Pain management

Welcome Cheryl to the CP forum and sorry to hear of your struggles but unfortunately we are seeing more and more like them. Primary care has changed drastically over the last few years and with all the regulations and rules regarding narcotics they are discouraged by the license board,DEA,FDA,the malpractice carrier,and state and federal agencies to not participate in the treatment of chronic pain.

They are bound only by the law to refer you to a specialist such a specific Dr,rheumatologist,neurologist,etc or pain management. They do not have to prescribe opiates for any length of time but usually will cover you only until the appointment with PM or specialists. If they chose not to do so they will usually prescribe meds to help with withdrawal discomfort or at the very least direct you to otc meds or things that may help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal. Since the medical community doesn't consider opiate withdrawal to be life threatening the answer to your question is no he doesn't have to give you anything else.

If they believe your running out early,taking more than prescribed,anything shady in your u/a or history they are likely going to forward those opinions to the PM Dr and you could find yourself off to a bad start with a new Dr. If there was a misunderstanding of which your saying attempting to fix its best done in person rather than by phone tagging through various office personnel.

The other issue at hand here that possibly is playing a role in him referring you to PM is your being prescribed a short action med for a long-term issue and that's certainly not a appropriate protocol for CP by the regulating agencies such as the FDA and DEA. 9 years of a SA med for a chronic pain conditions likely got the primary care physician a closer look and that they don't want or need.

Good luck and I would try to manage until the appointment and then explain about the calls and the need for a one time refill to get to the PM appointment but don't be surprised at all if he says no.

Thank you both for the advice. I called this morning, before they get there and addressed the message to my Dr and apologized for the mix up and told him I have an appointment with the pain management Dr on August 16th and that I just need one more prescription to get me thru until I see the pain management Dr. I also explained that I didn't run out early like he was told, that I was asking for a stronger muscle relaxer and that he knows I don't abuse any meds he has given me. So, I'm hoping he understands that. I also told him that I'll see him Monday.

I'm hoping I don't need to see a new pcp. That would be pretty crapty if he stopped being my pcp over some stupid mistake. I will keep you updated on what he says.

I was seeing a NP a year ago, (which he knew about), and she was giving me Norco 10/325 and MS Contin 30mg 3 times a day. My pcp said he would keep giving me the Norco, so I tapered off the MS Contin. Which I hope the pain management Dr puts me back on.

Like I said, I will keep you updated with what he says. Thank you so much for your help and time.

Cheryl, considering the environment surrounding treatment of chronic pain in todays world, I would be willing to bet your PCP has been contacted about prescribing pain meds. With the staff telling you that he is no longer refilling scripts for anyone that is a very good indicator. Most PCP's offices are not equipped to handle a chronic pain patient under todays guidelines. We have heard this very same story many times over suddenly they stop rxing pain meds. The drs don't want or need to the scrutiny of the higher ups breathing down their necks & I understand this.

When you see him tomorrow I would make it very clear that you were inquiring about something stronger in a muscle relaxer that it was not about pain medication. If this is a good dr I would not kick him to the curb if he decides he is not going to give you one more script. Good drs are just too hard to find these days.

Take care.

Hi! Sorry I didn't update everyone yesterday. I'm actually really sick. My pcp is covering my pain meds until I see the pain management Dr. He was very nice, compassionate, and understanding. He gave me one prescription for the month of July and a partial for next month until I see the Dr. He knows the Dr personally and said he's very nice and compassionate, which is what I need. My pcp said he wants to see me in 3 months to make sure my pain is being taken care of, and that things are falling into place for me. Thank you so much for asking. It feels good knowing people care about me!