Medtronic Pain Pump and Chronic Pain

I almost forgot, you mentioned a certain way to mail this letter to the DR. What did you call that and what do I need to do?

Yes, this has happened before. I was waiting on a referral to a specialist & phone calls got me no where. So, I wrote a letter to the dr asking what was going on. He had no idea there was a problem getting the referral made.

I sent the letter certified mail, return receipt requested, marked personal & confidential on the envelope. I suggest putting your address only on the envelope not your name. If this were me & you don't have a call back by close of business Wed.., this letter would be mailed on Thursday. You are getting close to the 8 week mark of waiting thats just not right.

I will be stressed when I make the call tomorrow, so I will write out what I'm planning on saying to her about my surgery date.

Straydog,

Now since I received a call back from the PM DR's nurse. I'm still back to waiting. I hope this doesn't take much longer. I'm trying NOT to let this get me down (as you said). My pain meds aren't working so well anymore and I'm sure hoping the date for surgery is soon. I tried to use ice to help with my back pain as before but that now doesn't seem to help me anymore or heat either. Now I'm in the less active mode and just sitting trying to not aggravate my back pain anymore than necessary. I will take your advice and sit outside and enjoy the weather etc... I'm not up to driving much except to the nearby grocery store and home.

I want to thank you for those suggestions. I will put them to use

Indiana, each drs office has their own protocol on how they do things so I cannot answer your questions on what the standard procedure is for his office. Today insurance companies work off of CPT codes, each code stands for a diagnosis or what procedure was done & that sort of thing. Does your insurance require something in writing for a surgical procedure, I don't know. Yes, when they schedule your surgery the hospital also gets approval otherwise its cash up front or the surgery is canceled. The drs office has to notify Medtronics rep so he can bring a pump.

Some offices has a person in house that types all dictation or they can send this work out. If the insurance needs it in writing the letter can be faxed to them rather than mailed.

Do you remember how long it took after your trial to get everything approved to have your pump implanted? Should be the same time frame I would think.

As I recall, in your last conversation with this nurse she said everything was waiting on the Dr to finish his dictation.

I would probably call and ask if (1) the Dr is making any progress, and (2) if there is anything you can do to help him along. Then, (3) mention how long you've been in pain and (4) that you are really doing poorly because of the pain. (5) Thank her so much for her help, and (6) please let you know if you can do anything to make this easier.

Just my two cents.

Hi IndianaBoy.

I hope that you get some relief soon. I have read your entire thread, and can relate to your need to get things fixed up ( new pain pump)
as soon as possible. Waiting can be very difficult , especially when pain is involved. I think you mentioned that you were going to get into some on line games to help pass the time? Andy86 suggested it to me recently , and I plan to start today. Just wanted to say hello and wish you well.

Derwood.

Derwood,

Your are exactly right, waiting is very difficult. It so hard to be positive when pain is involved. My PM DR told me 4 weeks ago that he would do the surgery (I was very happy to hear that) and I'm still waiting for a OR date. I called last week and found out that he had not done the dictation for me yet. Then I called this week and the status is the same. I talked to one of the OTHER nurses (who is really Great) and she told me that she would send him another reminder about my dictation work and she would reprint the paperwork for him to complete. This nurse told me that she has sent a couple of other reminders in the last couple of weeks but the dictation was not completed, yet. I asked her if he was mad at me or did I do anything to upset him. She laughed and said "No, he has a pile of paperwork to complete that is sitting on his desk." This particular nurse told me that she would let me know as soon as he gets my dictation done. Well that was Weds and it now Friday night with no phone call. I hope that he get my paperwork done in the next day or so, then they can submit it to both the insurance co. and hospital to get things going. I need to tread lightly with the DR so I don't jeopardize my surgery. I pray everyday hoping that this DR will move forward and do the surgery on me, soon - very soon!!

I'm trying to be positive, but its very hard to do.

thanks for listening

Derwood, I hope you are enjoying your online games.

Derwood,

Thank you for your responses. Everyone that has responded to my posts are really GREAT and I want to thank everyone for their support and words of encouragement for my situation.

Seashell,

I talked with my wife and she reminded me that we did talk with my family doctor about this issue. My family doctor was aware of my PM DR almost dropping me as a patient for calling one of his associates (about my pain) and showing up to the emergency room for my chronic back pain. So, my family doctor told me that he was the only PM DR that was able to manage my pain with a pain pump and that I should stay with him to get this fixed. She (my family doctor) told me that she won't intervene for several reasons (one being that the PM DR won't think kindly of her getting involved) which could make matters worse for me. She told me to hang in there and let him fix me. She (my family MD) said that she does not know him personally and that her getting involved my not do anything for me. My family doctor really do not want to get involved with this. I called my therapist today and talked to him about your comments and he too said that my family doctor would not want to get involved in problems like this. My therapist also said too that this might cause my PM DR to drop me as a patient. My therapist said that he agrees that this is unfair but with doctors in this field they are always over booked and are behind.

So, In the meantime like your said earlier his (PM DR) delays are affecting me both physically and psychologically.

What also bad is that the pain meds I'm on are not working very well anymore. This PM DR won't give me anything stronger either. I have asked several times.

So, I suffer
I can only hope that he starts and finished the dictation on me. I pray everyday asking GOD for this PM DR to finish the paperwork and do my surgery ASAP.

I do have a advocate though - it is one of the nurse's in the PM office (she is the only one who cares and knows my situation) I know that there is only so much she can do, but she tries by sending email reminders to the PM DR. As for the other nurse, I am wasting my time (she does not like me or want to help me). This nurse is almost always rude to me.

PS, my therapist told me to just preoccupy my mind with other things, so I try.

Anyway, thanks for listening

IndianaBoy:
I recognize that you are in a pickle.

But I have to wonder how you can trust that this pain management MD will focus and attend to do his utmost best in performing surgery on you to replace your pump and catheter(s)?

The pain management MD is repeatedly showing a callous disrespect for you as a patient. He is putting you at the bottom of his "To Do" file. Obviously, it does not take 4+ weeks to complete dictation of an office visit that you had with him.

How is it that this MD would have dropped you as a patient because you contacted his partner/associate and showed up in the ER? What was your error/fault that would have prompted your dismissal as a patient?

I will admit that I am not a patient of a pain management physician. I am not aware of all of the fine details of compliance with contracts. But I certainly do see in your pain management physician a physician who has an undue level of power/control over you.

You are this physician's patient. He works for you.

I see red lights that are flashing "warning."

Do you not have any other avenues or other pain management clinics to access?

I would never choose to stay with an MD the way that this pain management MD is treating you.

The whole situation that you are enduring is wrong. It's just plain wrong.

From my point of view, your primary care MD is coping out. He/she is obviously intimated by the pain management MD.

I have had my share of inept physicians. Poor physician care has altered the course of my life. As such, I have vowed from here on in that I will run . . not walk, but run with full speed . . . out of any MD's office who treats me with less than proper care.

Do you trust that this pain management MD will be focused to do his best by you once you are in surgery?

Can you image if your pain management MD treated all of his patients the way that he is treating you? Neglecting necessary dictation by 4 plus weeks. Feeling as though you have to walk on egg shells to talk to the office registered nurse. The answer: The pain management MD would have an empty office waiting room. No one would be coming to him. He would have no practice.

I do not know what I have accomplished in my writing to you. I hope something is of value in helping you.

What is happening to you is just not right. Period.

You are a human being, with a life and responsibilities. Your pain pump and catheter replacement need cannot be compared to a person waiting on a plumber to repair a broken washing machine. Even then, I think a person would get faster response by a journeyman plumber to repair a broken washing machine then you are encountering with your pain management MD.

Stay strong.
- Karen -

Hi IndianaBoy :)

I have been away from the forum for a few days ( no wi-fi at my
little getaway ) and just read your last post. So glad things are moving along for you.

Derwood