This message was self-deleted by its author

[CountAllVotes]

This message was self-deleted by its author (CountAllVotes) on Sat Apr 18, 2015, 07:44 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[Mnemosyne]

1. I wish I had some good advice, others here will. I am so sorry you

are suffering this much. It's heinous what they put ill people through.

[CountAllVotes]

2. If I did not have my cats and old husband ...

I think I would not be posting this today.

[Mnemosyne]

4. My dog, cats and getting stuck in the snow a couple weeks ago

kept me from leaving. I hear you, CAV.

[Mnemosyne]

24. Are you in a mmj state by any chance? It can help many kinds of pain.

I'm seriously considering a move to one when I get my house sold. Pain is so exhausting, isn't it?

It sounds like you all are lucky to have each other.

[Kelvin Mace]

16. I hope things are better now

[Mnemosyne]

25. Not much, but some better. Thanks for asking, KM.

[Warpy]

3. Three cheers for the War on Drugs

Bronx cheers, that is.

Pain clinics are under incredibly close scrutiny, so they have to lean hard on their patients. That means drug testing to make sure those patients aren't supplementing the regimen with illegal drugs and mechanisms to prevent doctor and pharmacy shopping to make sure patients aren't exceeding the dosage--or getting extra to sell.

It's beyond stupid and insulting, but this is what Prohibition has given us.

My best advice is to go back to the doctor who has been trying to control the pain with legal prescriptions. Do NOT take anything he doesn't prescribe, even if you are in pain. Remember, nothing will kill the pain completely, you just need to get to a point where you can function.

Once you are stable enough on prescription meds, then approach the pain clinic for better management. You will need to agree to their terms and abide by them because if you don't, you risk having the DEA put them out of business quickly as a pill mill.

You are on disability and you have a track record of being in severe pain. Once you demonstrate that you can abide by one doctor's regimen, you will be accepted by a pain clinic.

I am also a chronic pain patient, RA, FM, SS, and a fractured neck leading to back spasms that practically send me into orbit. I don't need a pain service yet, but it's coming.

[CountAllVotes]

19. Warpy

You would not like this doctor either. She told me that fibromyalgia is not a for real condition and that people are making it up to get drugs for it! Can you believe this?

Another moment that was for me as they had told my late mother she had fibromyalgia when in fact what she really had was ... MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (diagnosed w/this after years of pain and unnecessary surgeries in her mid-70's!!).

Was I shocked to find this out? You better believe I was shocked!

[Warpy]

20. Well, it seems like you need to suggest she's got a little reading to do on FM

because there are now clinical markers beyond poking trigger points and having a patient rocket up to the ceiling.

Female patients are the ones most consistently misdiagnosed. If I'd had a nickel for every woman who came through the CCU door after her "anxiety" turned out to be a severe cardiac issue that Valium did nothing for, I'd be rich beyond Warren Buffett's wildest dreams.

[CountAllVotes]

23. I know Warpy, I know

I see what my own mother went through during her lifetime and what she went through only to be diagnosed with MS not long before she died. They had told her it was fibromyalgia and I remember telling this to this same doctor. That is when she said it was not a for real problem and that she has a colleague that agrees with her.

Take care Warpy and I believe you and I want you to know that. It angers me as much as it does you and when I think of my late mother and what she went through during her lifetime it sickens me quite frankly because no one ever believed her either.

[Downwinder]

5. Are you on a MS disease modification treatment?

[CountAllVotes]

7. no

As I stated I have PPMS and there is no treatment for this type of MS. I may have been relapsing/remitting 30 years ago but that was 30 years ago, not today.

[Downwinder]

10. Was that your neurologist?

[CountAllVotes]

11. The neuro was an MS specialist

I guess he gave up on MS and became a specialist in another field of medicine. He retired recently and no one has taken his place. So I have no one, just this one doctor to go to.

[Downwinder]

12. When I have had complications, I have found my neuro has

Last edited Tue Mar 10, 2015, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

much more clout than I.

[CountAllVotes]

15. You are lucky

The last time I went to him he did not seem to know who the hell I was! I never went back after that. Who would?

After that happened, I gave up and have since time decided the the neurology group where I live is incompetent.

[Downwinder]

17. The MS Society in Texas tried to get a provision

that your neurologist could be your primary care physician. They were not successful. I question that primary care understand MS. I went through a number of neurology practices till i found one I was comfortable with.

[CountAllVotes]

18. I live in a rural area

I had to go 300 miles to get a second opinion.

Oddly, the neuro I mentioned was considered to be an expert and is now gone. He was being paid off big time by the makers of the drug Betaseron as he was in on the initial lottery style thing to get it in the olden days.

After new drugs began to emerge, Betaseron was not as popular and he wasn't getting the kickbacks any longer it seems to me (I have a background in pharmacy/pharmacology from when I was working, so I know the routine).

Anyway, there were patients driving 200+ miles to see this "expert" that changed to another type of specialty that is unrelated to MS and has now retired.

I have to wonder what happened to the people the were driving 200+ miles to see this fool! He certainly did not care. I almost ended up on the street homeless and I needed help from him to stay in the place I was living in at the time and he could have cared less as shocking as that may be. I know I was shocked and wow, he was in it for the $$$ and that was indeed the reality of it.

I can no longer drive 300 miles to see someone as I can't sit/drive that long anymore. So, I have few options being my husband lost his license to drive last year its on me to do the driving and I drive not much believe me.

[CountAllVotes]

27. I am now trying to get into a neurologist

I don't know what will happen. Thanks for your concern.

[Downwinder]

28. Hope that will help. The LAST thing you need is stress.

[CountAllVotes]

29. You are so right

It is making me sicker already.

I got my medical records (and the "drug contract&quot and they are filled with errors!

It states I have no advance directive and there and numerous other errors (like my mother's uncle died of cancer!). My mother had MS and she was adopted and she had no uncle! It also states that I do all of the cooking and the fact is that my husband does most of it as I cannot stand any longer than about 5 minutes and I must sit down and rest!

It even states that I "look too good" for a person with MS and that I do not have peripheral neuropathy!

I am NOT going back to this fool of a doctor. She can KISS MY ASS and shove her "drug contract" up that same ass which is quite big IMO!

My husband is cursing her and he told me that he will not allow me to go back! He is major PISSED. *whew*

[Kelvin Mace]

6. I would have to read the document you describe,

but you may be misunderstanding part of it:

If they drug test me I will not pass the test and I will be dumped as a patient.

The purpose of drug testing when you are being prescribed pain meds is to insure you are taking them and not selling them to someone else to make money. Sadly, this is a thing that happens. An unscrupulous person goes to doctor complains of back pain, gets pain med prescription, pays $10 co-pay, sells tablets for $200.

If you have a legitimate problem, and are taking your meds, your drug screen will come back positive for the prescribed drug, which means you are taking them as prescribed.

Please refrain from your contemplation. My wife has MS, so I do understand the pain and misery you are going through.

I would be happy to discuss this in more detail by PM, but I would need more details.

I am sorry for your distress, but please don't give up hope.

David

[CountAllVotes]

9. They did not give me a copy of it

It was snatched out of my hand and oh, btw, it does not bear my SIGNATURE. I printed my name on it.

[Travis_0004]

26. That doesnt matter

Your printed name can be considered a signature.

[CountAllVotes]

30. No one understands what people with MS go through

NO ONE NO ONE NO ONE except perhaps another person that has this shit!

[Hoyt]

13. I think you will find those "drug contracts" quite common nowadays as physicians are getting nailed

for over-prescribing narcotics. I'm sure it's nothing you did, but it is common.

It basically puts patients -- who are receiving pain and similar meds -- on notice that if there is any evidence they are abusing controlled substances, there will be consequences.

You would not believe the number of patients who go from doctor to doctor, and the stories they tell, seeking pain meds, to either take or sell. Heck, ole Rushbo Limbaugh did it.

Doctors have actually lost their licenses for not taking proper precautions. It's even gotten to the point that some patients aren't getting the pain help they need because physicians find themselves under the gun. Some will do the right thing by their patient, and risk it. Others are scared.

I think it would be best to talk to this doctor, letting them know that you have told them everything about the substances you take, and see what happens. Hopefully they will assure you they will treat your pain, or similar issues, properly.

Good luck.

[CountAllVotes]

14. She did say that it was "not directed at me"

She told me it was because people calling up saying they lost their RX's and need new ones, etc. and that I had never done this nor had I ever asked for stronger pain medications.

Said contract was a POS IMO and I know it would not stand up in a court of law.

How can they tell you which pharmacy to go to and which pharmacy not to go to? The Medicare D policy I have is with a well-known company and they already keep track of everything you get.

I do not go to other doctors because they make me feel sicker than I already feel. There is no hope for me, I realize this already.

[Hoyt]

21. I hope you feel better. They should have explained it better to you.

Some patients will use their insurance for one refill, then go to another doctor complaining of knee pain and get a prescription for pain meds. Then, they'll go to another pharmacy and pay without insurance. There are all kinds of schemes abusers use.

I think you will be OK with your doctor who was just doing what the AMA and others suggest. They really should have explained things better, though. Take care.