Pain Management Shreveport (Top voted first)

Does anyone know of any primary care physicians in the Shreveport/Bossier City/Haughton/Minden area that do pain management? I have been going to a pain management doctor here in Shreveport for about 6 years now, but it is just getting to expensive. He refuses to to go any higher on my dosage of Oxycontin, which is 30 mg 3 times a day. And he will not give me anything for break through pain. I am on Medicaid so I have to pay him out of pocket. Medicaid pays for 60 of my oxy's, but I have to pay for the other 30. If I knew of a primary care physician that accepts does some pain management and also accepts medicaid it would be a really big help. I'd really appreciate anyone that could help me out and answer this. Thank you.

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My primary care doc sent me to the Spine Institute on 1500 Line Avenue, I use Dr. Letchuman, he will give you an MRI to diagnose your problem and give you the medication you need, I am on hydrocodone, but he will give you whatever you need for your pain. They accept my Medicare as payment, I do have a secondary insurance to pick up the 20% that Medicare doesn't pay, I assume that Medicaid will do the same.

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I have been reading about the problems with pain management in Louisiana and I feel so angry and horrified that the state would allow people to suffer like you are doing. I personally would go to another state to live. Come to WA state. People on SSI and medicaid are not treated like unwanted dogs here. My medicaid plan pays for whatever my pain clinic submits to them. I am presently on Elago ER and 4mg. dilaudid. It is expensive. I could never afford even the co-pays if I had to. I get $483.00 a month from SSI. They took 1/3 of my SSI check because I rent a room from a family member which costs me $400.00 a month. I so appreciate the medical care I am receiving right now. Even if I had regular insurance, which I did 5 years ago the plans are so awful now that I would not be able to afford going to a pain clinc. My heart goes out to you. Our pain clinic here only makes you come in every three months. Your prescriptions are for 3 months and predated. So no monthly visits. I have suffered through many awful ordeals with doctors over the years. I just can not imagine what you all have to deal with. Someone really needs to contact the state legislature and change things.

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VEronica , even if you had Medicaid, in Louisiana it won't pay for Pain Management. There is or use to be a Pain Mangement Clinic at LSU (now University) but I'm not sure if they still have it. Even if you were on Medicaid, you still had to pay at LSU in the Pain Managment Clinic. The dr you're talking about if the only one I've heard of that will accept cash. By the way, even if you had Medicaid, in Louisiana it would not pay for more than 720 Lortab within a year.

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con71446, I realize that physicians are in business to make money. But, it seems that they are taking advantage of those without insurance who have to pay cash. How many people on Medicaid can afford $500 a month for pain management ? Unless you have really well hidden resources or someone with a lot of money who is willing to pay for you to go, I don't see how you or anyone can go for more than a few months with limited income. With all of the changes to Louisiana Medicaid that went into effect Feb 1, Medicaid may not pay for the meds if the dr doesn't accept Medicaid or your health plan.

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con71446, well said !

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There aren't any PCP's who do Pain Management for Medicaid patients, that I know of. As you already know Louisiana Medicaid will not pay for any form of chronic pain management. Due to studies that show that those on Medicaid are more likely to abuse or divert pain meds, the pressure has been on to not prescribe these meds to Medicaid patients for chronic pain.

You do need to get a copy of your medical records from your pain management dr. Any new dr that treats you for your pain will want to get copies of those records. Remember if you want to change your health plan, you have until the end of May. Be sure and verify that a dr accepts Medicaid and don't just go by what the health plans says or has on their website.

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Thanks for answering my question, Verwon. I went to see my current PCP and he basically told me the same thing. He ordered some x-rays for my neck a few weeks ago and he said I was all messed up so he is pretty sure he will be able to get me into the Spine Institute. So I am hoping they will be able to do something. Possibly some injections or something like that. My back is in pretty bad shape to and I'm really scared to have surgery. Again, thank you.

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Louisiana Medicaid won't pay for injections. The Spine Institute nor the pain drs associated with it accept Louisiana Medicaid only. They only accept Medicaid when you also have Medicare. University Health (Old LSU-HSC) has a pain management clinic. But, the only things Medicaid pays for is the initial visit, after that it is $50.

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Robyn, were you able to find a dr ? If you were would you please share their name or their location.

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Hi Marti,
No, from what I've been told I'm pretty much SOL in finding a primary care physician to act as my pain management doctor. For now I will continue to see Dr. Tanga in Shreveport. He's okay, but he refuses to go up on my dosage and he won't give me anything for breakthrough pain. I need a doctor that will listen to me and work with me and if I need more meds give it to me.

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I went to LSU pain clinic in 12/12 & was discharged by previous Dr from Texarkana. I actually had to go to my original Dr in Baton Rouge getting order for MRI. When I went to LSU, my back was bad. LSU told me they only gave pain medicine/treatment if pt has spinal tumors/cancer. If they have changed since please let me know. Currently seeing Dr who doesn't take M/C & Medicaid. Need neurological eval for surgery. Thanks

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No, it hasn't changed. Louisiana Medicaid will not pay for Pain Management for chronic pain. If you need a neuro evaluation, call your health plan and ask if they have any neurologists on their plan. If your plan is a Shared Saving Plan, you can see any dr who accepts Medicaid. If your plan is Pre-Paid, the dr must be part of your plan.

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Well then you are LUCKY. I have advanced DDD, herniated disc, severe spondylosis, with an osteophytic bar, ruptured disc, nerve impingment- 8 total discs involved! i am in unbearable pain, and go to Tango,,and all he'll give me is ONE 10mg lortab a day! It's inhumane the amount of suffering I do a day. I'll willing to pay cash, cause I have NO medicaid, health ins. and am on Free-care at LSU (*University Health now) but they have no pain mgt. Clinic. If your doctor accepts cash, please have mercy on me and let me know who you go to- i will not say you sent me. *i don't even like what you take,,it's too strong for me. I just wanted 10 mg more a day, but i think former drug addicts go there or something,,cause it's run like a methadone clinic if you get my meaning. I've had this condition for many years now,,and am JUST now seeking pain relief. I am NOT a drug seeker & don't appreciate being treated like one at this clinic cause that's all that seems to go there. I appreciate any input you can give me. Thanks.

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Nick, No medicaid won't do the same. If you have only Louisiana Medicaid no pain dr or pain clinic will accept it, including the Spine Institute, Dr. Letchuman or any other pain dr there. If you have Medicare & Medicaid, that it accepted. It is accepted because Medicare is the primary insirance and Medicaid is the secondary. Medicare will pay for pain management and for pain drs, Louisiana Medicaid will not.

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Robyn, I was wondering if you've been able to find anyone or if you're still seeing Dr Tanga ? I was also wondering about how much he charges. And if he is as rude to his patients as the online reviews indicate ? Isn't he the only pain doctor that accepts cash in the area ?

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Being here NOW, if you pay for your share of living expenses and have receipts, and no other income, you should be able to receive the full federal amount of $721 in SSI.

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Can anyone tell me if Dr Tanga and Dr. Letchuman do inj's.? Do they prescribe extended release and break through tablets ? Trying to decide which one to see. Thanks.

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Dr. Tanga does do the inj's. I think, but he's never asked me if I wanted to try them. He also prescribes extended release pain meds, but the highest he will go is 30mg on Oxycontin and he absolute refuses to give anything for breakthrough pain. Which really sucks and is totally wrong, but I have no choice but to see him because far as I know he is the only pain doctor that accepts self pay. All the others are insurance only. He charges me $175 plusan extra $100 every three months or so for drug panels. Initially though it's a much higher fee for the first visit, but I'm not sure exactly how much it is now. Back when I first started seeing him I think it was $350, but I believe it's much higher now cause that was like 6 years ago. VEronica, I can't believe he's only giving you 1 lortab a day. That's just insane. I'm pretty much in the same boat you're in as far as my diagnosis on my neck and my back. Both are seriously messed up. I'm on Oxycontin 30mg every 8 hours, zanaflex 4mg 1-2 every 8 hours. I've been on these same dosages for quite a while now and they are no longer really working for me, but he will not increase the dosage. I'm almost to the point now where I'd rather try and buy some insurance just so I can see a different doctor, but if I do that I will lose my disability. Really sucks!

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I was have been under pain management for 6 years with a doctor in Texas and. Out of nowhere I can no longer go because he's out of state. My PCP was writting my meds until last week, he said the law has changed and he can no loner write them. Right now I'm going through some heavy withdrawals and in more pain than i thought possible. I have Lupus, RA, Fibromyalgia, Muskeler Skeletal Disorder, Nuropothy, Serverve Chronic Pain along with Anixty Disorder and have had Knee Replacement. I have medicate and there is not one doctor that will take me as a patient because of it, I even offered to pay cash but they are not taking cash patients either. I'm on SSI a 1/2 credit from getting my full disability but I'm 100& disabled. We are being treated like lower class citizens and it isn't right. I have never abused my medication, I always follow the direction on the bottle

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Connie, your PCP can write rxs for pain meds, he just chooses not to. I don't understand why drs lie to patients. Also drs that accept Medicaid try and stay away from rxing high doses of pain meds because the politicians in D.C. are pushing the states to discipline Medicaid Providers who are high prescribers of pain meds and certain other meds. Louisiana Medicaid will not pay for a Pain Management Clinic or a Pain Management Dr. Although they will pay for the meds. I know others here have said that it will, but call your health plan and ask them for the names of Pain Management Dr. Louisiana will pay for you to see other drs. But good luck at getting them to prescribe much, if anything for chronic pain.

Why did you have to stop seeing the pain managment dr in another state ? Is it because in Louisiana you can only get a 10 days supply of pain meds if the dr doesn't have a license to practice in Louisiana ? They also call the dr and tell them. You can't get another rx for the meds and get it filled in Louisiana before 90 days are up, even though you only got a 10 day supply.

The best advice I can give you is to go to work and earn that other credit. Then you will qualify for SSDI & Medicare. There are many Pain Management Drs in Louisiana who accept Medicare. It can be a filed work attempt, so you shouldn't lose your SSI. Although you might be ineligible for SSI for a few months because of income.

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