Hi Ang,

I'm relieved that you got your doc to put you back on your previous med plan. That's moving in the right direction. I understand that it's only a temporary fix. If he doesn't "get" it, we can all guess that he won't have the best long term pain management plan for you. I understand that searching out a doc who does "get" it is difficult.

I'm lucky to have a great neurologist right now. Because my insurance has denied other treatments for my RSD, pain meds are my plan for now. I currently take Cymbalta, Neurontin, Nortriptyline, Piroxicam, Norco, and MS Contin. I am in a MUCH better place pain management wise than I was years ago. Life is by no means perfect. I still have to recognize my limitations, so I can't do everything I'd like to (or, even most of it ), but I can do more than I could and I can enjoy more time with friends and family. I can LIVE, instead of just being alive. My neuro writes for my narcotics. Some idiot at my health insurance company doesn't like my neuro, and he is no longer on their list of preferred providers. That means that I can't use my insurance to pay for them. I can only afford them (over $200 a month) because I'm still married. After my youngest graduates from high school next year and I get divorced, I'll be screwed. I SHOULD be looking for a new neuro now, even though I LOVE mine, and start saving that money, but it's so hard to figure out how to find another doc who gets it.

Let's be honest, we can't just call around to dr's offices and ask the receptionist if that doc prescribes narcotics. We REALLY can't just try a new doc, transfers our records to him, go in for a visit and find out THEN that he doesn't prescribe meds, so then we have to try another new doc, and another.....and now we are "doctor shopping". It is hard to not appear to be "drug seeking" when we are, in fact, seeking meds to help with our pain OR a cure/treatment that would fix everything. I don't want to ask my neuro for a referral to another doc, because I don't want to insult him or change neuros. I have asked my primary doc to help with my dilemma, she refused. I would like a new primary MD, but I just switched to her 2 years ago and I don't want to switch again now and then again in the next year or two post divorce when I move.....because that would look like doctor shopping.

I understand that it's difficult to search out the right doc. Transportation issues.....how far away the office is, how often you might need to see him, if you can tolerate driving, if you need to arrange a ride.....can be a huge issue. Wasting more time waiting for an appointment with yet another "pain specialist" who only does injections that don't work for you......Feeling uncomfortable about insinuations by some docs/their staff because you are a chronic pain patient......It's easier to just try to get through the day and say you'll "deal with it tomorrow".