Getting 2 pain meds from 2 providers?

Hi, It's me again. I know i just posted, but this is a totally unrelated question....

So, I see a PM doc for chronic back pain (going on 16 years of pain from removal of fatty tumor from spinal cord, and subsequent surgery to close spinal fluid leak). I am prescribed Tramadol 300mg daily. I also have RFA done on both sides (at different times) of my lower back.

My problem is that I am going in for some heavy duty oral surgery next Thursday morning. I have to have a tooth extracted, removal of infected bone, insertion of bone graft, sew it up, and then bond a prosthetic tooth to the teeth on either side of it (the one they are removing is a front tooth). It will take around 4 months for that portion of the procedure to heal. Fortunately, I will NOT be in pain that long. But I probably will be for the first few weeks. Dentist wants to prescribe pain killers for me. Said I will need them.

Even though I only take Tramadol from the pain doc, I'm sure they had me sign something saying that I would not get pain meds from any other doc. I assume this includes the dentist. I have seen this pain doc twice, both times only for procedures, and seen his PA 3 times for a couple of minutes each time, just long enough for him to say either "schedule another procedure" or "come back in 3 months". They don't know me from a hole in the wall. When you call the clinic #, you get a centralized "call bank center" which handles every kind of call for every doc in their system. I know I don't have time to see the PA before next week, and they are horrible about returning calls, usually have to pass messages back n forth thru the nurses or receptionists.

I'm sorry this has gotten so long, I just wanted to explain everything! So, how does one go about arranging getting pain meds from another doc? Is it common to get a different pain med or do they just try to "up" the dose of your current med? Dentist told me he didn't think my long acting tramadol would actually cover me the whole day and wants to prescribe a shorter acting narcotic. Do I call the PM? Or does the dentists office call?

I know some of you have dealt with similar situations. Would you mind sharing some info with me on how to coordinate this?

Thanks for your help,

Sunny

…..this is a common problem for PM patients, and I sympathize with you about it.

I definitely would call your PM and explain your situation to them, and two,…..I would let the dentist know as well. It may be that your Dentist will contact your PM for you to get approval for a short supply of pains meds just for this procedure.

I wish you the best!

SE

I always just tell my PM what is going to be happening and he'll give me an increase in meds for the procedure... Or if it requires something stronger than what I'm on, he gives the doctor or dentist a call to discuss what will be prescribed. Then its in my chart so if I get a drug test, its documented.

Call your pm and ask how they want you to handle it. I've had er visits where they want to prescribe something different and they just have to call my PM first and he gets all the medical records faxed to him.

….yes Alice!…..I think Dr's have better success than patients at times when these types of things come up. My Dr is very good about this, and I have been in the room when he has called other Dr's and or pharmacies on my behalf.

PM's can be a bit tough though, and everything can be black and white to them, leaving the patient in limbo to suffer needlessly. It burns my rear to hear cases like that! There is just no need for it.

SE

I agree with all who gave you good advice, the last thing yo,.u want to do is get kicked from your PM dr. when you can prevent all problems by letting your Doctors both 0f them what going on.

Kathy