2 questions on Pain Management (Seattle, Tacoma: insurance, how much, purchasing)

[CASANDRA62]

A few years ago I saw on a magazine type show like 20/20 ? a woman that began a service for persons who were in chronic pain, after her father suffered severely before his death. He was not given the necessary pain meds due to a law.
We moved this past year from another state to Washington in which my husband with multiple degenerative disk, arthritis, both shoulders have torn rotator cuffs and on and on, cannot find a Doctor here, that will issue the pain meds he had been on for years in our previous state. Though he's taken all the test and confirmed he has all those problems. The last Doc he saw gave him the least amount of pain meds possible. Others he's gone to say up front they don't prescribe pain meds.
He's already talking about suicide.
We have no problems with our insurance.
Anyway, does anyone know the website of this lady who helps those in this situation. She helps with teaching the legalities of pain management.
The 2nd question can anyone recommend a Dr. in Olympia, Tacoma or even Seattle that can resolve this problem?

[CrazyDonkey]

This is what is driving people addicted to prescription painkillers to purchasing pain meds on the street, and then heroin because it is cheaper than oxy's, for instance. Putting the screws on doctors, is apparently politically more palatable than providing easily accessible treatment options to those who have been addicted by Big Pharma, in that neither funding need be provided nor taxes raised.

All you can do is keep knocking on doors. Doctors are afraid of having their prescription profiles tagged for investigation, which can lead to license revoking, even prosecution and imprisonment.

[seagypsy59]

So sorry to hear of your challenges.

I don't want to assume anything so I'm going to ask if you are looking specifically at pain management doctors? We live in Bellingham, WA and have had no problems at all with prescriptions for my other half. But he is under the direct care of a pain management specialist who he visits monthly and is subject to the occasional surprise drug test. He's had 7 failed back surgeries and significant nerve damage. I will add that he brought his medical records out here which helped a lot.

If you haven't reached out to Pain Management departments at local hospitals you might give that a try.

I wish I could help further. Hopefully you will find someone soon.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by seagypsy59

If you haven't reached out to Pain Management departments at local hospitals you might give that a try.

Exactly. UW Pain Management clinics:

https://depts.washington.edu/anesth/...roviders.shtml

[west seattle gal]

Originally Posted by seagypsy59

So sorry to hear of your challenges.

I don't want to assume anything so I'm going to ask if you are looking specifically at pain management doctors? We live in Bellingham, WA and have had no problems at all with prescriptions for my other half. But he is under the direct care of a pain management specialist who he visits monthly and is subject to the occasional surprise drug test. He's had 7 failed back surgeries and significant nerve damage. I will add that he brought his medical records out here which helped a lot.

If you haven't reached out to Pain Management departments at local hospitals you might give that a try.

I wish I could help further. Hopefully you will find someone soon.

Where in Bham?

[seagypsy59]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

Where in Bham?

Northeast side of Lake Whatcom, just past the city limits.

[Ruth4Truth]

OP, torn rotator cuffs can be remedied with massage. It will take time (2-4 months of weekly treatments), but it will heal them without surgery. You can get 1/2-hr. treatments that work only the shoulder issues, to make it more affordable. Full-body massage, though will dull the pain and help him sleep, just fyi. Massage is what all hospitals offered their in-patients, before pain meds became a big thing. I've worked on patients with severe back problems, and they report they sleep well on their massage days, and for a few days afterwards.

Just suggesting an alternative, while you search around for a pain doc.

[DogLovinGal]

I happen to be one of those providers who state up front "I don't do chronic pain management." Here are my reasons, although I may not speak for everyone. In no particular order of importance:

1) Liability. Opens me up to a world of it, and I get absolutely zero benefit from doing long term pain management. People are sue-happy these days. This, unfortunately, affects the way we practice.
2). It is not evidence based. More and more literature is coming out that there is zero clinical evidence that chronic pain should be managed by narcotics. It is not appropriate. Therefore, as an up-to-date provider, I choose to follow the latest guidelines.
3). What one person does, is not what *should* be done. I run into a lot of meds people are on for all kinds of things and let me tell you, it's not always in the person's best interest. I choose to practice my own way, which I believe is in the best interest of the health of the patient, regardless of the decisions of others before me.
4). Do you realize prescription narcotic deaths in WA are off the charts compared to other states? Especially in my area. It's crazy. They are HIGHER THEN STREET DEATHS- meaning more people die from meds they are prescribed then if, as someone else mentioned, they turned to street drugs. I'm not saying people should turn to street drugs, I'm just saying it's well known among the medical community that prescriptions are a bigger problem as far as mortality goes.
5) - A lot of people want to take a pill instead of actually get better. Not saying this is the case here, just speaking in general. Zero interest in long term efforts for recovery, often balking at recommendations that aren't pill (and heavy-hitting pill) based. I do not want to be forced to practice that way, by anyone, including patients.
6) Insurance plays zero role in my decision. It's not about money. In fact I do not know how much or little it may cost you to get those pills I may or may not prescribe.

So I guess to sum it up, I don't think I would, or could, consider myself a responsible, ethical provider if I
1) Did something just because that's the way it was done before, or always done
2) Prescribed a drug for uses it is not intended for, thereby increasing that person's risk of death
3) Let the patient be in pain- I would have to address it in other ways, including external referrals.

Your husband needs to be referred to a pain management doctor who does medication management. Any primary care provider can provide this referral if they are not willing to prescribe the meds themselves.

[tyvin]

Don't you just love WA state for it's crack down on the laws for that. The thing is, it directly affects the person who really needs pain management. They say they're trying to get the stats down for the people who overdose...those are the addicts. A person who manages their pain medicine well to manage their pain should be trusted here. I won't go into what's up with me, but I'm in a wheelchair and have real pain issues. You should have seen the look on the first doctor's face when they saw what I was taking for pain here; it was as if I had done something wrong. I have never lost my pills, misplaced them or all the other excuses I hear people say. I always respect the medicine, and only take what is prescribed.

I heard about WA's tough laws concerning prescription pain meds before moving here. I saved up some of my routine pain meds before moving here (hospital stays where I didn't need them). My goal was to have a one month's supply extra in case of emergency. On my third doctor in WA state I found one that had no problem helping me (I had my MR with me). That is the exception, and certainly not the rule here, as I have observed and heard many horror stories. The first doctor basically laughed at me, the second one was a little more sympathetic and referred me to the third one with whom is now my pcp.

The addict will get what he wants one way or another. It's the people with real pain issues that have the problems in WA state. How can we be blamed for what the addicts do? You also have to understand the doctors are under a great deal of scrutiny from the state and the feds; I can't say I blame them. Then again, pain medicine is only one part of pain management.

The thing to do is to have a pcp refer you to a pain management clinic. Pain meds are not the only way to control pain. I use meditation and distraction as well. I've been lowering my dosage gradually before I planned my move to WA. I hate being a slave to a pill.

Other things that help with pain are diet which plays a large part, as well as visualization. It's not enough to say "give me a pain pill" you must be willing to try out other things for your pain. Also, depending on what kind of pain it is, there are many antidepressants and other meds that help with pain as well (off label use). PT, exercise, and general attitude toward your pain and your life. Our brains will help us get better, or worse; depending on what we think. Self fulfilling prophecy...

It's just sometimes; you can't beat the physics

Don't blame the doc here; lobby for change in the state.

[wmweeza]

Originally Posted by tyvin

The addict will get what he wants one way or another. It's the people with real pain issues that have the problems in WA state. How can we be blamed for what the addicts do? You also have to understand the doctors are under a great deal of scrutiny from the state and the feds; I can't say I blame them. Then again, pain medicine is only one part of pain management.

I think part of the problem is patients who ARE willing to sell the meds they have to addicts. It's not a huge number but it exists.
I personally use massage and on bad days I just elevate my legs and veg out and hope tomorrow is a better day (and that I can walk). If I took pills for the pain I'd be popping them everyday, for ME that isn't a good thing....but I do recognize there are others for whom it is the best choice for them.