a 50mg patch is the best he can do....that's pretty stupid, there is a ton more that can be done, was that an ortho that said that a pm doc if it was an ortho I'd recomend seeing a pm doc. From my experiences ortho's tend to have one thing on there minds, how many surgeries can I do to this person, and if sugery don't work then it's not my problem. However if this was a pm doc I'd try seeing a different one.

Now, I am with LBF, the 50 Mg patch is it?! He is running out of options??!! NO! There is 75 Mg's, 100 Mg's, of the patch, and there are several other medications that he can try besides the patch to relief your pain. So, if he doesn't have anything else in his repertoire, then is time to switch Doctor's!!

BTW, no medication is going to take your pain away 100%, I am currently on 80 Mg's of Methadone daily for my intractable pain, and the best that the medication does, is take about 70% of my pain away, that is good enough for me! No med is ever going to be 100%, so be aware of that....

Anyway's, what are you waiting to get your knee fix? I had my left knee operated on because I had a tear, and that took care of my pain. It was done minimally invasive and I was back to work in 2 weeks, so unless you need a full knee replacement, which they won't do at your age, go ahead and do the surgery, don't wait any longer.

Good luck,

I had micro fracture surgery on my left knee about 2 years ago. I was on crutches for 12th weeks, had to relearn how to walk. But I moved to ny and couldn't get Medicaid for almost a year. No pt, no doc to follow up with... my knee just went to shit. The surgeon I had said if that surgery didn't work, I would need a knee replacement. The only doc that will take me has an outstanding bill from when I was 16. My dad said he would pay it... I'm just waiting on him now.

totally understand what you're going through! I would ask your doctor to refer you to Pain management group. I get me pain meds from him and injections every 4 months. Mostly Epidurals to block the nerves. Works great!
What really made a difference in my life is Fentanyl pain patches, trigger point injections.
I place my patches near to pain area. One time I was at a party, a doctor asked me if it was effective? I told him that placing near the are works. Most of the time I add waterproof tape to make it hold better.
Hope this works for you?
HUG

I find it depends on the manufacturer of the patch. The Mylan brand is like a second skin & stays on really well. My pharmacy switched to the Watson brand, & it was like wearing a garbage bag. It was noisy & came off very easily. I had to search high & low, but I found a pharmacy that carried the Mylan brand Fentanyl patch. I am telling you...the difference means the patch stays on for 72 hours so you get all of your medicine. I hope this helps.
-Jennifer

It's your doc that's running out of options. I'd start looking for a different one, easier said than done; but it's like a job, if you don't have a job, you play hell finding one, but if you're employed, it's often easier to fall into a new one.

This guy must be some kind of dipstick, he's not giving you breakthrough meds? And the surgeon is refusing treatment for a 5 year old bill? I mean let's take this apart and look at it:

1 The surgeon should have written it off by now, and actually may have.

2 A 16 year old is dependent upon her parents for medical care. The claim should be against the person who signed for you when you were a minor. When they gave permission for the previous treatment, they took financial responsibility.

3 You never made a contract with the surgeon, and he has no buisness putting you off for the reason he gives.

4 You should not have to suffer and do further damage to your body, if he has accepted you as a patient as you imply. That is malpractice by omission.

Something's rotten in Denmark there.

Contact an advocacy group or present to a 'Doc in the box', and get a referral for some competent treatment. I think your main problem is the fact that you are on Medicaid. If the surgeon has that attitude now, you don't want to have to depend on him pos-op.

-Chuck

My dad just paid the bill today. I have to wait until the billing person comes in on Monday to un-red flag my account. The doc is not the doc that did my surgery, his one that saw me before I lived in Az (where my surgery was) for a sprained knee. I will try putting the patch near my knee and see how that helps. I'm dying today in pain and I have to wait 4 weeks to see the doc again. I'm going to ask him to up the patch and give me break through Meds. Between my arthritis, bad knee, and rotated vertebrae in my spine... ugh.

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