Chronic Pain Support Group

What is your diagnosis? What state are you in.

I'm so sorry you were denied.. What was the reason?

My Rheumatoid arthritis dr handles my pain management. I don't have RA but I have severe arthritis in my right hip, left knee and elbow. My RA is out until Nov 6th and my refill is due the 27th. His nurse said the oncall dr will do the refill but we'll see what kind of drama unfolds. I went thru the whole "PM clinic" thing and was very disappointed. I'm glad I found this RA he's very caring and he trusts me. He's even refilled a script early for me since I was going out of the state right in the middle of needing my refill. He did it with no questions asked. So whats the plan now for your pain treatment? Do you have to go to "UC Davis"? Geesh what a jerk for not helping you. I hope you find a good PM soon. Good luck to you.

~hugs

I have always been with pain management doctors but they are all board certified and affiliated with good hospitals. My PCP won't touch it with a ten foot pole, my rheumy refers to PM. Now my Uro prescribes for kidney stones but I am on contract so I don't take any from him.

I hope you can find someone. It seems to be getting harder and harder t find good pain docs. If you can get a PCP that would be great. Most people who are with their PCP's are happy.

Colleen I am so very sorry to hear this. The least they could have done is be prompt in letting you know. Is your PCP willing to give you your meds until you find a pain specialist? The doctor I see who handles my pain is actually called a Pain Specialist. He has a rehab/physical therapy business along with his practice. If you trying to find a dostor I think that some Anesthesiologists treat pain also. Good luck and keep me posted.

My primary is willing to provide me with medication until I find the right doctor. I was really frustrated that their office is so unprofessional as to not even call me about the denial (3 weeks+). If that is how they treat people, I am glad they denied me. I have found another doctor who specializes in pain and also does rehab/physical therapy. I will be calling their office this afternoon to see what they require. They are on my insurance. If a referral is needed by my primary, I see him tomorrow. It is a pretty day today in Nor. Cal. Just can't let the turkeys get me down:) Thanks everyone for your support.

I see a Neurologist for my Chronic Intractable Migraine, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Fibromyalgia and also, co-incidentally, the same guy treats my OCD, to save me a trip to a shrink so he can say, "Here's your prescription. Where's my $400.00?"

What is your diagnosis, Colleen? How long have you been in pain, and what treatments have not worked?

P.S. The reason I was denied is that he spoke with another doctor in the building who treated me during my work comp case. (So much for patient confidentiality). That doctor dismissed me by stating in a letter that he could no longer treat my pain. The truth is that I never got to see the doctor. I saw him two times in three years. I was shifted to a new assistant every month. The turnover was incredible. When I would find someone I felt comfortable with and was making progress with that person, his secretary would tell me that I had to see a new assistant the next time (office policy). When I asked to see the doctor, I was denied, and then dismissed. When I asked the woman on the phone why I was denied, she mumbled something that sounded like my old doctor's name. When I asked who they recommended, she said UC Davis. Yes, I have an appointment with UC Davis Neuro on December 28. In the meantime, I need different medication. The Norco does not always work or my body crashes with pain in the afternoon. My primary is not comfortable prescribing something like Oxycontin. My doctor feels I need to cover all my bases. At least my doctor tries to understand what I am going through. It will be okay. You know that saying, "two steps forward, one step back."

To answer another question: I have been in pain since 1998. Shingles first appeared on my leg (told it was a spider bite by my then primary) and was given various topicals. The stuff never worked and it would not go away for a long time. Then shingles appeared on my upper torso (given some other story by my primary). I was working as a paralegal then and raising my daughter alone. In 1998, I went to work in downtown Sac by the state Capitol. Silly me, I thought I could get a life. Instead, the pain became so bad in my upper body, that they sent me to their occupational doctor (I was told by my then primary to follow protocol). The rest is a long story. I became permanently disabled in 2001, although Social Security reviewed me again in 2005. My primary wrote a fantastic short report for me. I always knew that I was different than fibro patients. PHN has been my downfall. My diagnoses: fibro, herniated disk, degenerative disk disease, carpal tunnel (I had surgery for both wrists and it was successful), peripheral neuropathy. What started as areas of pain became full body. Now I understand why my right side is in so much pain, and I have neuropathy throughout my body with incredible weakness and fatigue. Where the shingles broke out, I developed terrible neurpathic pain. This last bout on the right side of my head/torso was the worst pain I have ever experiended. It was more painful than when I broke my elbow roller skating. Now, I am just trying to improve and pick up the pieces. Thanks again.

It seems very unfair that this doctor denied seeing you. You were given NO reason why? Some doctors only deal with certain types of pain etc. I know it seems unfair, but doctors may talk to each other and it is NOT a breach in "Patient Confidentiality." If they were to talk to their spouse, or your boss or anyone else, without your consent (which you give when you sign the HIPPA agreement every single doctor in the USA makes patients sign) then it would be a breach. But, doctors talking to each other is not a breach of this policy.

In fact, honestly, once you sign a HIPPA, your doctor can talk to anybody, if he deems it necessary to your case. YES, it is not fair. HIPPA SUCKS. It does not "protect patients" it is a CYA policy for doctors and a way for the Government or any branch of "Law Enforcement" and ANY Insurance Companies to get into your medical file if they want. (Thank the "Patriot Act" for that shit. Thank Fascist Bushites and the like.)

There is SO MUCH wrong with American Medicine. HIPPA is only part of it.

I am sorry you are in so much pain. I am glad your regular doctor will at least treat you until you can get in to see an other pain specialist. Look at it this way, the doctor who refused your case most likely, if made to take you, would not have put effort into it. We deserve doctors who want to treat us.

Hugs,

P'Gell

Thanks so much P'Gell for the info. I thought HIPPA was supposed to protect patients. And, you are right, he would not have put in any effort in my treatment. I have found a new doctor in Sacramento. I see my primary tomorrow for follow-up. I called the office to find out what they require with the referral. Hopefully this will work out and I can at least consult with him. It seems that if your doctor refers you out, they should at least consult with the patient. What does this say about my own doctor's credibility? It think it is wrong. Thanks again.