Wondering how many of you have had problems with being in between doctors? My doctor told me in January that he wasn't able to treat me any longer because he doesn't see that many patients and the few that he does see are in their functional restoration program. (Would have been nice to know this before deciding to see him a year ago) He then proceeded to tell me that if I didn't find a new doctor, he was going to reduce my medications. Wow. Could he be any more negative? I was ready to find a new doctor anyway because he was always telling odd stories that made me question his professionalism, he asked a lot of personal questions and constantly bugged me about going to his stupid restoration programs.

I researched a new doctor, advised my attorney, who then advised my adjuster of who my new doctor choice was. In early February I needed to refill my medications and had to bite the bullet and schedule another appointment with my outgoing doctor because my new doctor hadn't received the authorization yet. This is where all hell breaks loose. Outgoing doctor was mad that I was there and said some pretty crappy things. He accused me of not doing anything to find a new doctor. I phoned my attorney while in the exam room and left a message. The doctor had someone call my adjuster to see if I was telling the truth and the adjuster said she didn't have anything from my attorney requesting a new doctor. Actually, she received it 6 days prior and it was in her inbox. I later had the hard copy which I wish I had at the time. I found it interesting that when my attorney calls my adjuster, it takes three or four tries to get her, but when the doctor's office calls, they answer right away. Interesting. Now an argument breaks out in the doctors office between me and the doctor after he said "I am going to be really mean, I am going to renew your patches but I am not going to renew your norco"

I wear 2 75mcg duragesic patches every 3 days for a total of 150mcg, and take 2 norco every day if I have breakthrough pain. Also, take cymbalta and prilosec. I told him I felt tricked that he said he would fill my prescriptions and then I get there and he not only accuses me of lying, but I am receiving a punishment for someone else screwing up the authorization to see a new doctor? Why would I want to continue to see him?

His response "I am giving you 90% of what you want. I have discharged you from my care. My obligation to you is terminated. You do understand that, don't you? If I was mean, I would say you go take care of this and get your medications from the emergency room. So I really don't appreciate this attitude toward me. I really don't. And if I hear anything more about you, I will file a treatment plan with the workers comp board which will be terrible, which will screw things up with your insurance company, so don't irritate me. OK? Seriously. Don't threaten me with I want this and I want that."

I told the doctor that it is up to my new doctor to change my medications and not the outgoing doctor, especially when there isn't anyone to monitor how I am feeling. I said that all he was doing was making himself feel better because I was going to have my new doctor put back my medication that I have been using for the last several years. And did he just threaten to screw up everything that I have just pushed for all these years with workers comp?
His response was "Your not pushing for anything except more dope"

I told him that since 1996 when I was diagnosed with CRPS in my foot, I have never failed a drug screen, lost medications, and am very careful to follow the pain contracts that I sign and that I was quite insulted by his comments. Not that he cared. I ended up with my 90% script and left. I wrote a letter to my attorney that evening about the experience. My attorney said that my doctor clearly has a serious character flaw. Since February 10th when that happened, I have been sorting out the authorization and getting records sent to the new doctor.

I finally received the call from the new doctor to schedule an appointment. April 14th is the soonest they can see me. Holy crap. Now I am wearing my last two patches. I have purposely made them last longer than they should have. It has been very hard on me because we have been moving from one house to another which has caused my foot and lower back to be in more pain. My daughter had surgery recently on GERD and I am having to help her as well. How I am supposed to go from the 25th of March to the 14th of April without any medication? I called crazy doctor today and they aren't calling me back with an answer. Crazy doctors assistant said that he wasn't my doctor anymore. New doctor said that they can't see me until the 14th. Seriously? Am I supposed to just walk into an emergency room and get my meds? Anyone have any ideas?

I had a very similar problem about a year ago. I had been seeing a pain clinic for over a year. Never failed a drug screen (they tested every visit even if it was a week later), never need a script early, brought my pills in for a "pill count" when asked. You get it- no issues with pain meds.

The pain clinic said that if I wanted to continue with them I had to see a counselor. I had no issue with that, but I'm on Worker's Comp so I can't just make an appointment. My WC adjuster kept denying me a counseling appointment. We finally went to court and got a "counseling evaluation" approved. I went to my normal appointment and told them I had an evaluation scheduled with a counselor in two weeks (the first available appointment). Then I would have to go back through the WC system to get subsequent appointments approved. The NP at the pain clinic wasn't sure if that was good enough. She only gave me a 5 day script for the two meds I was on and said she would discuss my case at their WC patient meeting on Monday and get back to me. On Monday I got a phone call saying I was terminated from their practice for lack of compliance with seeing a counselor. She gave me a number of an inpatient detox center saying if I couldn't find someone else to prescribe for me by the time my RX ran out in 5 days that I
would have to go to detox (even though she admitted that substance abuse was not an issue for me). I called the detox center and they said I didn't qualify because it would be "unethical" to detox someone with CRPS without a pain treatment plan.

I then called my PCP (who is an NP). She saw me within a few days and has been prescribing for me ever since. I do see a pain management doctor now for lidocaine infusions. He doesn't write my scripts, just puts in his notes that he agrees with my PCP's treatment plan. He's also there to advise if I need to tweak meds, but I see my PCP monthly to write the script.

Sorry for the long story, but I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I never admitted to anyone that I was discharged from a pain clinic because I was so embarassed. My primary has been very supportive. Going to the ER for your scripts may not be an option- they often won't write narcotics for chronic pain.

Good luck.

You might ask about this on our workers comp forum, or search there for similar problems..
I don't know if your atty can press this along faster due to the lack of meds for an accepted condition..? Shouldn't hurt to keep questioning atty about this med issue & delay..

Might be good to request a copy of that other dr records - or ask atty to request them for you..less chance of the records being fiddled with.., he may have written garbage or incorrect info in the files.
Often bad records can make trouble for claims

That is just terrible, bunnehead!! So frustrating to get such crap treatment when you are complying and not being a drug-seeker That first dr. sounds REALLY strange! I'm so sorry you've had to stretch things out like that I've been thru that on a smaller scale

Here's another thought - maybe your insurance company can speed up your first appointment? Usually insurance companies are one of the sources of our problems, but if you point out a possible money loss, they can sometimes move quickly. Tell them that you are medically dependent upon these meds as per dr's order, and will go through withdrawal and a very expensive trip to the ER unless you can get in to the new dr. sooner. Just keep saying how expensive trips to the ER are - keep those dollar signs in front of them - as compared to an office visit to a dr. And stress that you have been under continual care of a dr, and are on these meds by prescription, and an unavoidable side-effect of being off them is a serious withdrawal. Something like that. The only time that I won something with my insurance company is when I convinced them that the course I did NOT want was really expensive, and the course that I DID want was a lot cheaper. Anyway, it was just a thought I had ... keep us informed, and I'm so sorry you are going through this

Wow, gigicnm, that is just awful!! With your good record, the pain clinic dropped you?! You were obviously actively working to comply, but had to go thru WC and the court system and that takes time. That seems bordering on unethical for them to drop you

So long as you have the WC approval, the doctor's office should be able to get you in earlier. Explain that you'll be out of meds and can't go into withdrawals. Explain you have a few weeks worth and can call every morning to check for cancellations.

I doubt any ER will prescribe you fentanyl patches. They maybe would prescribe methadone or suboxone or refer to a doc that will... They might be willing to give you a shot while there if you're in a flare, but don't count on it.

I don't think people realize what a nightmare WC is and it's only getting worse.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but don't burn your bridges like that in the future with any doctor, even if he is wrong and a jerk.

Over the years: I've had a doc that died, one that left the state with a week's notice, one that lost his ability to prescribe meds, and one close his practice with 30 days notice since he was so sick of WC. My current doc is well past retirement age. You ALWAYS need to have a backup doctor that you trust and that trusts you, when you're dependent on opiates.