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TENS Unit by Script?

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Posted 5/10/2013 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
At a previous PM Appointment I saw a new NP. I hate that I'm supposed to have a Dr. that I only see if I have Injections and then it's hit or miss...anyway, she and I talked and I really liked her... She seemed really concerned and listened. I asked about getting a TENS as I have had one in the past and wanted to try it again... She said that the person who normally does those things had quit and she had no idea how to get one for me... So she proceeds to get a prescription for a TENS and tells me to try and get it filled at a Home Health Care Store... OKAY??? Needless to say I haven't even tried yet. And since that appt. I haven't seen her again. What is it with PM Offices??? why can't we have one Dr. and one Nurse and that is it... I hate being shuffled around to people who don't know me or take the time to even look at my records... Wheww... what a day/
Posted 5/10/2013 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I got my TENS by a script for my physical therapist.
Posted 5/10/2013 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
That is how I got my first TENS unit when I had insurance. The Dr. wrote me the prescription and I went to a Medical Supply Store to pick it up. So that part is pretty standard.

Hearing about the medication issue on your other post where it seems one Dr. doesn't know what the others are doing. I would just be very careful as it may come back to hurt you in the long run when it wasn't your fault. That is why I said that you may want to figure things out at your next visit and maybe they can put you on Oxycontin which is long acting instead of trying to go from Pharmacy to Pharmacy filling the two different strengths of Oxycodone. The bad part is that you are probably already used to the 120mg from the 40mg..***Edit to add it is only 100mg not 120mg.....darn that brain calculator...LOL

So if that is the case..they could prescribe Oxycontin 40mg, one every 8 hours. That would be much easier then having to take 8 pills a day as well as finding the meds in stock.

Just some thoughts/suggestions to talk over with one of the Drs. that you like at the clinic.....

It makes me feel very blessed about the PM I see. I have never had anyone else see me for my appts. since 2006.

Hope that you can get the TENS unit soon to start using. I love mine and use quite a few times a week!

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 5/11/2013 10:26:42 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/10/2013 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on that machine in the past during PT. Its great for my back. But the great feeling wears off so soon. My doc recently mentioned getting one. I had wondered about insurance covering it. Its good to know that it can be prescribed.

Uniquelyme---did you have a hard time putting it on yourself? Did the pharmacist teach you how to apply it? How would a person know without the schooling, where to place it at properly? I am soooo curious about this for pain relief.

Rocckyd---did you have it on your back? how long did the relief last?
Posted 5/10/2013 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was prescribed by my PM and I got it from my PT also.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/10/2013 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I got my tens by script too. Just be certain to check with your insurance carrier regarding DME (durable medical equipment). Some require you to use a certain company or chain or they won't pay. Others will rent them for you and still others make you pay a co-pay. I was lucky with mine that the prescribing dr did the work and got the machine delivered to my house with auto refill on the pads. All my DME is paid for at 100% so long as you get prior authorization for anything over a certain dollar amount.

It is quite easy to get the process rolling by just calling insurance and getting them to tell you their process.

Good luck! I hope this helps you!!

(On the other subject, my NP at my PM office also wrote for my oxycodone at two different levels. After discussing it with my pharmacist, we came up with a solution so I would not have two payments for co-pays each month. He called the NP and she issued a new script with one strength that I could add or take away from as needed. Basically I take two pills in the am, one at midday and two later toward night (& nobody questions it).

Good luck!
Posted 5/10/2013 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
My PM dr sent me to a physical therapist who fitted me with one. I rented it to see if it was going to help. I am thinking I rented it for a month but it could have been 2 months. Anyway it helped so they got it all paid for by my health insurance, I did not pay anything, no co-pays. I hope you can get one.
Posted 5/10/2013 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
I pit up a post about this same subject in the past week. I was mentioning how much it helped (muscle wise) to relieve inflammation around my hips. I used in in PT 6 months back and I have wanted one ever since. I have done some research and they are actually pretty cheap (though there are a million versions) as far as med equipment goes.
Insurance should cover it with no hassle!

Hope you get it soon
Can't wait to get mine

GO Bruins !!!!

Josh
Posted 5/10/2013 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
I got one of my portable tens units from a physical therapist who then programmed it for me, I then found one on Amazon which is pretty darn good again my therapist programmed it and you can get the leads from Amazon, they have many sizes...but overall the best place to get one is from PT you have to ask them about them.
Many well wishes to you
Posted 5/11/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the replies... as for the TENS unit, I have had one before years ago and I got it at my PM Dr. office... they showed me what to do and that was that... I had never heard of getting a paper script and then having to find someplace that would fill it... I didn't do anything with it yet but I am this week...

As for the med thing... I had been seeing a PM Dr. for over 8 years and suddenly had to find a new one...Pronto.. I had been taking 120 mg. Methadone daily along with 5 X 30 mg. Oxycodone daily... I know I know.. I was way overmedicated... So when the new Dr. only gave me Percocet 10's 4 times a day I went through the most horrific WD's. They had to change me to plain Oxycodone due to tylenol issues...then they tried to add Morphine and I had rashes so they tried Lortab 10... NO Way that worked...then one Dr. changed me to the 15 mg. Oxycodone... The next visit I had Caudal Injections and when I left they handed me my scripts and there were 2 for Oxycodone.. One was the 10 mg. and one was the 15 mg. That's how its been since... Next time I go in June they will put me on Fentanyl Patch... I was hoping for the Opana ER but as of last month my Medicare stopped covering it... So, I don't know if they made a mistake with the 2 scripts a few months ago, but they keep giving them to me and having to actually sign them I think they would notice if they made a mistake... and it's only 100 mg. not 120... I was kinda scared that it wasn't supposed to be that way, but they all know and do it... so, I'll just see what happens next time... and since I was having difficulties with the lower pain meds from the get go...I hope that they did it for me to be more comfy finally...
Posted 5/11/2013 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Duh....my brain was doing 6 x 4 with the 60mg and 40mg instead of adding.....That's why math is not my strong suit..LOL

Thanks for sharing more and setting me straight:) I will edit my other post...

Is there a reason that you want to go to the Fentanyl patch over switching to Oxycontin since the Oxycodone works for you? Or does Medicare not cover that as well. Hopefully the patch is something that you want to go on. For me, I like my hot showers too much..LOL...As well as it's more about the flexibility of having a long acting/short acting in pill form for good days and bad to adjust when needed.

Either way, I hope that you can get to a place where your pain is covered better as well as getting that TENS unit to help.
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