New doctor. Terrified of losing or decreasing my meds

Hello All,

Longtime lurker. I can see this is a nice group of helpful people. I will offer advice to others, and my apologies that my first thread is a plea for advice. I am 50 years old, and I've had the same PCP for 13 years. I had to change health insurance, and I found out today that my PCP is not available under my new plan. There's no way around this. I've tried. There's no getting around it.

I'm meeting my new PCP next week. I took the first available appointment I could get. I have been on a pain management regime through my PCP since January of last year. Prior to that, I had never taken a narcotic in my life. I have fibro and osteoarthritis. I'm taking Lyrica for the fibro with decent results. My big problem is DDD in my neck. I've had it for 10 years, but got a flareup in the fall of '06, and it's just gotten worse. The pain goes into my upper back, arms, even my ribcage, on both sides. If I don't take my pain meds, I would be screaming in the ER. Honestly, I can't even imagine what would happen without the meds. I've had five MRIs (3 cervical, upper and lumbar). I'm not a candidate for surgery. That surprised me, but the NS said it would only create more problems. I don't get that, but I know the pain is terrible, and it NEVER takes a day off.

I'm talking tomorrow with my, now former PCP. She told me before that she would write a letter or speak to my new doctor on my behalf, if it ever came to it. Beyond that, I don't know what to expect with this new doctor. I worry that she'll be one of those types with a hangup about narcotics. What happens then? If I sudddenly stop, I'd probably have a seizure or what happens during withdrawal. The pain would probably kill me.

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated.

Di

I don't think anyone with any empathy & history of your pain would take you off your pain meds without weening you off them slowly.

I agree with sjkly about your PCP referring you to a pain management clinic. They used to be quite helpful for me a few years ago, until I screwed up. It's worth giving it a try if your insurance will cover it. Hope so!!

I think that alot of this goes back to the discussion about jumping thru hoops to get pain medication. Of course one becomes dependent on it, same as a diabetic is dependent on his or her insulin...gosh, if I don't have some pain relief from meds, I'd lose my mind.  It doesn't mean that I'm addicted to it, altho prob physiologically I am, my body is used to it, but also to a certain degree, prob am emotionally too because I know the pain I would be in w/o it and it terrifies me. So what, medication for pain is made for a reason, why can't docs see that? I still think that each one of them should have to  know how CP feels, even for a brief time, maybe then they would have more compassion.

Dilane - I have to say that there is a possibility that this doctor will decide not to give you the medication. You may consider asking your old doctor if he is willing to write you the scripts until you can get into either a new doctor or a pain doctor.

If your new doctor is willing - I would call BEFORE your appointment ask to speak with your new doctors nurse. Explain to the nurse that you would like your new doctor to be informed about what your old doctor had found as a good way to manage your conditions. Let the nurse know that your old doctor is willing to write up a letter, or discuss over the phone his treatment plan as it stood last time he saw you.

Also - make sure to get a copy of your records, as well as ask your old doctor to fax or mail a copy to the new doc. Have on hand any previous testing, everything from blood testing to MRI's. That way, you can show the doctor what you've already done - and not have to do it all over again. Be prepared for your new doc to want blood tests of various things, as well as a new MRI done to show how the condition stands now.

Please remember that some offices have rules about prescribing narcotics to new patients. It sucks, yes, but is a rule that exists in some practices. This is why having a letter from your old physician, as well as a number for the new doc to contact him is going to be so important. Even with a discussion with your old doc, the new one might still refuse. This rule sucks for us chronic pain patients, but is there because there are people that have tried to abuse doctors this way.

My advice is to be honest with the new doctor. Explain to him the only reason you are switching doctors is because of the insurance, and let him know you are interested in his opinion as to other ways to help you, BUT that the previous pain management plan was working well for you.

Good luck,
Tammy

Thanks to all for your helpful replies. My old and new doctor had a phone conversation this week. I met my new doctor today, and it couldn't have gone better. Really, I couldn't write a better script, so to speak. She told me that she's going to stick with my pain regime that's in place. She was warm, friendly and very understanding. She even said that if we need to tweak it, lower or raise the dose in time, then she will. I walked out of there, like I was walking on a cloud. 

Di