Narcotic contract question

[Caldestin]

I am seeing a PM on Monday; hopefully to get a second opinion about everything concerning my knees and back. The only thing I am worrying about right now is that I signed a Narcotic Contract with my PCP 2 years ago. When I looked up the forms on the PM's website; he had one as well. If I see this PM on Monday; wouldnt I be breaking the contract with my PCP?? I mean, I am really worried about this. Would I get into alot of trouble, or do people break Narcotic Contracts daily because their doctor isnt treating them the right way?? It states on my PCP's contract that if I get medication somewhere else; I will not be seen again...FOR ANYTHING!! Any advise would be great.

[namnam46]

Yes, if you did that tomorrow and get your records that would DEFINITELY get you released - Here's what I would do and that is to go in and ask for your records BUT don't tell them it's for another Doctor!!  Just tell them it's for YOU!!  They CANNOT refuse you as it's the LAW that you can have access to your Medical records.  The reason for this is that your PCP has ALREADY told you that he/she won't refer you to a PM Doctor, therefore, if your PCP knows WHY you want them they MIGHT STALL in getting them ready for you.  It will take - NORMALLY - a few days for them to be able ot get them ready for you.

Why don't you ASK your PCP to give you the MRI again?  THEN if he says "NO", you have an even MORE LEGITIMATE reason to leave him, that you can tell the NEW PM Doctor!!  That way they WILL understand and NOT question you in ANY way at all.

IF you do this carefully then EVERYTHING will work out GREAT for you. You can of course do it ANY way that you want - I JUST don't want you to take ANY unnecessary chances where you Pain Medication is concerned.  It's the Grandmother in me!!  :)  I ALWAYS try to protect the younger people on here that are having problems getting the meds that they need and are entitled to!!  I don't want you to take ANY chances - as I said earlier.  

I DON'T understand why you PCP won't send you to an Orthopedic Surgeon to check out your knee for surgery? Did you EVER ask him/her about the surgery?

I hope that this helps you a little. PLEASE let us know what you decide and how it goes. As I said earlier - I REALLY worry about you all.  :)

I'll be looking for MORE updates from you...........Sherry :)

[geminigirl1963]

One concern I have is that since you said you've already asked your PCP for a referral to pain managmenet and he refused your request - if you go into his office tomorrow asking for your records and tell them you are going to PM on Monday, you may still be jeopardizing your relationship with your PCP.  I'm not sure why he has refused to give you a referral to pain management, but since he has, going into his office and telling them that you've decided to go may not go over too well (although I honestly believe that all patients have the right to see a doctor who will listen to them and treat them appropriately).

I suggest calling the PM doctor's office and telling them you wanted to come in for a second opinion and ask if there is any way that you can keep the appointment, but NOT sign any contracts or receive meds - simply get that second opinion.  I may be wrong here (and someone please let me know if I am), but I don't think that if you did that and didn't sign any contracts OR receive any meds, then you wouldn't be breaking any contracts with your PCP.  

Whatever you decide, you certainly don't want to jeopardize your relationship with your PCP - it's not just pain control that we're talking about here - it's ALL health issues, so it's important to have a "regular" doctor that you can go to.

[Caldestin]

Yeah exactly; that way I wont be going behind my PCP's back about this issue. I'm going there tomarrow, and asking for my records from the receptionist, although I dont know if the doctor will want to talk to me without paying; and if not I'll tell her to let the doctor know that I am going to see a PM doctor on Monday. Hopefully I'll be able to see him without paying. I really dont want to go back to my PCP after this experiance though.

[atonicat]

I would say if you told his office and said you were going to a PM doctor and requested your records than you should go to the PM appointment. Tell your PM what is going on though. Basically if you get red flagged and then try to go to another doctor it would be very hard. But since you have not been flagged yet, and informed your PCP, you should be fine. As long as your PM knows why you went to them, everything should be fine. It's not like you're going behind anyone's back.

[Caldestin]

@atonicat I have already tried that; he told me no.

[Caldestin]

One other question. If I contact my insurance company to notify them about this; along with the contract I signed; as well as being unsatisfied with the treatment my PCP was doing, wouldn't the insurance company be able to do something as well? I mean, when I go on Monday I will be taking my current medication with me so the PM doctor knows what I am taking, I am also going for a second opinion. I guess it wouldnt be so stressful if there wasnt a contract to begin with; because then I could just walk away with no incursions. What if tomarrow; I walked into my PCP and asked for my records and informed them I was going to see a pain management specialist on Monday; would that be a way of getting released from the contract?? Or would I actually have to inform the doctor himself?