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1491186 tn?1288405903

Dr. Shopping, B.S. Denied pain meds

Hello all, I'm in a real situation and would really appreiciate any feedback. Thank you very much.

Here we go..

I am a paraplegic who has some how ended up disconnected from the pain management community, since a pharmacist with an over active imagination told a doctor that I was "doctor shopping."

I can tell you that in my 11 years in a wheelchair, suffering from neuropathic pain secondary to a SCI, I have never abused a prescription and can prove it. Now the university hospital that I was establishing myself with has seized the script for Opana they wrote and broken all bridges with me. I feel like I am alone floating in the middle of the ocean. Thank God for spell check because I'm in such blinding pain that I feel as if I'm writing and spelling on a fourth grade level..

My GP has since called the pharmacist to tell him that I was in fact not shopping, rather just following the bouncing ball of referrals. Now satisfied that I am legitimate, the pharmacist is actually trying to help me find a PM doctor. However, the damage is done and I have gone four months without pain meds, with the minor exception of 2 Vicodin a day from the GP.

I might tell you that my previous doctor of three years has lost my records. Most likely because he was giving me enough meds for Anna Nicole Smith, although I would either not fill them all, order them every 45 days or just put them aside for a rainy day. That rainy day has come and gone. I'm sorry if I am over selling my situation, but I have been put in that situation so many times that I feel as if I have to prove that I'm not a junkie. By the way, that's the reason I'm a T-11 para. My doctors though I was faking, turned me away and two days later I slipped a disc while sleeping which ruptured my spinal cord.

Sorry for the epic email. I wonder if there is any guidance that you can give me. I need to be treated. The local PM center won't accept me and even the ER has turned me away. Now I am doctor shopping!, shopping for a doctor who will help me! Have I been centrally blacklisted? Is there such a thing? Do I have any legal recourse? I am so frustrated that I want to make the responsible parties hurt as much as I have.

It is perhaps a good thing that I see a therapist, although part of that deal is that I must meet with their physiatrist once a month for 15 minutes. When I asked him where they refer PM patients he said he was going to report me to the DEA. What on God's green earth is going on....

Thank you so much for indulging me.

Sincerely,

Steve

16 Responses
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1491186 tn?1288405903
Your so right.  That's kind of the conclusion that I can to, but you confimed it for me.  I hope I'm on my way. Thanks for the kind reply.

Warm regards,
Helpful - 0
1489607 tn?1288276081
Been through something similar. Once you've had that label stuck on you, its hard to rip it off and prove yourself to anyone. My only advice is to look for a PM DR who isnt connected to the hospital or the other clinics. Be upfront from the beginning with the new dr about what had happened. Then they'll come to their own conclusions in time.

The PM communities end up being very close knit, one dr can work at multiple clinics or practices and they all seem to know about each other, esp in large cities. You just have to find someone outside of the circle, or a Dr who'd rather judge for himself/herself than just give in to generalizations.  Once you've seen a new dr, passed drug tested, shown them your print outs from the pharmacy, disclosed everything you can, the trust will build.  It took me months but everything works itself out eventually.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Steve, Tuck, and everyone else:

Obviously my previous posts were deleted and has been explained in a personal email to me why they have been removed.  I'm sorry if I offended anyone on this and any post.  Obviously you all felt that it was inappropriate and I apologize.  

Best of luck Steve.  I hope you find a wonderful doctor that you are searching for.
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Oh and Steve....I forgot to say that yes this forum can be part of a pain management treatment plan. I think it helps many of us.

I don't think your a duck either. And you are right. If animals had the type and level of pain that many of us endure, they would be put down if there was no help for them.

Sometimes I think that ppl, including the medical community have more compassion for a suffering animal then they do their fellow humans. Sad, sad but often true.

And last but not least I've noted you are making duplicate threads. If you having difficultly when you write your questions...please let me know. Maybe you're hitting the post your question icon twice. The site can be slow to post to actually post the questions...just give it a little more time. :o)

My Best to You,
~Tuck
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
You are right Ashlen, his two posts were made back to back. Plus I believe that your correct that we all deserve the benefit of the doubt, unless proven otherwise. I would not want to be in his shoes.

And though his story may not sound just perfectly right....believe me I heard a lot worse true stories. Not everyone is a great written communicator. It can be hard to put things in writing. It happens to me all the time. So no one should be so quick to judge.

I've actually posted on his other thread because I did NOT see that there were duplicates.My error...I could have "fixed" it. Sorry.

We wish you well Steve.

~Tuck
Helpful - 0
1035252 tn?1427227833
Actually both posts were started on the same day at around the same time....I know that his story seems a little bizarre but I think maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt and see what he says when/if he comes back?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Steve, can you try to find another doctor?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Steve,

Your situation really s*cks and I'm sorry you're going through this.

I have a question for you about something you wrote.  When you wrote the doctors say, "it's a narcotic, that can't be" did you mean that they don't believe that it keeps you awake?  If that IS what you're saying, they're dead wrong.  I'm the exact same way.  Narcotics keep me awake too !!!!  As a matter of fact, my body OFTEN reacts to meds the opposite way than expected.

Again, I'm very sorry you're having to deal with this.  It's truly shameful that you can't get help.
Helpful - 0
1491186 tn?1288405903
As of the last few days, I've added the forums to my mix of therapies.

It works as well, if not better than any other new drugs I've found in a long time.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Steve. Wow. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. It's great that your pharmacist is on your side. If I were you, I'd keep trying to find a PM doctor. I can't believe that you don't have use of your legs because the doctors didn't believe you. That is the most terrible thing I've ever heard!

There are a lot of very supportive people here on this forum, so please stick around!

Hugs,

Flower
Helpful - 0
1491186 tn?1288405903
Or the one I need. Respectfully, Steve

Ps. A typo. Can't take the Vic at night
Helpful - 0
1491186 tn?1288405903
One can only take 4000mgs of acetaminophen a day. What do you expect the pnt to do at night when he's in blinding pain and can take the vics?

Would you accept non treatment for a family member in my situation?  I seriously doubt it. You know how long it takes to be accepted into pain management.  And in the meantime? Grin and bear it? If I was a horse I'd be put down. My dog gets better care that I've received. My bp was 160/90.  Something was obviously wrong. I deride the notion that anyone in pain is duck. I'm on a farging duck. I do however appreciate your post.  

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
As an ER person we always say, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, must be a duck.
Save your $ on the lawyer; it would take years IF you can find one to take it, and you will lose. Actually you DO have the Vicodin. It IS pain medication...just not the one you want. You're in quite a pickle.
Helpful - 0
1491186 tn?1288405903
My GP is only willing to write 2 Vics a day. He says he's not a pain doc. He does however give me more when I run out. So I really effectively get more than 2 a day. Although, I really must have a 24 hour solution. My pain doesn't go home at 5 O'clock. And I can't take the vics at night because they get me awake.

The stupid doctors don't even understand this,saying, "it's a narcotic, that can't be".

Thank you for replying.  It truly is cathartic sharing with people that understand you.
Helpful - 0
997898 tn?1303734864
pm is pain management.
my friend, as long as you have your gp and pharmicist behind you, i suggest you hire a lawyer.  quickly, as it is a long process.  is there some reason your gp cannot rx the pain meds you need until you can get things worked out?  please keep us posted and let us know what happens!
elizabeth
Helpful - 0
1491910 tn?1288484756
this really sound back and sounds liet sux ive never heard of this before wht is PM by the way
Helpful - 0
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