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PM's office is closing

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 6/4/2015 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, just got a letter in the mail today, stating that the office that I go to is closing. They are going to keep the Manhattan office open and running, but this one is closing effective July 1. I have been with this group since 2005, and at least I have a month to find a new pm up here.
It's really a shame since I adore my pm doctor, but monthly visits to Manhattan just aren't reasonable for me, not to mention physically difficult. Guess it is time to start searching. The good side is that I consulted with a different pm a few years ago who was willing to take me on, and continue my meds etc., so guess I will start there.
Posted 6/4/2015 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh-hate it when a trusted Dr leaves or retires. Don't they know that they need to stay forever?

Hope the other Dr can take you on and you won't have to struggle to find a new one.
Posted 6/4/2015 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah me too... I really like her.
Posted 6/5/2015 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I have been through this twice once when my PMD retired and last Nov. when my PMD closed her office for health reasons. Both changes resulted in better pain control. My new doc has added an additional long acting meds so I do not need so many short acting. Good Luck.
Posted 6/5/2015 8:10 AM (GMT 0)
I have always hoped my PM outlives me!! I hate searching for new Drs especially pain docs. Its good that you already have your foot in the door with someone else though and hopefully this will be a smooth transition considering they only gave you less then a month and I have seen it take far longer then that to in to a new clinic. If he had a large patient base it will flood the other clinics with new patients looking for a new Dr so I would go ahead and start trying to get an appointment just in case the new one has vacation coming up or is booked since there is a holiday in there and it is vacation time for many.
Posted 6/5/2015 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that.I would go all "pro-active" and get a list of PMDs in your area.Call them.See if they're taking patients.If it takes a referral from your PCP or not.

Some want to turn you into a pin cushion for their profit.Steer clear of them.Usually on the internet there are Patient Reviews of Doctors.

edit:I didn't read it all.You've got a plan in place.Good.

I can't imagine my PMD moving.

I wish you the best and hope it's a smooth transition.

Take care and God Bless.

Rick
Posted 6/5/2015 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Calling and scheduling an appt with a new pm is on the table for today....just really disappointed , my pm is a really good doctor and she is going to be missed, tremendously.
Posted 6/5/2015 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
How unfortunate that your PM doc is leaving......... been there, done that! I know how you feel about the loss, it's always when you finally find one that you are comfortable with, understands your physical needs and truly looks out for the very best in your treatment options that are the ones who decide to relocate or retire........ hah! they didn't ask you first! Only kidding.... That's exactly what mine did... retired, but now I am seeing his partner and have established a good relationship with him.

I am so happy to hear that you are on top of it and getting yourself in with someone asap. Like someone else said, really beware of the $$ hunger/pin-pokers - do research for patient reviews!

Good luck and hopes for low pain days ahead!

Hugs from Texas,

Pam
Posted 6/5/2015 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Good to hear.I know what you mean.I'm at my 3rd PMD and she's an angel.

The first 2 PMDs didn't care.They didn't listen.They were just counting money.

I don't even want to think of what I went through to find Her.

Best of Luck.

Rick
Posted 6/6/2015 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
It couldn't have happened at a worse time, since I am being told that I must have that third surgery in the near future. My spinal canal has narrowed to the width of a sharpened pencil lead tip, according to the surgeon I've consulted with. He is talking a major 4-6 level either anterior , then lateral fusion, or posterior then anterior surgery for kyphosis, severe canal and foraminal decompression as well as an anterior and posterior spondylolysthesis correction (l3-4, and l5-s1), and a facet fracture.....so it is going to be extremely painful and traveling any distance is not going to be an option.
He is wavering between starting at l2- down to s1, possibly s2, or l3-s2, although at the last appointment he was leaning more toward l2 as the starting point...sigh this is going to be interesting.

Post Edited (mrsm123) : 6/6/2015 7:57:26 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/15/2015 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Well, this afternoon I have my first appointment/interview with a possible new PM doctor. I make a first appointment to sit down with the new doctor to interview him, discuss my history and discuss options going forward, and to see if I like him/her, how well they listen etc.
Wish me luck. If I don't like this one, I have two other potentials that I have apps with next week.
Posted 6/15/2015 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck mrsm123.It sounds like you've got a good plan,which is smart.

I hope the Doctor works out.

Good luck and God Bless.

Rick
Posted 6/15/2015 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rick....We'll see how this goes. At least making an appt to discuss my issues ahead of time and proposed treatment plans gives me and the doctor a chance to see if we are going to fit well together. If not, I have a back up plan.
Posted 6/15/2015 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
I hope this guy ends up being a great PM Dr.
I always hope my main specialists are young with kids in school.

Young means they won't retire anytime soon, and the chances of a move are lesser due to not wanting to disrupt their kids lives with schools and friends :)

And, sure, I guess I care about if they are knowledgeable about my medical mess as well :)
Posted 6/17/2015 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
The first PM office was a complete bust, although the doctor was very nice and spent an hour and a half going over everything....he does only interventional PM but stated that the risks of permanent injury were too great to even try at this point.
I saw a second one yesterday, and while she does conventional pain management as well, I don't like that she doesn't listen, and was far too quick to want to do injections , wants to change me to methadone, since she feels that my pain meds currently are inadequate, despite my having a prolonged Q-T rhythm that worsens on methadone....so I don't think she will be my option.
I have another appointment on Monday with the physiatrist that I saw previously, and depending on how that goes, will probably stick with him.
If that doesn't turn out well, then I still have two others to check out, one who offered to take over my pm sometime ago.
The issue for me is that there is nothing that can be done, other than manage the pain and damage from the first onset of CES, and with a third ,bigger back surgery coming up, I want to stay as low as possible med wise so that post op is easier to manage.
Posted 6/23/2015 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
After three appointments with a potential new PM office, I have decided on the one that I will be transferring my care to. He is the one that I consulted with a few years ago, and I saw him yesterday. I brought all of the recent records including my very recent consult with the surgeon, and recent MRI and CT scans from the fall.
We are just going to continue with my current plan, which is working until I make a decision about going ahead with the surgery, not that I am being given much choice in that-a spinal canal that is only open the point of a sharpened pencil tip according to the surgeon, and two significant spondylolythesis at L3/4 and L5/S1, makes elective surgery not an option, but absolutely required if I want to stay on my own two feet......
At least the finding a new PM is taken care of.
Posted 6/24/2015 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Awesome! I was going to post about the one wanting to go to methadone and how I thought you probably knew to keep looking when you said it yourself!! Lol.

Glad that it all worked out, well now only the surgery decision to go.
Posted 6/24/2015 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you've got one that you're satisfied with.Reading about your other appointments makes me cringe at the thought of ever having to find a new PMD.

I'm sort of in your position.One day I will have to have surgery to stay on my feet.Until then I need a PMD to treat my pain.

Thank God I'm being treated by a Doctor that has that very view.

Take care.Glad for your news.

Rick
Posted 6/24/2015 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Vicki....I tried methadone a few years ago, and it made me so oversedated, even after a month on it at 5 mg, along with it worsening that prolonged Q-T syndrome, methadone is the last medication that I would want to go back on. What really turned me off the second doctor was her dismissal of the surgeons report , and his stating that interventional treatment at this point was extremely risky and could cause paralysis in my spine's current state. That led me to think that she would just dismiss everything, whether it came from me, or another doctor and I can't afford to do anything that is going to jeapordize my staying on my own two feet.
Posted 6/24/2015 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rick. If my lumbar wasn't in the shape it is, I wouldn't mind going back to pt, or giving injections a try, but to not even look at the images to see for herself whether or not there is even adequate room to do them , or a medical basis for them at all, well that just didn't sit well.
The new pm knows the surgeon that I consulted with, and agrees with him regarding its necessity.... now I just need to agree to go ahead and I am not there yet.....a third surgery, especially this big scares me more than paralysis does.
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