"Doctor Shopping" Accusation. Pls Help.

[Drax911]

I have a torn MCL. I attained this injury on 8/30/10. I got this diagnosis after going to the emergency room the next evening. They took an xray and did a MRI. They prescribed me 20 Percocet 5/325 and 20 Ibuprofen 800. They told me to then follow up with my PCP. I did so the next day. However, she was on vacation. So I was seen by another Doctor in her practice. He gave me another 20 percocet 5/325 1or2 every 4hrs as needed. And told me I would need to wait for her return before I could get any other help, If the pain became more severe I was told to go to the ER again. I took the pills EXACTLY as prescribed and awaited my regular doctor's return to make arrangements to see a specialist. On 9/6/10 I went to the Doctor's office to see my PCP and was told she was still gone. They had me see a different doctor in her practice this time. She wrote me a written referral to a specialist, another prescription for 60 tylox 5/500 (1or2 every 4hrs as needed.) and told me to return to her or the ER if the symptoms got worse, Otherwise to make the appointment with the Orthopedic Specialist. Again I took the medication exactly as prescribed and made an appointment to see the specialist as instructed. The soonest the specialist could make an appointment for me was 10/7/10. I told them about the medications the doctor had given me and they told me to continue to see her or the ER for any pain issues I might have.

Now having to wait for a month the medication did not last. After 12days on 9/18 I called the office and told them I was out of the medication and was still in a lot of pain. She refilled the prescription, having me come to her office to pick up the paper copy and told me that would be the last time she would fill it without seeing me. I told her THEN that my appointment with the specialist wasn't until 10/7/10 and that I'm not sure the medication would last that long. She said she would see me again whenever I needed but I would need to be seen.

Today 9/29 I went to her office to see her, this still is not my regular doctor. They inform me my regular doctor is back and I will be seeing her. I said okay. I wait in the waiting room for 25mins when the Doctor's office manager comes out and asks to speak with me. She takes me in a little room and tells me my doctor can't see me today because she is not accepting my insurance any longer. I tell her I can't afford the $200 cash fee for the doctor today and that I need to be seen, as I need the medication refilled. She tells me that they will NOT help me any longer unless I can pay the cash price. That I will NOT be given any refills and that there is no way they can work with me on any payment plan to be seen today. I have to come up with the cash or get out basiclly.

Then out of the blue without me saying a word about it and without having asked for anything, other than to see my doctor. She tells me that she can't tell me not to go to the ER if I am in pain. But that I should know that what I was doing was "Doctor Shopping."

I asked her to define "Doctor Shopping" to me. And she did. I also looked it up on here when I got home.

I was very upset and left, Feeling like I was being accused of a crime for being injured. My question is:

Having seen 1 ER Doctor and 2 different Doctor's that THEY assigned me. Am I guilty of this?

As I read and understand it, Doctor Shopping is going to many different doctors and getting many prescriptions, without any of the others knowing about one another and the prescriptions. Am I right?

I feel like I have been forced into a catch-22 by this office and am afraid despite my severe pain, to go to the ER because I'm afraid they will further accuse me of this.

I simply want enough medication to last until I can see the specialist and arrange for surgery and have him take charge of the care in this matter. I am very worried and very upset.

[jammymommy]

Hi Drax- OF COURSE you're not guilty of Dr. shopping!!!!!!!!
Make a copy of your above post to show anyone who accuses you of this!
I'd call the specialist's office & beg they call you if there's a cancellation.
jammy
ps SOME Drs really BUG ME

[Drax911]

Thanks Jammy,

I will call the specialist back in the morning. But the guy I talked to there was very nice the first time and was already kind of squeezing me in. I'll see what they say.

My knee hurts like hell and I just don't know what to do. I've been taking 800mg of ibuprofen like the nurse at the hospital had told me to keep doing in addition to the other med. But Its not working very well and the last few days it seems like I start getting very shaky and sweaty when I don't take the other stuff in addition to the pain.

[Nirea]

That's not doctor shopping. My daughter was 13 when she completely severed her ACL. Maybe it had something to do with her age, but there was never a red flag with anything and we had MULTIPLE scripts filled from different doctors, starting with the ER the day she did it. Then the followup with the PCP the next day who knew she went to the ER, but gave her some more pain medication anyway until we got into the specialist a couple of weeks later, who ALSO prescribed pain medication. I followed the path THEY gave me for her care. Yours is EASILY explained, so don't worry.

Shoot, it's me that should be worried because I had a couple of different doctors giving me medication every other week. I swear I never knew it was illegal (but ignorance isn't a defense--learned a lot in my years in legal/law enforcement field--oh the irony), until recently and that's when I got scared and quit doing it. I mean, I don't really know if I was doctor shopping in the literal sense of going to many doctors to obtain the medications. I NEVER went to a new doctor; it was 2 of them...my PCP and then the foot doctor who I'd gotten a referral for. I am sure that would still classify as doctor shopping, I suppose.

But you, my friend, have nothing to worry about.

[cherdox57]

Drax firstly so sorry that you have to go thru this hassle with the doctors and also the insurance problems. It's very hard to get good medical care these days. Doctor's are all about money and do not care about their patients.Having the same problems myself.,
You are definitely not "Doctor Shopping". That is when a person who deliberately goes from doctor to doctor or clinic to attain pain meds without telling the doctor that you got the pain meds from another doctor. You informed everyone what the situation was and did not use 2 scripts and the same time. You are not abusing and it is a shame your PCP that you waited so long to see give you the run-a-round. Can you pick out another PCP in the mean time? I know usually have to wait to establish yourself with a new one. How about a walk in clinic. Avoid going to the ER. Is that on your insurance?They have so many around my area and its much cheaper than going to the ER.
As far as your knee have you tried ice packs. Both my father and his wife have knee problems and that is what they use plus the Ibuprofen. I hope you get to see the specialist soon to relieve your pain.
Cherdox

[karaboo]

Drax, you are not guilty of dr shopping. You saw drs in the same practice, who all had the same chart when they saw you. If you had seen a different doc at a different office who had a different chart for you, that would be dr shopping. Since all the docss (except the ER dr) had the same chart, they were all aware of what you had been prescribed and there is no crime here. Don't sweat it, ok? You can even go back to the ER if you need to, just explain what happened. Do you have a letter of dismissal from your dr's practice? If not, you should obtain one. That way there is no confusion as to when they stopped treating you. Good luck with the specialist!

[LisaBlue]

Thanks Jammy,

I will call the specialist back in the morning. But the guy I talked to there was very nice the first time and was already kind of squeezing me in. I'll see what they say.

My knee hurts like hell and I just don't know what to do. I've been taking 800mg of ibuprofen like the nurse at the hospital had told me to keep doing in addition to the other med. But Its not working very well and the last few days it seems like I start getting very shaky and sweaty when I don't take the other stuff in addition to the pain.

Drax, please take care as what you describe about getting shakey when you don't take your pain meds could be withdrawal symptoms. I am in the process of quitting mine and I know it will be difficult to do. I was only on them while my pain was bad and after surgery. Once the pain level subsided I knew it was time to stop them. If you can get by with alternatives to prescription pain pills you would be better off.

Lisa

[Drax911]

Thanks all for the replies.

I don't feel so much like a criminal anymore. I went to a local clinic instead after checking with my insurance and explaining what happened to them. My aunt-in-law is somewhat of a big-wig here in New York and she called ahead to this place for me and gave them the rundown of what had happened. They were very nice and gave me enough Vicodin HP to last until my appt on the 7th.

The Doctor there told me that I should report the other office to the regulatory board and said how they treated me was horrid. I was grateful to have somebody on my side.

I thank you all for the reassurance and kind words.

As for the withdrawl stuff, I didn't think I had been on the stuff long enough to develope anything like that, I mean its been a month but it hasn't been that I take the max dosage all the time every day.

Is it that easy to get hooked on the stuff?

[Drax911]

Drax firstly so sorry that you have to go thru this hassle with the doctors and also the insurance problems. It's very hard to get good medical care these days. Doctor's are all about money and do not care about their patients.Having the same problems myself.,
You are definitely not "Doctor Shopping". That is when a person who deliberately goes from doctor to doctor or clinic to attain pain meds without telling the doctor that you got the pain meds from another doctor. You informed everyone what the situation was and did not use 2 scripts and the same time. You are not abusing and it is a shame your PCP that you waited so long to see give you the run-a-round. Can you pick out another PCP in the mean time? I know usually have to wait to establish yourself with a new one. How about a walk in clinic. Avoid going to the ER. Is that on your insurance?They have so many around my area and its much cheaper than going to the ER.
As far as your knee have you tried ice packs. Both my father and his wife have knee problems and that is what they use plus the Ibuprofen. I hope you get to see the specialist soon to relieve your pain.
Cherdox

I told the insurance when I called that they would no longer accept my coverage. She told me that I can find another PCP. So, I'm going to start seeing the Doctor at the clinic my Aunt-In-Law got me into. They are very nice and they DO take my insurance.

[Drax911]

Do you have a letter of dismissal from your dr's practice? If not, you should obtain one. !

No, I do not. My insurance didn't say anything about having to get one. I will go with my wife in the next two days and get one though. Thats a good idea.

[LisaBlue]

As for the withdrawl stuff, I didn't think I had been on the stuff long enough to develope anything like that, I mean its been a month but it hasn't been that I take the max dosage all the time every day.

Is it that easy to get hooked on the stuff?

Drax it is very easy to become addicted or tolerant of pain pills. I wish I had been warned before I ever took the first pill. Don't take them unless the pain is so bad it alters your life!

Lisa

[Drax911]

Drax it is very easy to become addicted or tolerant of pain pills. I wish I had been warned before I ever took the first pill. Don't take them unless the pain is so bad it alters your life!

Lisa

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't been taking them like crazy or anything. Just when it gets to that throbbing point where I am gritting my teeth. I think I'd be able to deal with it with OTC stuff if it weren't for the fact that the pain NEVER goes away. It just stays there and throbs and throbs and throbs etc.

The pills really do help kinda cover up the pain, I think Pain Killer is a misnomer but I am happy with the relief I get, But I don't experience much of a high really. Just a feeling of relief that my knee isn't driving me insane.

[Nirea]

Yes, you should be VERY careful in taking them. I think I can speak for a lot of us here that we are "accidental addicts" meaning we took the pills for a legitimate reason at first (ie: injury/illness), and then we became addicted to them without really even knowing it and I guess you'd know it when you stopped taking the pills and your body goes a little nutty in the form of the withdrawals.

This certainly happened to me. Never in my life would I have dreamed that I would have a nasty addiction such as this, but I do and that's that. I also wish that I could have taken something else or at least could have sucked it up more. I DO understand your knee pain as my husband has had 2 knee surgeries and my daughter had the ACL reconconstruction surgery and even I need knee surgery, but mine isn't so bad that I want to even do it. If you've been taking them for a month, that's enough time for your body to become addicted. I know that I've read it many times online in various places that it can take as little as 2 weeks for the addiction to set it. PLEASE someone correct me if I am wrong! I don't want to be giving anyone incorrect information, but the rest of my message is sincere! Yes, you can very much be at risk for addiction!

[karaboo]

Drax, yes, the potential for addiction is high with opiate pain medication. However, they are meant for cases like yours, where there is a need for pain relief that OTC meds just are providing. Now that you are aware of the potential, you can guard against it. Here are some tips I would suggest.

Do not take more than is prescribed or take them more often than prescribed.
Take them only when absolutely NEEDED, i.e. your pain is more than you can tolerate (that level is different for all of us, so be as objective as you can on that one)
When you feel you NEED to take one, wait at least 10 minutes and then reasses your pain. If it is worse or still just as bad, then take one.
Try all non-opiate methods of pain relief before popping a vicodin. These include ice, heat, massage, elevation, wrapping with an ace bandage, OTC meds (give those 45 mins to work), listening to music to distract yourself from the pain, guided imagery (focusing on an image in your mind to take the focus off of your pain).

You're a smart guy, with a supportive wife, and you only have a little over a week before you see the specialist. Use your head, be careful, and if there is any doubt in your mind as to whether or not you truly NEED the vicodin, then DON'T TAKE IT! I honestly think you will be fine, as long as you are careful and aware of how addictive these meds can be.

Good luck with the specialist, come back and let us know what they say!