In Pain in Indy

I posted here back in October, I think. My PMD retired. I was up most of last night in horrible pain, with restless legs on top of that; it was horrible. I did some calling around and made a few appointments but I am still not able to get anyone to realize that I have been through injections, acupuncture, PT, cupping therapy, etc. I just need someone to manage my meds and I can't believe how difficult it is to find someone. I can understand if all of my random drug testing came back with issues but not one did. This is so frustrating.

Hi CS...

Have you been without medication since November when you were saying your last prescription would run out?

It seems so strange that you can't find a single PM in Indianapolis or any of the surrounding cities/towns.

As many of us had suggested previously, talking with your insurance company to see who is in their plan is a good way to go.

We also had mentioned that you may have to go through some more injections, physical therapy, tests, or other procedures again to see if they will work this time around if it's been more than a year or so since you tried them.

I don't know of too many PMs that will just accept a new patient and only prescribe the opiates that the patient wants. They will evaluate you on their own, look at your medical history, and then decide on the best treatment plan they feel is appropriate.

So, if you are calling up these places and saying to them that you "only want pain meds and nothing else"....They are going to turn you away or say they don't do this even if they are a clinic that prescribes meds as it throws a red flag up.

The best way to ask around is if a Dr. provides "comprehensive pain management that includes both non medicinal and medicinal modalities".

But it does take some patience and working with a new Dr. for a few months for them to see what will work best for you and for them to build up trust in you as a patient.

Good luck..

That, unfortunately, is one of the biggest headaches when it comes to us Chronic pain sufferers. Anytime we are forced to see a new doctor to take over our pain management they almost always seem to want to start back at square one and have us jump through the same hoops as we already have several times before.

I got so frustrated with this one time I flat out asked what was the purpose of having medical records. When the doctor said........."So we know your medical history and what you have done" I couldn't help but say..."So you can do the same things again that other doctors have had me go through 3 times already and that didn't help" I followed that up with "While you are busy scheduling me for physical therapy and injections perhaps you should call a general surgeon and schedule me to have my tonsils or appendix removed. I have only had those procedures once in my life."

Granted it didn't really do any good but it did feel good on an emotional level.