cannot even pick up a 2 lb weight without PAIN.
I just called CRYING so hard, they could not understand me. "Calm down and take a deep breath"
ME: I CANNOT LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE, I WAS UP ALL NIGHT LONG with this THROBBING PAIN IN MY SKULL......then I just hung up!
Everyone bills and I pay a co-pay while I walk out exactly the same.
ITS CRAP-CARE and apparently, I am going to have to act like  maniac in order to be believed.
A doctor in a NY PAIN CLINIC read one of my rants, and she emailed me. She GETS IT and she gave me the link to CORNELL UNIVERSITY. They have a chronic spine pain program, but the drive would be 3 hours for me.
She was worried I really was going t kill myself, so she emailed me. Not sure how she got it, but I told her, "its the pain talking" and no I would not actually do it.
I AM WORN out from fighting for pain RELIEF and getting ZERO. 6 long months of being referred around and around over 1 prescription.

THE drunk driver that did this to me was let off on the FIRERY DUI crash, because the CONNECTICUT STATE TROOPER had a "woody" in his pants over her! He was sent off duty WITHOUT PAY after I turned his lying behind into Internal affairs.
THEY LET HER WALK and the highway was closed for (2) hours,
Now I get to go through all this ******** in order to get a freeking prescription so my family does not lose me to death.
Not a drug seeker at all...I AM A PAIN RELIEF SEEKER.
Label me correctly or NOT AT ALL.
Helpful - 0
1331804 tn?1336867358
I would send the certified letter and also call the office and/or go in there personally.  Sending a certified letter takes time and during that period will you be out of your medication (the norco)? Or can your back dr. prescribe the norco in the meantime while all of this is being worked out?  How long have you been taking the norco?

I would hate to see you suffer for weeks in pain and in withdrawal because you don't have your medicine.  I would make sure that if you only send a certified letter, that you have medication available while you are waiting for a response from the doctor.  

I think you should also call and explain your side and ask what you can do to clear it up.  It may be as simple as them going through their records and rechecking and then coming back and saying that your norco is ready for pick up.

femmy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would not hand deliver it, Mail it certified mail. You can go on the web site and key in "how to write a letter to doctors when you know they are wrong" as the word phrase.

I don't know how your doctor will react, but you have nothing to lose..at this point.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Flower, the only time I  called was last week (two days after my appointment as I had only received the one rx and was expecting two). Totie,  my thoughts exactly... however, do you think I should hand deliver the letter to their office? Also, do you either of you know any websites with good examples, tips, etc. to include in my letter?  I feel so discouraged and I shouldn't, I made no error- the office staff did. There are so many thoughts running through my head: How likely is it that the doctor will believe me? Will the nurse admit she was wrong? Come to think of it....they should have an extra urine sample (or results paperwork) somewhere right?
Thank you guys for responding- I don't even know where to go from here...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I totally agree with Totie...definitely certified! Please keep us updated. Have you called them? I would also call and ask to speak with the doctor. If they ask why, tell them that it is personal, and that you only feel comfortable speaking with said doctor. Ridiculous. I hope things work out.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would reply with a certified letter stating you did infact give urine sample & go into detail exactly who gave you the cup (describe in detail what that person looked like) and who you gave the cup back to.

Helpful - 0
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