[quote/]
Even if they couldn't fit you in, they should be the ones advising you on what they think is the best course of action for you......for example, going to the ER, upping the doses or frequency of the meds you have available in the house.

Was it the Oxycodone that you were instructed only to use every 12 hours ? That doesn't sound like a realistic pain plan for someone in constant pain.....the med only lasts 4 to 6 hours.
I know I spent years in bed or my chair with an ice pack on continuously trying to numb the severe pain just a bit. Of course, I understand now that that probably made what was originally "just" TOS develop into RSD......I was just trying to not go insane from the pain.

I hope that you are okay.[/QUOTE]

I would advise AGAINST going to the Emergency Room unless you had a life-threatening condition. It is such a shame that you don't have a Regular Pain Management doctor that you see Every Month, without Fail.

My Primary Care Doctor and Pain Mgmt doctor actually told me that they don't like patients who go to ER's for pain because pain is not a "medical emergency" and it shows that they are abusing "medical resources" (exact quote). Then also told me that the ER docs will kind of look at with suspician a patient who more than once goes to the ER for pain because it is a "pain-drug addict" kind of thing to do, that is, to run out of pain meds too early for the month. And then the ER docs will only treat the patient for pain for one hour but not give anymore vicodins or whatever the patient wants. They will tell the patient see your regular doctor for the pain. [I'm not implying that you are a D.A., just explainining what the ER doctors tend to think and judge.] It is a tough situation if you don't learn the "pain patient rules" and mess up. One of the bigger Pain Clinics around my area will have new Pain Patients actually read/sign/take home an actual printed contract between them and the doctor. One of the rules is that you cannot go to a different doctor or Clinic besides the designated Pain Mgmt Doctor for refills or additional pain medicine. It is called "doctor shopping" and prevents the Pain Mgmt doctor from knowing your true intake number and dose of pain meds, which is not safe, because you can overdose. The pain management doctor can then kind of put the word out to other doctors/ clinics in your area that "patinet XY" is my pain patient and do not give her Pain Meds, if she shows up to your clinic asking for Pain Meds, please call me and let me know (and do not give XY Patient meds) and then you are kind of treated like a drug addict by every medical clinic in your area. This was actually all explained to me as actual practice of this big Pain Clinic. They will then also stop treating you for pain, obviously, and refer you to a drug treatment/addiction center.

However, since you don't have pain mgmt doctor that you see every month, of course you are going to run out of meds! It is an impossible situation you are in. I really hope you get the care of a regular Pain Management doctor that helps you.