Help! Single Disabled Mom Wrongfully Kicked Out Of Pain Management (Top voted first)

Ok, this will be lengthy to include all the necessary details but can someone help please? My being able to raise my daughter depends on my necessary medicine. I have no clue where else to turn. I have DDD with 4 herniated as of 2014 MRI, adv & degenerative osteoarthritis of the spine, tarlov cysts, neuropathy and nerve compression so badly that my left leg will give out with little warning. My father and I went to our PM last week, only a few days after unexpectedly burying my oldest sister. I've been a very trustworthy patient of his for four years and my Dad just about one year. Doc puts us both in same room which he's never done before. Doc starts talking to my Dad who is clearly morose & then says to my Dad, I don't like your attitude, which again just answers to his questions in a monotone voice. I explained to dr we just buried my sister, my dad's daughter so he's not doing well. Honest to God, that pos says "So, we all go through stuff". My Dad & I exchanged looks as if to say did he really just say that? Then doc asks how the super-charger script that begins with an N is working & Dad said yes a bit. Then the Dr flat out lies and says yeah I've had patients on that for 6 months and they're down to 1 opiate a day. That's a lie. He only began prescribing them two months ago. My Dad says Doc Ido, I hope but don't see how that's possible. Doc says I'm not going to argue to which my Dad replies I'm having a conversation, not an argument. And he was...if my Dad was wrong I'd have called him on it. So we head out and his daughter the receptionist asks to reschedule, my Dad says he's not coming back and I said I was unsure. Called today to make an appt and I was told I'm no longer a patient. I asked why and she said you released yourself. I said no I didn't, my father did. This is a family run practice so no one to complain to. Oh and they also declined to send my records & said have your new Dr. request them.

My question is I know I can't do anything just because he was a jerk to my Dad, but can I report him for lying about releasing myself thereby avoiding having to prescribe me one last time and for giving me no notice to go find a new Dr before I need my meds refilled? This last appt he was going to force me to continue inj's. suddenly when I haven't had one in a year because they don't work for more than a week on me. Dr got all weirded out a few months ago when his anesthesiologist was busted for supposedly not keeping correct docs & was fined $455k. My Dad thinks it was a set-up from the start...despite being excellent patients who never abused anything, never had dirty U/A, very rarely rescheduled appts and not once missed an appt, proof we're both permanently disabled from SS Disability... he wanted to dump us. Only thing we can figure is doc is or was def up to something sketchy & he knows my Dad is a retired cop and he doesn't want that around. So now my poor father and I are searching for new Dr at worst time. Does anyone know a good PM anywhere in the Chicagoland area who isn't afraid to prescribe, though I'm pretty far S/W of the city in Plainfield? I've tried everything in the world prior to getting on opiates and it is the only thing that has made my pain significantly retreat. I will take a new fancy OTC aspirin if it's strong enough, I just need to function and be in less pain. Custody of my 6 year old daughter depends on this...my life depends on this. How do they not see what this opiate crackdown is doing to legitimate chronic pain sufferers. Anyway, ty for those few who took time to read my novel. If you refer a good PM I would never use your name. Thank you all very much.

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I am so sorry for your loss! Sounds like you are spot on! Find a woman doctor,they have more compassion! Check a new doctor out B4 going in! I am in another state but,since 1/1/18,federal law has changed, because of all the ODs!! It's a national problem! Unfortunately,the responsible,mature adults are suffering!! I wish you the best! Good luck!

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First and foremost, I'm truly sorry for the loss of your sister and my prayers go out to you and your family. Now the medical - You are not discharged from a clinic, especially PM, (in the middle of treatment) without signing paperwork indicating you are leaving and the Dr. must give you a 30 day supply of current medications especially if habitat forming that could cause i.e, coma, stroke, heart attack the etc. Also, if your Dr. does not wish to keep you as a patient he must send you a certified registered letter of intent that you are "Fired" as a patient and he must give a recommendation of other medical care. Call your local American Medical Society and file an official complaint. In the meantime, be looking for another PM clinic and sign the necessary "release of medical information" when you find one and they will request your medical records on your behalf at no charge, however, if you want your records to see what has been put in them then you can request them including all labs but you will have to pay for them. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck.

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Re: Silverlining (# 65)

Your experience is a good example of how the political climate of today impacts the health care that those that are legitimate pain med users have to go through on a daily basis. Doctors and PM clinics are under such duress from the DEA and the public that they have to err on the side of what the DEA or others in a Supervisory position THINK. ALL patients are different and need to be diagnosed and treated INDIVIDUALLY. Not as some cookie cutter pattern that many Supervisory agencies think should be implemented. We are all individuals that do not deserve to be all grouped into one big group. I just talked to my Doctor today. She said that the Supervisory agencies are putting heat on them every day It is getting more and more difficult to treat each patient in the manner she would like to see them treated. FORTUNATELY, this Doctor can still have civil conversations about your treatment plan. That is NOT the case for many. If you attempt to discuss your situation with many Doctors they just get pissed and throw you out of their Office and they could not possibly care less if you agree or like it. Or are totally out of your pain meds.

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Re: Jethro Tull (# 73)

Jethro, much truth in what you say. I consider myself addicted, but I do not exhibit the behavior attributed to a true ADDICT. Which is stealing others pills, buying off the streets, doctor hopping, etc. My withdrawals alone suggest addiction. I prefer the word dependant because I am, dependant on my med for productivity and quality of life. My body's decline came first, then came the meds. I did not get hooked because of the occasional use and found I enjoyed the feeling, therefore went seeking them. I don't know many 60 year olds that are seeking that sweet high. Most of us have serious issues by this time and are on morphine for quality of life. To enjoy life with our grandkids and to be active participants. Oh, they exist (60 yr. old high seekers) but I think they are the exception, not the rule. My meds keep me from withering due to lack of activity caused by serious pain.

That all being said, I am grateful for the very modest dose of 10mg IR every 4 hrs. Though I now only take it 4x a day, this dose allows for manageable withdrawal if for any reason I happen to be without. The stigma attached to this use actually benefits me because it keeps me in check. Makes me think real hard about requesting an increased dosage. This is enough, but just enough, to keep me functional. If I want to keep a good working relationship with my doctor I need to stay within her guidelines and judgment as to what is best for me. I have to submit to her medical judgment. As with any authoritative relationship, it doesn't work unless I have respect for her authority. It doesn't always please me, but it has served me well. Truly, my dependence tells me to be very careful. It's a slippery slope and I don't want to be one of those that has to keep increasing.

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Unfortunately, under current FDA law, no doctor is obligated to treat you, prescribe anything, or keep you as a patient, as long as you are not in life-threatening danger. They have as much right to stop doing so, as you do to stop seeing them, stop taking any medication, and etc. The FDA does warn that opiates carry the risk of being habit forming and may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, and headache.

However, as to your medical records, legally those are yours and they do have to give you a copy, if you request them. However, they are allowed to charge you for doing so, while transferring them to another doctor is usually done free, as a courtesy, so it is often better to have a new doctor request them, rather than insist on getting your own copy. In many cases they charge $20 to $30 for the first so many pages, after that, you have to pay a certain amount per page, thus it can be quite expensive, if you have an extensive medical history.

Have you found a new doctor, yet?

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Re: Verwon (# 3)

Thank you sooo much for that informative response. I believe I found a good new PM just today actually. Not happy she's making me stop medical marijuana but I can't function without meds and I def can function without marijuana so that was a no brainer. As for the jerk Dr., I figured there wasn't much I could do but thank you for confirming it. Karma will handle him I'm sure. You're an angel for responding. Thank you very much!!

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You had a business relationship with your doctor because it was mutually rewarding. Your doctor can let you go for almost any reason lawfully - race, country of origin, etc., notwithstanding, if it is no longer rewarding to him. You can also leave at any time. You and/or your dad had a contentious interaction with him and he did not want to see you anymore. That is perfectly reasonable. There are literally hundreds of other pain docs in Chicago. I might suggest that you stop doing family appts with your dad and you begin attending your appts alone.

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Gregg (# 7) --

Said it before and saying it again. Get in touch with whoever your local lying, self interested, biased politicians that are supposed to represent us. Speak, don't bother wasting your time online!! Human interaction shows emotions that can't be expressed via a "keyboard conversation". This particular quote comes from a former politician: "Anger is more beneficial than despair". Our gov't "shuts down". We suffer, they still get paid. Those that have connections for advocacy, use them. 50 years gone from 1968. That was a monumentally big year for "we the people" to be heard. That's all I have to say, except TIME TO TAKE MY PAIN MEDICATION AS WELL AS THE OTHER MEDS TO COUNTER THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THAT MED. GOOD LUCK.

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Re: Patrice (# 36)

I still suffer with pain daily as I have RSD or CRPS from back surgery. The nerve damage is on my right side and causes a limp. Like I said before the Advil helps me but I still have alot of pain and as you said a good day is when I can do some light housework or in my case drive the car. I too am very anti-social now but that also is getting better. I really don't have any answers that will comfort but the government is really running how things are going and physicians are running scared but patients are really going to be suffering til it's all figured out. I pray, meditate, and keep searching for ways to relieve pain as the doctors don't seem to be doing. I have used CBD oils (legit CBD oil with NO THC), lidocaine creme's and these help as well. Stay strong, keep searching and pray and hopefully things will improve for those of us who have real pain needs and not addictions. I truly believe that there is confusion of patients who will never improve and that pain meds give quality of life as oppose to patients who are only looking for a high. Let's stay positive. Good Luck!!

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Re: TIM (# 69)

Dear TIM and JOHN,

Thank you. I appreciate statements made by professionals, but at times feel their opinions are jaded by the narrow parameters they have to operate in because of politics or the most recent war on....you name it. In this instance, it is war on opiates. Seems whenever a societal correction needs to be made, we end up with an over correction before there is a happy medium. This happy medium will not be happy for all, but it will probably be happy for the majority. Happy in that they are not denied their pain meds, in which hooefull they are grateful, but their meds will be modified. To modify the meds should not normally throw us into withdrawl, but in some cases, it may.

A "compassionate" response by doctor in the case of say...an over opiated patient, imho, would be to taper them. For more reasons than the physical symptoms of withdrawl, but also the physchological aspect. The people, depending on their pain meds....mentally, their boat is severely rocked. They firmly believe that without that particular dose, they will no longer be able to function, work, mother their children, be productive. A taper CAN work on both aspects, psych, and physical. They have time to wrap their heads around the fact that they really don't need their pain med to be at that dose, and they have time to adjust without the discomfort of withdrawl. Seems this would benefit both doctor and patient.

For those poor patients that are just sent packing because the clinic needs to cull the high number of chronic pain patient scripts, it seems discretion is not always used by the professionals. Look, nothing is perfect. Of course, we know that, but to cut them off with the goal of lowering the numbers and not the goal of helping the over prescribed patient, ends up with some in true need being thrown overboard without even so much as a farewell taper! Seen this and know it happens more often than it should.

Surely, I would hate to see a great doctor have to defend his prescribing practices, and risk losing his hard won liscence. But even more I hate to see patients in severe need denied. Still waiting for the pendulum to shift back to a middle ground, where doctors and patients are out from under the microscope and simply enjoying a working relationship. Again, JMHO. JMJ

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Re: Jethro Tull (# 73)

Entitled? Sorry Jethro but i've never seen anybody mutilate the word entitled so bad. lol. Sorry no pun intended but wow!

When it comes to chronic pain patients doctors need to find middle ground. Of course they can't appease them! I've seen some cases where patients are taking ungodly amounts of opiates due to building up such a tolerance. When it comes to pointing fingers there that is a slippery slope. Do the patients REALLY need that much? Did the doctor really NEED to give them that much?

More so than pointing fingers and saying who's at fault let's remember that this war on prescription opioids has been skewed by media and politicians. They lump in heroin overdoses, concomitant use with other CNS depressants (benzos, alcohol), and other drug fatalities that have nothing to due with those who responsibly take prescribed opioids for managing their pain.

If the government would have stayed out of health care, which in a free society they SHOULD have, this wouldn't even be an issue. I can drive to the liquor store right now and buy enough hard liquor to kill an elephant but who cares!? The whole idea that all of this is for the greater good is total baloney!

Of course, doctors need to protect themselves from the government too. However they did take the hippocratic oath which means that they should handle pain patients in a somewhat "compassionate" manner. That doesn't mean that have to dole out truckloads of oxycodone but it does mean that they need to be ethical. Sending a chronic pain patient packing without even trying to help them taper or find alternatives IS unethical, IMO.

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Re: JMJ (# 72)

Very well stated and covering both sides. Congrats!

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I am so sorry for the loss of your sister and for that lousy excuse of a doc. I found out two weeks ago that my pain management doc is being investigated by the DEA and can no longer prescribe my pain meds. My condition is very similar to yours. I live in a very small town in Kansas and there are no pain management clinics near. I was told that I don't qualify for suboxone because I haven't used opioids illegally! I thankfully had enough pills left to taper down and quit. This was not a pleasant experience. I am now trying to get along on Tylenol as I can't take aspirin, ibuprofin or alleve because I have chronic kidney disease. Life is not fair and is sometimes cruel. The politicians are going crazy about the opioid crisis but they are going about it wrong. No wonder people like us (not meaning you or me) are taking to the streets to get something to relieve the pain.

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Just yesterday I read a story of what they described as a great guy who was very talented. They then went on to interview many of his friends and they all said he had a serious cocaine problem. He was combining cocaine and antidepressants, adderall, and other uppers that are pharmaceutical meds and you know what they had the nerve to post as headline after he killed himself by using too much illegal and legal substances? "Promising Student Is swept up in the opioid epidemic". The story clearly attributes his death to HIS ABUSE of cocaine along with other substances (none of which were opioids) but that was the main culprit. His friends told him he was out of control with his massive cocaine ingestion. THIS, people, are why LEGITIMATE patients of legally prescribed pain meds are being abused. The abuse is by many Doctors, the manufacturers, and the pharmacies. The entire community of legal and illegal pain med users are all being grouped into one group. Criminals, street drug users, legal legitimate pain med patients, street addicts, it just doesn't matter. As far as the majority of people are concerned every person in the above listed groups are one and the same. Until the mindset of the people both professional and non professional understand that there are LEGITIMATE uses for pain meds and they do not belong rolled up into the groups of drug abusers, those that get and use their prescriptions LEGALLY are going to pay the price of this mindset.

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Re: EL444 (# 4)

Hello, I have a similar story to yours which I've shared elsewhere on this site so I will not repeat it here. My heart breaks for you. The medical community has gone off the rails and they are taking patients along with them.

I too live near Chicago and would be grateful if you would share the name of the woman doctor you've found that may be willing to prescribe. {edited for privacy}.

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I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have multiple sclerosis and a host of other extremely serious illnesses and diseases all causing severe pain. I was on a pain management program for 10 years and was taking long-acting morphine. My doctor suddenly told me he would have to taper me off and drop me out of the program and I got all kinds of excuses as to why but never the truth. Here’s the real truth. People who have abused this medication and taking advantage of doctors have created this opioid crisis and those of us who are actual patients with real pain are experiencing the fallout and the consequences. Opiates within 12 months will no longer be prescribed to any patient that is not terminally ill with cancer. I have been searching for almost 2 years for another doctor. I was a 100% compliant patient and never failed any drug panels and always kept my appointments and yet I’m left to suffer with a debilitating disease as serious as multiple sclerosis without pain medication. The DEA and the FDA and the pharmaceutical companies and doctors all have their heads up their asses and unfortunately there is going to be a lot of suffering us pain patients are going to have to do for the rest of our lives I guess. I literally cannot function without pain medication and have been forced to buy medicine on the streets just so I can have some type of quality of life. This is pathetic and it’s cruel and unusual punishment which I thought was against the Geneva Convention.

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Re: w john (# 17)

Medical marijuana IS NOT A PROBLEM with all pain management clinics. The ones in NH just consider it to be your immediate release pain meds and they put you on time release meds if they’re worried about it and you use it for pain. I use it for PTSD and they don’t have an issue with it at all because I am a medical patient.

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Re: Really agitadated right shoulder Oxycontin guy who (# 12)

I so wish my uncle hadn't passed away last year. He was a very respected & high position holding supreme court lawyer & politician. He fought for the "little guy" so to speak. He would've been all over this B.S.! I used to talk with & email the state senator for ct on behalf of the ASPCA. But this one I'm sure he'd ignore. Very sad!

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Re: Nope (# 18)

I was "dismissed" (thrown out) of a pain management clinic in Kansas for using marijuana.
The doc said she could lose her license if she kept me as a patient. I don't know if that was true or not. I was given enough morphine and hydrocodone for a three week taper down. It was hell. Our state is woefully ignorant about the medical use of marijuana.

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Re: Kat (# 26)

The marijuana debate will rage on until there is concrete medical proof and/or legislative relief instead of just opinions. Getting upset because an entity "doesn't understand" a situation will not get things done. Many rant and rave because they desire a different outcome but that will not correct a situation. It will take LEGISLATIVE ACTION to resolve this problem. For the time being if a person wants relief with prescribed pain medications one had better not consume marijuana. IN MOST STATES finding marijuana in either your urine or blood will get you removed from a pain management program.

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