how do you get blackballed as a drug addict by a pain clinic?

Please help. I have so many health conditions, Hepatic Adenoma-tumor in liver, scar tissue - adhesions around pancreas, auto immune disorder-itp- (if I catch a virus or cold from anyone, my body kills my blood platelets and I start bleeding spontaneously, have to get blood transfusions and if you touch me it will make a big bruise- when this happens I get anemic and feel like I can't even get out of the bed- diabetes type 1- hematura (too much blood in the urine) Possible adenosis (cancer of the Uterus)- Bile Duct dysorder- Pancreatitius twice, eptopic pregnancy twice, sphincter of Oddy Dysfunction with 2 ERCP's and Sphincerectomy's twice.
I was seeing a pain clinic for about 7 months- they tried me on a pain patch but it made me sick as a dog, so they had me on oxycotin and roxycodone- they usually scheldule your appointment for 30 days or before so you won't run out of your meds. Back in October I realized that my appointment had been schelduled for 32 days instead of thirty. It was because October has 31 days, which you think they would have figured out for me if they are schelduling the appointment. And then the weekend, so by the time I saw them it had been 33 days. The week before I realized that I would run out of meds and I called and told them this and they said they did not have any openings and could not see me until my appointment. I had run out of the Oxycotin after 30 days so I took a Loratab that my gastroenterologist (the doctor that referred me to the pain clinic) had prescribed me before I started seeing the pain clinic and when I went they did a urine test and found that I had no Oxycotin in my system and had hydracodone. The Oxycotin only stays a couple of days, and I had called and told them I was going to run out and they would not see me, or even care if I did or not. So they said I was either selling my medicine?!? or a drug addict. I only saw the Physicians Assistant not the doctor and explained to her what happened and she would run back and forth between me and where ever the doctor was and tell him what I was saying and he basically said he would not treat me anymore. He would not let me see him, he just told the Physician's assistant to tell me, this was after they told me to go out to the waiting room after my unrine test and this was at 1:00pm, and I wasnt allowed to go back in to the office until 530 pm. So I had to just sit there for around 4 and 1/2 hours and I wondered what was going on, but no one would tell me. They just said I need to wait. I was so irritated.
Now, I dont have any pain medicine and somehow they black balled me because my oncologist referred me to another pain clinic and they would never call me. I called and left messages for about 3 weeks and when my appointment would be and never heard anything from them. I saw my gastro and told him what happened and he called them himself and they said I had been denied an appoinment. They would not even tell me this. Basically the first pain clinic sent out some type of information about me to all the pain clinics in the area. How do they do this? I was not even allowed to speak with my Pain Clinic Doctor, After I was fired from him and not even allowed to talk with him, I called him every day for a couple of weeks straight and he would not return my calls or talk to me either.
So now they think I am a drug addict everywhere I go and I never even took a painpill until my pancreas started hurting. I would never sell any medicine, I don't even know anyone to sell them to and besides that I need them.
I don't even leave my house except to go to the doctor. I can't eat without pain medication because my pancreas and liver hurt. I need to eat because I am diabetic and my blood sugar goes down to 40 every morning without food.  It hurts when I tinkle because there's too much blood in my urine and my pelvic area hurts. The tumor in my liver is rare caused by taking birth control for so many years because of heavy bleeding and endmetriosis. So they told me to stop the birth control and I did, now my pelvic area is inflammed all the time with cramps and the doctor said it's possible adenosis in my uterus. I was suppose to get a hysterectomy for that pain but I been to 3 different doctors and they say I have too many health conditions to do any surgery, like take out the tumor or remove the scar tissue adhesions or a hysterectomy. They said I need to go to a pain clinic but no pain clinic will take me because somehow the first one told all the other ones that I am a drug addict?!? What can I do? How did the first pain clinic tell all the other ones that I am a drug addict? I don't feel like a drug addict. I never used drugs until the pain clinic prescribed them for me. I tried to explain what happened and they would not let me talk to the doctor but made me wait over 4 hours to tell me that I am kicked out or whatever. I feel like I am going to die and these days none of my doctor's will write pain medicine because they say that you should go to the pain clinic. What can I do? I am in severe pain. It is almost 4 in the morning and I can't sleep because of the pain. I feel like I am at a dead end- No one will do surgery to fix the pain and no one will prescribe me pain medicine. I would have never went to the pain clinic If I knew they would do this. I guess I did not understand they would do that.
I have been taking advil and aspirin but am not allowed to because I have an auto immune bleeding disorder and it thins your blood but it does not take the pain away. I also have tramadol and it does not take your pain away. I am allergic to Prednisone which is an anti inflammatory, so What can I do?

[Mollyrae]

Hi Loulou:

My advise to you is to take that Doctor and his clinic to court for slander. They have ruined your name and I would be hoppin mad. Talk to an Attorney, it can't hurt.

Also, this Doctor has an obligation to treat you for 30 days after they have let you go. They are required to give you a 30 day supply of medication. Go back to your Gastroenterologist and see if he won't write you a script. He knows your in pain.

I just can't believe how some Doctors can play the role of God when it comes to your health care. It's a crime !!!!

I don't know how far of an area the Doc sent these letters but maybe it is possible to travel a distance to a new clinic??

Anyway, take my advise and talk to a lawyer. I don't care how big of a hotshot that Doc is, he can't do that to anyone.

Please take care and keep us posted. I will be curious as to what the outcome will be.

All my best,
Mollyrae

[scaredmom330]

I have never heard of being blackballed from pain clinics before.. sounds like they were'nt much of a pain clinic to start out with.....are there any alittle further away from you that you might be able to get to? if your other doctor knows you are in pain why won't he help you? really none of this makes any sense to me...they know you have legitiment pain but won't help you....I agree with Mollyrae I would look further into this...I am so sorry you are going through this and really don't have any solution...if the pain gets to be to much go to the ER....take care and if you do find out more about being blackballed let me know, I am very curious to how this works... please stay with us and keep posting, some one else will have more knowlege and maybe a solution to this....

[jollyman069]

is this not a reason for the federl hippa act so your recored are PRIVATE and with out your permission they cant just send out something like that. I agree with Molly get a lawyer sue theirn *** maybe he will loose his or her licence to poractice because they shouldnt be treating chronic pain patients.. i am so sorry you have been put through this.. god bless and good luck

[Tuckamore]

Hi Loulou,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am so sorry to hear about your pain and the issues you have had with the PM Clinic.

First let me tell you that what they have done is legal and they can do it. If you have been labeled a drug abuser or a drug seeker it is common practice to notify other clinics or hospitals in the area of their belief. There are lists that exist at every ER Room that I know of patients names that they few are abusers/seekers. Again I am sorry to tell you it is legal.

However you have a right to your medical records from the PM Clinic and that is where I would begin. You'll want to see what is in your chart regarding dismissal. You always have a right to write a letter of what happened and ask that it be placed in your medical chart. Write is careful, just the facts with dates and numbers. Do not accuse anyone of anything. State that you were given 30 tablets on this date and thy lasted until this date. State the dates of your appointments and the fact that you called to notify them that you would be out of medications. State where you obtained the other narcotic and at what date.

Unfortunately you probably signed a contract that stated you would not take any other narcotic while under the care of that PMP. As far as they are concerned you broke the contract. Your story, unfortunately is not all that unusual.

If your state is like most, your PMP must treat you for 30 days following discharge to allow you time to locate alternate care. The actual law is called, "Patient Abandonment."

Have you a build a close or long term relationship with a physician, maybe your PCP? If so I would make an appoitment and discuss what has happened with them. It most likely will take another physician to get you accepted at a local pain clinic.

I can tell you that there is a physician out there that will listen to you and beleive you. It may take awhile to locate one but pick up that phone and begin calling in the morning. Or have one of your current physicians refer you.

But please don't give up. Hang in there. We are here for you when ever you need to chat. If you are willing to tell us what state you live in maybe other members live in that same state and can offer you some guidance. I will look forward to your updates. Please take care, Tuck

[MyTau]

I don't know how your urine test would be negative, it takes 3-5 days to clear your body. Your Dr has the legal responsibility if they fires you to treat and fill your meds for 30 days until you find another. I'd call and threaten them with a lawsuit.

[Mage1970]

Read Tuckamore's note She is absolutely spot on. And it's exactly the same over here ( Australia) It's legal,they CAN do it BUT they have to put the reason in your file and no matter what you can ask to see your file.Most places have some sort of appeals process but you have to ask about it cause they won't volunteer that information,cause it means work and it means they have to deal with you & possibly admit that they made a mistake And that they really don't like.
GOOD LUCK .

[Beargizmo]

What a crime..I don't have time to go into it now, but I'd see a lawyer...As Tuck said, you probably signed a contract that is binding despite the circumstances, but these guys act like Gods and it's criminal in my opinion.


Jim

[Jaime1999]

I understand you are in pain and I feel that you were treated badly. Tuck is correct. Now they have to fill non-narcotic meds for 30 days. Since that is the reason they 'fired' you. I was fired from a doctor because I called after hours to ask what the problem was because they were taking a week already to respond to a fax for a refill from my pharmacy and the doctor fired me and the refill was for a narcotic. I have been with this doctor for sometime and he put me on Norco over 1.5 years ago and every time I would go to check ups every 3 months he would refill all my meds without me asking Norco was one of them. I have that mail order RX so you have to have a 3 month script and guess what he wrote it for 3 months everytime. Then the letter he sent said he would fill all meds except narcs because that was the reason he let me go. He said he felt I was getting addicted. If he felt that way why did he fill my script EVERY time? But Tuck is right it is called patient abandonment. You could file a malpractice but don't know what would happen or if this qualifies for one or not. Good luck to you and God bless

[roadrunner940]

what if i have been going to a pain management clinic for 6 months since may primary care was not working for that period of time,and now i can get the pain meds from my pcp.do i need to go back to my pain management and let them know or can i call them that i can save money and not travel so far to get my refill,or is that called dr shopping? it would be so much easier going to my pcp instead of driving 50 miles to my pain mgmt dr.i will go to my pain dr if i have to do any procedures.is that okay?also if my pcp rather me go to another pharmacy than i went with my pain dr because that is close and cheaper.i did sign aggreement wih pain mgmt to notify them regarding a change in dr,and pharmacy.but if i only go back to pain mgmt for follow up and no prescrition then is thatokay?roadrunner

[scaredmom330]

no you don't have to go  to a pain management if you dont want to.. if you have used your pcp for awhile that is not doctor shopping and you can use another pharmacy ...doctor shopping is when you go to several different doctors just looking for narcotics..and use several different pharmacies to fill such prescriptions.........I would call the clinic and let them know you won't be back but I wouldnt worry too much about it..

[roadrunner940]

you r abolutely correct.i did call the pain clinic and let them know what was going on. theree was no problem. my pcp took care of my pain.its alot easier and cost effective staying with one physician.all u need to do is to be honest and communicate with your dr.thanks for your imput.roadrunner

[DES13BECKA19]

I  WAS BORN WITH ALL THREE ARTHRITISES HAVE SEVERL BULGING DISKS IN MY BACK AND NECK PLUSS TWO BONES IN MY WAS TOLD ON NO SEE LIST FINALLY GOT IN WITH PCP HE WRITES PAIN MEDS TO HIS CLIENTS NECK I NEED FUSED BUT BECAUSE OF MY RA ONE OUT RULE THE OTHER AND NO SURGET WILL DO THE SUGERY IM IN CONSTENT PAIN WAS SEEING MY PCP FOR YEARS GETTING MY PAIN MEDS MY IMMUNE SYSTEM WAS COMPROMISSED SO CANT TAKE ANY OF THE GOOD RA DRUG THREE MONTHS AGO I CALLED FOR MY APPOITMENT TO COME IN GET MY PAIN MEDS AND REFILLS WAS INFORMED IM ON DO NOT SEE LIST I ASKED WHY DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG WAS TOLD NO I HAVE PROOF I NEED MY PAIN MEDS NEVER GOT A DIRTY DRUG TEST THEY SAID THEY SENT ME A LETTER BUT SENT IT TO WRONG ADDRESS SAYING DR DROPED ME I HAVE TRYED TO GET DR APPOINTMENTS WITH NEW PCP HE WRITES PAIN MEDS BUT REFUSES TO WRITE ME ANY IM NOT A SUISIDE KIND OFF PERSON BUT I CANT TAKE THIS PAIN ANYMORE AND DONT KNOW WHY DRS OR HOSPITAIL WONT GIVE ME MY PAIN MEDS EVEN THOU THEY HAVE MY MRI AND RA RECORDS NECK  HOW DO I FIND OUT WHY IM BEING TREATED LIKE THIS  AND HOW DO I FIX IT PLEASE ALL HELP WOULD BE A BLESSING  THANK YOU

[marycarmel]

Hi and welcome to the pain management forum.  There are no doctors on this forum.  It's a forum where chronic pain patients essentially give support to each other.

I'm sorry you have so many pain problems.  I just want to point out that this post is a couple of years old.  If you click on "Post a Question," you can start a new post and you will get more information.

If your doctor has dropped you, you should get a copy of your medical records and check out what it says in your file.  As Tuck pointed out earlier in this thread, you have the right to write a letter about your situation and put it in your file.

I hope you'll post a new question so you can get some other opinions on your situation.  Best of luck.