Pt and pain clinic update + is ortho Dr crazy?

[mariah]

I went to see the orthopedic surgeon 2 weeks ago. He gave me some shots in my spine and a script for hydrocodone(which I didn't ask for) If you'll remember work comp was wanting to send me to a rehab/pain clinic/pt. The Dr. said he wanted me to go, thought it would be good for me(I had a court order to get his opinion on the clinic) I told his nurse I didn't want to go to the pain clinic because of my hubby's heart condition(it's very severe) I had to go back to the ortho a couple of days ago. He comes in,(he had to wait probably half a second while I was retreiving a message from my atty.) to the exam room, sits down, looks me right in the eye, tells me I'm addicted to my pain medicine, says I can blame my pain Dr if I want to, but it's MY fault I'm addicted to the pain meds, says he thinks the pain is all in my mind because of my addiction (believe me, I wish it was just in my mind) says he's not going to recommend I go to the pain clinic because he doesn't think Work comp. should have to pay for it (Ks law states that if you become addicted w c has to pay for treatment because becoming addicted to pain meds is a natural effect of the treatment) says I should get some physical thrapy, and w c will probably have to pay but he doesn't think they should have to and he's going to order some p t at the hospital where I live and that I need to get off the meds by myself. I told him the druggist where I get my meds filled said I could die from trying to get off the med(methadone) by myself, the ortho doc says that's probably true, reiterates I'm addicted to the meds and tells me I'm free to go. I'm beginning to think he's nuts (or bought off) he gave me more pain medication that I didn't ask for 2 weeks ago and now this about face, none of this makes sense to me, opinions please, thanks

[jackie45]

Yup they are crazy, I know what your going through. Iam sorry you also have to go through this.
I have been going to my Ortho Doc since June 05, had surgery on right hand in July 05. Been off work with light duty. Both hands have got worse. And my job had no light duty for me. My Doc released me in June of 06. with PPD of 25% Then I find out in Jan 07 my Doctor signed a paper for my job saying I can do Janitorial job. Its not light duty and also very repetative,which Iam not suppose to do. WC cut off my checks. So now my Attorney is fighting the Industrial Commision. Also this job has been avilable the hole time I have been off work, But never offered it to me before he released me. The Doctor never talked to me about this job. And is refussing to talk to me now. My job wants to get me back in there, just to fire me. Then they can cut off everything. Iam sure he is working for WC now. All I can say is your not alone. And I hope it all works out for you. Please keep us posted. Good Luck !

[backless]

I do hope you have a lawyer to help you through your legal rights. Rights that are soooooo complex the avg.person can't understand them,or know of time limits that often run along with them.Of course anyone,including myself becomes medically addicted to pain meds after a time from using them.I too take methadone and hydrocodone. If I run past my time to take them,I get tired(er)sweat,get all moody etc.I dont understand why you dont want to go to the pain clinic because your hubby is sick(must have missed something).Any Dr.that gives you spinal injections and pain meds,then says its in your head,needs his head examined.Get copies of his office notes and see if he put that in writing.If he did,based on what I just mentioned,I would think you have a right to get another Dr. I would also think it better for your pain Dr.to treat you with the pain meds. The pain Dr's are more aware of different meds.that might help you.along with other procedures.Good luck.

[mariah]

My husband has a bad heart, he had quadruple by-pass surgery in 2001 and hasn't seen a Dr. since. he's having pains and not feelng well, we're trying to get him into the V.A. hospital backless and Iam concerned about leaving him for two months.After talking to my psychologist and expressing my fears to him, he helped me to see how important it is for me to go the pain clinic, then when I went back to the O.S. two weeks later, that's when he was so rude and did his about face, telling me I was addicted to my pain medication, that it's my fault and he thought the pain is all in my head (after he had given me the injections in my back and a script for the hydrocone!) I also told the O.S. at this last appt. that my pharmacist said that trying to get off the methadone by myself was dangerous and could even kill me and the O.S. said, I'm sure that's true, then told me he didn't think workers comp. should have to pay to treat my addiction, and I was free to go!!!I've talked to my atty's secretary(it's hard to ever get in touch with my atty.) explained the situation to her, she said she put a memo on his desk and a note for him to call me she said, so far I haven't heard anything from him. I talked to the secretary about two hours ago.

[Cry Tears]

Hi...I'm so sorry you have so many problems with pain on top of your husbands heart issues. Hugs to you!
OK...yes....your body CAN and DOES become "dependant/addicted" to pain medications. But so what!
The pain meds ARE for treating pain issues such as yours! What else are they for?
Treat my pain till you fix the cause...don't make me suffer!
Once these issues causing pain is gone...then we'll deal with the "dependance" AFTER I no longer need them to treat pain.
Ask the heartless doc who gave you the "addicted" label...ask him this question..."IF you had a patient who has cancer...you'd give them pain meds to treat their pain...right?....(He better say yes!)...then continue asking....OK...then...why?
Oh...for their pain? Now show me the chapter in your med book that states pain from cancer is different than damaged back/spine, nerves, etc...is there such a chapter? Oh there's not? Interesting!
"You wouldn't make a cancer patient suffer would you?
Then why do you deny treatment for my pain and allow me to suffer?"
"And why then do you make such conclusions when your medical books don't supoort such antiquated and ignorant thinking you have?
Pain IS pain no matter the source!"!

You don't need this dismissive attitude/treatment from one like him.
Your body needs the pain meds to help manage the pain until it can be fixed.
When/"IF" it's fixed...you'll no longer want or need pain meds/management!
Until then, you have every right not to suffer disabling pain when it can be treated!

A pain clinic specialist should be the only ones to determine and treat your pain...
but not always possible....each and every case is different.
Doctors are afraid of pain managment/meds and often pull out the "addicted" "cards" when they're uncomfortable writting scripts for opiod pain meds. (I think its a line they learn in med school during their pain meds 1 hour course)
They have the DEA breathing down their necks and can get in huge trouble for treating pain with opioid pain meds.
Its not fair to those who suffer pain, but with the governemnt invovled in our health care, this will always be this way till this is changed!
Some doctors don't fear the Feds...most do tho.
IF this statment was said by a Pain Specialist....find a different clinic!
There are a few nasty pain docs who work/run pain clinics when they shouldn't be!
They finally got rid of the one nasty doc at a PC here in my area.
But it took a lot of suffering for many before they realized this guy was bad news, playing God!....too bad he opened up his own clinic....poor patients!
I do hope you find the support and releif you need to help manage your pain issues. Your councilor may have a few suggestions regarding pain and addictive meds. They deal with this daily...part of treatment in pain clinics includes psychological support as well.
If this OS doc gave you pain meds and injections when he thought your pain is all in your head...you need to sue his pants off for practicing medicine like this and he needs his lic to practice medicine taken away!
Why did he give you these treatments if all in your head?!?!
Be firm in asking for releif for your suffering. Do NOT be timid and don't take "NO" for an answer....somehow I'm thinking you're not being firm in this, perhaps he doesn't understand your pain is valid!
All more reasons to be seen by pain clinic doctors.
More gentle hugs to you too....cheryl
PS...do you have Fibromyalgia as well?

[mariah]

Thanks crytears, I'm so sorry about all your pain, my daughter-in-law has fibromyalgia and she suffers so much. I also have neuropathy on top of all this other stuff. I've sent a letter to my atty. relating all this that has happened and if I don't hear something from him soon I'll contact our state labor board, they're not supposed to help injured workers after we get an atty. but I've become very good friends with my former advisor and she always helps me, be it giving me advice or even telling what I should say or write to my atty. she also told me to always e mail him with my concerns, that way I have proof!

PS To anyone reading this, I have a really hard time trying to post most of the time it will send me to a page to sign in (when I'm already signed in) then I sign in agsin, poof! Right back to the same page, not only is it annoying but if I lose my train of thought, sometimes I can't get it back!!!
thanks and I will pray for you and God bless you!