Hi all: My wonderful pm doc left practice in January and his replacement doesn't really want the extra pt load. I have been recently dx'd with Lupus (after a looooong journey to many drs to figure this out...almost a YEAR worth). My PM said the rheumatologist should be prescribing all my meds and not him. He wants me to transition to my rheumatologist for all meds.
Right before I was dx'd with Lupus, I found a full-time job that I LOVE. First one in 3 years since I had a compound fracture that led to osteoporosis dx and many more medical issues.
My PM thinks my rheumatologist should take over my pain meds and he is decreasing them whether I like it or not. My rheumatologist doesn't prescribe opioids and said that the Lupus drugs are not going to help my chronic back and hip pain. My PM won't even prescribe a TENS unit at this time. My rheumatologist wanted to talk to him and the PM refused. I told the PM I don't want to give up my job because it's the first job I found in 3 years that I can do and succeed at and they accommodate my Lupus flares.
My PM said, "What is more important...your job or your health?" My rheumatologist thought that is crazy to ask that question and told me to find another PM. I want a PM doc who will work with my rheumatologist. This one will not.
I've had 3 PM consults in Westchester County NY and 2 in Rockland County NY and no one really wants to take over maintenance PM. I need facet joint injections but right now I can't take off the time to have them. I feel like a drug seeker when I go in to see them and I don't know what to do. My pain meds are almost at zilch and I am feeling it every day. I have been coming home earlier and earlier from work because I can feel the pain. My rheumatologist said I am definitely not a drug seeker. I'm a chronic pain pt looking for relief. Today my back pain went into my leg during a work meeting and I had to suppress a yelp which was really hard.
My Lupus drugs have definitely decreased the inflammation but I still have facet joint pain and other arthritic pain from spondilytis and scoliosis. It gets worse as the day wears on. As I go down in pain meds I am feeling every second between pills. I'm about to go down to 2 pills a day and that is just boggling my mind (as well as my rheumatologist who thinks I need to run, not walk, to a new dr but finding one is so hard).
Any thoughts on how to find a new PM? I am at a loss and can't take more time off from work running around to find one.
Right before I was dx'd with Lupus, I found a full-time job that I LOVE. First one in 3 years since I had a compound fracture that led to osteoporosis dx and many more medical issues.
My PM thinks my rheumatologist should take over my pain meds and he is decreasing them whether I like it or not. My rheumatologist doesn't prescribe opioids and said that the Lupus drugs are not going to help my chronic back and hip pain. My PM won't even prescribe a TENS unit at this time. My rheumatologist wanted to talk to him and the PM refused. I told the PM I don't want to give up my job because it's the first job I found in 3 years that I can do and succeed at and they accommodate my Lupus flares.
My PM said, "What is more important...your job or your health?" My rheumatologist thought that is crazy to ask that question and told me to find another PM. I want a PM doc who will work with my rheumatologist. This one will not.
I've had 3 PM consults in Westchester County NY and 2 in Rockland County NY and no one really wants to take over maintenance PM. I need facet joint injections but right now I can't take off the time to have them. I feel like a drug seeker when I go in to see them and I don't know what to do. My pain meds are almost at zilch and I am feeling it every day. I have been coming home earlier and earlier from work because I can feel the pain. My rheumatologist said I am definitely not a drug seeker. I'm a chronic pain pt looking for relief. Today my back pain went into my leg during a work meeting and I had to suppress a yelp which was really hard.
My Lupus drugs have definitely decreased the inflammation but I still have facet joint pain and other arthritic pain from spondilytis and scoliosis. It gets worse as the day wears on. As I go down in pain meds I am feeling every second between pills. I'm about to go down to 2 pills a day and that is just boggling my mind (as well as my rheumatologist who thinks I need to run, not walk, to a new dr but finding one is so hard).
Any thoughts on how to find a new PM? I am at a loss and can't take more time off from work running around to find one.
Finding New PM...so crazy
