Anyone ever been dumped by their doctor

A little background first:

I suffer chronic pain due to diabetic neuropathy, severe spinal stenosis, severe spinal arthritis, and from at least 2 herniated discs. I know I have two lumbar discs that are messed up bad, and I think I have at least one in the lower cervical/upper thorasic area since the symptoms there are exactly the same as in my lower back.

I was prescribed Cymbalta for the neuropathy which worked great. Took away 90-98% of my lower leg and feet pain.
After going through a ton of medications, therapy, and injections I was put on 15 mg morphine tablets for my back pain. Only thing found to reduce the pain enough to function. Depending on the day I took 2 to 4 of these, avg 2.5 pills a day per month.

After starting the morphine I started having memory problems and the longer I was on it the worse they became. At first I thought it was due to all the stress in my life. I was, and still am, a full time stay at home parent raising a toddler, and shortly after starting on this pain drugs I found out my Mother had terminal cancer which she passed away from 2 months after diagnosis, and I was trying to take care of her too and then had all the post death things to deal with and so on.

Any way it wasn't until about 6-8 months ago I realized there was something more going on. I had a very hard time recalling things from 5 minutes ago to months ago, and even though I tried to adapt by leaving notes in "obvious" places I would either forget to look at the note or if I did I would forget about it again a short time later. I made notes to talk to my doctor about it but would forget to take it with me or if I did take it I would forget I had it. As a result of my memory problems I missed 3 doctor's appointments in the last year.

As a result my doctor dropped me as a patient, saying my disregard for making appointments showed a lack of care about my health. I tried calling and talking to him about it, but he would not return my calls. I sent him a letter explaining what was going on, but to no avail.

So now, 3 months later, I am still without a doctor. Every doctor I call either does not accept new patients at this time or they don't want to deal with someone who suffers from chronic pain, assuming of course they even bother to give a reason, which several haven't. In short I am something of an outcast when it comes to medical care in my area. I have been trying to find one as close as possible and have contacted every GP, Internist, PA, and NP within 30 miles so far. The next closest batch are 50 miles away.

Between doctors being more businessmen than doctors and the idiots in government treating doctors who do prescribe narcotic pain medicines as potential drug dealers making them fear for their medical licenses and worry about being jailed the health care system is a lot more messed up than just people lacking insurance.


Thanks for letting me vent.

Jim,
First off, Welcome to HW! Buckeye had a good suggestion about the PM. If there aren't any pain management doctors in your area, you might try a neurologist. Usually they will help you -- at least until you can get into a pain management doctor.

best wishes,
frances

It was my primary care physician that dumped me. I had been seeing him for almost 10 years. For over a year he has been prescribing me my pain meds, and I never once refused to try any suggestion he made. There are only 2 endocrinologists in the area that take my insurance. 1 was not accepting new patients and the other I seen twice and fired for being a huge azz. So my PCP was working with me for my diabetes care too.

My neurologist, which was co-caring my nueropathy packed up and moved 400 miles away 4 months ago, and since the clinic in which she worked has not replaced her yet and no one took her cases I have none. My insurance will not allow me to see any specialist with out a referral by my PCP. I have been to a pain specialist, but all he wants to do is keep doing steroid injections which I have had 2 rounds of and all they did was increase my pain 2 points. It's been over a year since I had those and I am still hurting worse than before.

Come Monday the search resumes at the 50 mile mark. Can't tell you how much I am looking forward to a 2 hour round trip to see a doctor, assuming I can find one. Between the cost of gas and sitting in a car for an hour each way....oh the joy of it.

Jim, if you get referred to an PM specialist-be sure who ever makes the referral checks to see what kind of pain mgt dr the person is. Some PM drs do prcedures and injections only, then the other with do that and give medication. So, yes not all give medication.

I sure hope you can come up with someone good and soon. I know you said Morphine made your life bearble, but considering what it did to your memory I would stay away from it. There are other medications out there that may help you.

Jim, I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this. I do hope you are able to find a pain management doctor,soon. It sounds like although the morphine did help with the pain, it may not have been the best med. for you. It sounds like others need to be tried. It angers me that your doctor won't see you anymore. You didn't do it on purpose. You were having severe memory problems...It seems like he should have been more understanding and compassionate than he was. I know it must be aggravating not being able to find a replacement,and it being so hard to do...Keep on trying. You will succeed. Do NOT give up.
Anice