I had to sign an pain management agreement with my PCP... is this normal?
Question posted by chronicpainhurts on 13 Feb 2010
Last updated on 4 May 2023
I had to sign a pain management agreement with my PCP which says that I can't get pain meds from any other Dr, even a pain mangagment specialist. I asked them, even if I get in a car accident, and they give me IV pain meds, and I am out of it, does that count and will they put me in rehab? They said "maybe, if they do not call the dr ahead of time"
Now, if I am semi-concious, can they do that? They said even if they SEND me to a pain management specialist, the PMS cannot give me pain meds... what? How the hell do I get around this one? I don't want to Dr shop, I just want the best Dr that will give me the best care, which would be a PMS... so why even go if they send me? If they won't let him do anything?
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72 Answers Page 4
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grandmommadavis
19 June 2010
I have chronic pain in my back,fibromyalgia,bipolar,and a bad knee.I'm falling apart.I am hoping someone can give me some advice.I have a pcp i have been seeing for about 6mos.And he gives me cymbalta for my bipolar and fibromyalgia,amptitryptine and temazepam for my insomnia,but last month he stopped giving me vicodin for my chronic pain,knee and the fibro..because he wants me to see a pain dr.,but I have Anthems Health keepers plus... which is medicaid(VA.)they're not any pain drs.that will take it.So I have a dilemma,and Ihave pain daily,not sure what to do.I also am on disability,and cannot afford to pay $425 a month for 1 visit,I have a 12 y.o.,a single mother,can't work... anyone have any suggestions?Would appreciate any advice... Thankyou andGod bless (Nita)
Votes: +0
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heckmuck
21 June 2010
@ Grandmommadavis- I, too, have Medicaid insurance and had trouble finding a pms. If you live in a small town, like me, there has to be one in a nearby larger city that accepts your insurance. If your doc is telling you to go to one, he should have a list of docs who accept your insurance close to where you live. Mine did. I went through two different pms docs in two different cities before I found one that would help me. I moved an hour and a half away, and live in a small town, but there was an awesome group of docs about 40 minutes away from me that took my insurance. So, I have been to a total of 3 pms docs all over the state of NC who accept Medicaid. I promise, they are out there. I hope this helps. Please keep me updated, for I will pray for you to get some much needed help! Heather
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barrebaby33
13 June 2010
ususally?? yes because most pain management docs rx schedule 1 and 2 narcotics and they dont want you getting meds from other doctors because THEY control your pain management,not other docs. however if u are unable to communicate with your pain management doctor,its not a problem for a er to administer you something for pain. im on several opiate painkillers and i lost a bottle while on vacation and i went to another doctor and he gave me something.same thing during hurricane katrina when my pain doctor was flooded. they just dont want u making a habit out of it. hope this helps:)
Votes: +0
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GrannyDonna
11 June 2010
It is normal to sign a contract with you Pain Mgmt. Dr. In my case, when I had to have another surgery, (because it has nothing to do with why I am having to take my Pain Meds) I was able to get my other meds filled. I did take the RX to my Pain Mgmt. Office and let the nurse take it back and speak with the Dr. About it, and he approved it so it didn't interfere with my normal monthy RX. I would speak with with my pain mgmt. dr. But the hospitals cannot refuse to treat you with pain meds if you need it and its not smart to Dr. Shop, as the Pharmacies now have this thing called "SCRIPTS" which to the best of my knowledge is all pharmacies are hooked up to one data bank and they can see if you are Dr. shopping.. Always check with your Dr. thats is the main Dr. giving you the medications, i hope this helped you..take care, GrannyDonna
Votes: +0
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janimal54
8 June 2010
All Primary Car physicians are now referring people with chronic pain to a pain specialist. Ususally these are physiatrist, muscular skeletal dr. They mostly believe in anti-inflammatory drugs or injections. Most of these are a bandaid and don't work. If they do it is not for a long period of time. I have suffered from fibromyalgia for 30 years before most heard of it. I really think since I was a kid I had it due to having spondylyosis. Like they say if your spine is not in line your whole body is off. My mom used to say it was growing pains when I got up in the middle of the night in pain. Well I'm 55 and I still waKE up in the middle of the night and I hope I have stopped growing. The pain never stops. I have tried everything they(Drs) suggest and it doesn't help. Even pain killers just hurt my stomach. now I have esophagitus due to taking anti-inflammatories. I try excercising and i hurt so bad for days I give up.
I have always excercised and been really tough through it and gone for ten weeks at a time to no avail. Sorry I couldn't be more positive. The only positive outlook is it could be worse. .
Votes: +0
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Inactive
12 Dec 2010
First, primary care docs are getting rid of chronic pain patients because of their malpractice INSURANCE. Not because they don't want to deal with the prescriptions anymore. Insurance companies are the richest companies in the USA. When you go into a large downtown, look at the buildings names, and you will see that the most are named from insurance companies. They make all the problems between attorney's and doctors to make them both hate each other so that they can make more money. They don't want to pay out anything if you are hurt from a car accident or if you fall and hurt yourself in a place of business.
Secondly, there have been studies on Fibro, and found out that children with "growing pains" have a high risk of developing fibro in their lives. Apparently there is no such thing as growing pains. Narcotics will NOT help fibro. There are other treatments. Only if you have other problems with the fibro, will narcotics help. Check with a rheumatologist as to what you can do to help you with the pain. Actually, if you live near a major university with a hospital attached, that would be the best help for your pain. Good luck! Try looking up some of the groups on facebook for fibro. they are VERY helpful.
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brenda fain
12 Feb 2011
i have fibromyalgia and i take soma's for it.a muscle relaxer works great for fibro pain !i also am a chronic pain suffer and am on oxy's 15 mg every 6 hours and on 75mg fentnyal patch .this works well for me but it has taken 10 years to get to where i am at now!
but i believe they are some fibromyalgia suffers who need something like narco's or something to ease their pain .we are all different and handle pain differently .so what might work for some mihjt not work for others .
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dannypoo
6 June 2010
I really dont think anything would happen if it was an emergency, if you had an accident and were admitted through the emergency room i really dont think that would count. I think it is right that you have to sign to protect the docor personally to me i think they are doing this because of how addicting a lot of pain medication is, if someone becomes addicted from using them because of a medical condition then if theirs no contract what if they go to 5 different doctors and get prescriptions to abuse, i mean i could be wrong but i dont think you should worry about that if its a real emergency.
Votes: +0
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Maud
29 May 2010
I used to be a health care professional, MSN. Now I am in the time of my life when arthritis etc is taking it's very painful toll. My favorite peeve is the idea that pain pills cause pain. I never ever have abused pain meds, needed them on an ongoing basis, yes, but have always remained within reasonable useage. I need the lower end of the pain med spectrum, ie tramadol, or 5mg Lortab. Now, if one takes more than 15 pills a month it is considered really bad. I want to read the research that has led so many to believe so much. Pain is not how I wanted to spend my last years.
Votes: +0
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quinn7
24 May 2010
Hi about your question, yes i had a pcm that i had to do this with as well. I am a chronic pain patient and because of the types of medications i take i had to sign this.. Depending on the types of meds that youre taking they want to make sure that you are not going to have all kinds of problems, ex running out early, going to E.R for more or different meds, etc.. If something were to happen in an emergency situation, my advice to you would be is to carry a list of medications that youre on at all times, as well as a copy of the narcotic contract if that is what it is.. If you were to be hurt in an accident they can not deny you treatment or being treated with pain medication, If you have this list with your meds listed and the contract with the Drs name and all contact numbers they have a way to contact them should be ok..
Votes: +1
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justgothome2031
20 May 2010
first of all, why would you sign a pain contract with your primary dr knowing you would be seeing a PMS and they would be having you sign a contract as well? once you sign the contract with the PMS, the one you signed with your pcp should be null and void. make sure your pcp knows about the pain contract with PMS. either way, you should probably sign the contract with the PMS, since they know more about pain than your PCP. second, no dr will drop you if you are in an emergency situation and need pain medication in the emergency room. it is always wise to wear a medic alert bracelet with your medication and dr phone number, or carry a laminated card with the same info.
Votes: +2
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vtech10
9 May 2010
these days it has to be documented when a patient begins taking percasates, opioids, all because of what happenned to michael jackson the doctors license is on the line and of course your health, which means he is declaring a medical neccessity for you to have that strength of the particular narcotic he is administering to you, you sign stating you agree for him to administer it to you, because of the severity of your condition, just be careful that you will not have any allergic reactions; i was on oxycodone 5mg and took selennium or ducosate because those kind a pills constipate you and i had a allergic reaction my lips began to swell- so you must read the brochures given with the narcotic to see if you are on any other medication or laxative that will not be a good combination to take because it interacts with the narcotic, thats why doctors prescribing anything need to know all of the medicines you take,
the doctor giving you the narcotic has to be the only one prescribing any medication in the family of narcotics, then a alert is out there every where you go; they have a database that they go into, if you stop going to this doctor for treatment, then you ask them for the form to remove you off of the list with him as your current prescribing narcotic prescription doctor, especially if you no longer require treatment from him, or you move far away from his office; well you should be discharged from him altogether; keep your copy to;... vtech10
Votes: +0
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RemSupreme
19 April 2010
I never heard that but when I was getting pain meds they gave me a card saying do not give Narcanor any antaganist cause it would put you in withdrawal,but I never heard of this and personally I would swich PCP.
Votes: +0
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christineATU
19 April 2010
Oh yea, it's out there Rem. Some years ago I had to sign one. After I no longer needed the help, they still held on to that contract. I returned 3 years later and they said the first one was still in effect! I had meds prescribed in between so I guess I should have been busted! It's pitiful!
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heckmuck
20 April 2010
I guess after hearing some of you all's stories... I am one of the lucky ones! I am so sorry about the issues that you have had to deal with. I had the same issues a couple years ao, but when I moved away, I had to find all new docs. I was very picky about who I saw, and had to switch pcp's after about 3 months because my NEW pcp would not even give me a referral to a pms! He wrote the referral, but never got me an appt. That was the point when I called my ins. company, and asked for a new doc. My first visit with the new pcp was definately what I was looking for. I got my referral, and within a week, I was seeing my new pms! My first visit with them was very informative, and they told me about options I never even knew I had! I signed the agreement with them, but there is no way I would ever leave their practice, so I don't have to worry about it.
If you are your own advocate about these very sensitive issues, and are picky about who you see, you can have success with these docs. Just keep looking until you find the right doc like I did. You don't have to sign anything until you are sure you like them! Heather
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Inactive
19 April 2010
Yes!!! this is normal Dr.s need to feel confident that you will not dr. shop and end up with 500 pills in a day and overdose cause they will be the one's to blame. I have a sister in law that has gillian barre she ran around dr. shopped and got in trouble she was cut off quick. To prevent that make sure first that you are happy with who your seeing. Which I personally think you are seeing the wrong doc if they are that strict in their pain management facility. Second a pain contract only lasts 6 mo. not forever so look but dont touch till you are done there. Third your doc only know's what you tell them unless you've left a trail a mile long. Do not ever talk to them like they will ever understand your pain cause they wont... When you find a doctor you feel understands you in a way stick with them that will be the doc for you.
Votes: +0
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mykinzie
13 April 2010
Hello. Yes my pain manageement dr. Is the same. I also had to sign something stating that. It bothers me too. I find that it puts a lot of pressure on me. To just always do everything just so since so much is at stake here for me and my back pain. Like if I screw up in some simple stupid way, what will I do then!!! I don't know. We really have no choices here. We are in this situation with our need for pain management and we need this help. So I plan on doing the best I can to follow the rules. I believe all pm drs. Require this. So far, mine hasn't asked me to give a urine analysis. Do they all do this like once a year or so? Well best we can do is support each other on this! I'm so glad we have each other. Marla.
Votes: +4
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heckmuck
14 April 2010
@mykinzie... This is the standard these days, to sign an agreement with your pcp or pms. Unfortunately, We must do this to receive meds that we need for our pain. The reason is very simple... Addicts! It is sad that it had to come to this, but you have people who abuse these meds and people who get them, just to turn around and sell them for a HUGE profit. It really isn't fair that people who truly need these meds, have to "jump through hoops" to get them, but it is what it is. Ya know? As far as your question about how often you are drug tested, my doc generally does this once per quarter. So, once every three months! I will gladly take these drug tests to ensure that I continue to receive my much needed medications! It does not bother me one bit to prove to my docs four times a year, that I neither abuse nor do I sell drugs! If you think about it this way, it helps a little.
I look at it like this, if you PROVE yourself to these docs by following the "rules" they will be more apt to help you. On the other hand, if you raise hell about having to take a drug test, they will be more hesitant in giving you the medications. I sincerely hope this helps you all. God Bless... Heather
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itsmetoo2
13 April 2010
I am confused. How did your doctor force your hand to sign your name? You do have rights !! I would walk off from an agreement like this. He now has made him a GOD!! What happens if he is on Mt. Everest and you can not contact him. Yes, this is a violation !!
If I considered this contract at all, I would contact a legal mind and add on to this agreement, your concerns as you stated above. Do not forget to have your doctor sign this.
Votes: +2
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itsmetoo2
13 April 2010
I have another question.. What happens if your doctor is not able (by law) to prescribe certain medications? Some medications need a special DEA License to prescribe. Tell him when is he getting such a license !
Maybe he is not smart enough !!!
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luv2bmama4
30 June 2011
i also recently sighned a pain contract. my doctor gave me a script for 30 pain killers knowing i take two a day. he said just call his office and get a refill from him when i run out so yesterday i called for refill and he denied me saying he wont refill it untill he sees me in 3 weeks. so he gave me a two week script wont refill it for 5 weeks. my husband was at the appointment with me and we fill that he lied to me... what do you think??? anyone??
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brambo
3 Oct 2020
Question him. Does he realize the dates. Did he just give it to you on a temporary basis? That’s what it sounds like! Try to move appointment up, but I think you will be disappointed in the end
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brambo
3 Oct 2020
Question him. Does he realize the dates. Did he just give it to you on a temporary basis? That’s what it sounds like! Try to move appointment up, but I think you will be disappointed in the end
ANONYMOUS!!! You took up half the page! lol... little pc problem? Don't mean to embarrass you, I'm sure you're embarrassed enough already. We all have our pc moments.
Votes: +1
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RemSupreme
5 April 2010
If your dr is not giving you pain meds switch doctors and if you have paperwork of what caused the pain you should get them.Good Luck
