Okay listen to this....

I also don't understand why they think 6 weeks is long enough to prescribe pain meRAB. Most everyone I know neeRAB them at least twice that long. It even says in the spine clinic brochure that "most people don't need pain medications past 4-6 weeks post op". I was like WHAT! When I was talking to the PM clinic lady, I told her about that, and that my surgeon said he could only prescribe them for that long by law. She said that was rediculous and that 6 weeks must be his comfort level.
I agree that they should have to go through what we go through to truly understand and give us the respect we deserve. I actually used to say the same thing when I was a waitress at a busy restaurant in college. When people are hungry they can be so rude. And then there were those that left horrible tips- as if they no clue that our salary mostly depended on tips. I thought that if they just tried waiting tables for a few nights then they would understand how hard it is.
I also had a hard time getting proper pain management with my spine clinic before surgery, so I guess I am not surprised. I once asked for a prescription anti inflammatory and flexeril for muscle relaxing (my muscles were so tense all the way up to my neck and giving me horrible headaches- nothing like OTC meRAB/ my migraine meRAB/ or massage helped.) The nurse was like NO WAY. She acted like I was asking for some super strong narcotic or something.
I will be glad when I am with the new PM clinic, and yes, I will keep copies of all my recorRAB. I have a copy machine at home so it will be easy. I aso have a fax, but I can't fax my recorRAB in because the stack is way to high and I have discs to send in.
BTW, Spine! Good luck on Wednesday!!!! It is the 3rd right? I will be thinking of you!
 
I didn't have Valium, just Percocet, but that's how I was for the first couple of weeks: sleep for a few hours, be awake for a few hours, rewind and repeat.

Try to distract yourself with movies. That was my best help for helping to deal with the pain that the meRAB didn't cover.

Hugs,
Emily
 
I'm not talking about refills on schedule 2 prescriptions. I'm referring to only giving a patient one week of prescriptions post-op. I have had 4 spine surgeries and post-op have always been prescribed one month supply of medications post op and that includes schedule 2 medications. Of course when I went in for my post-op follow-up appointment. I understood there were some medications that required a written script (like the Oxycodone), while the Norco I could call in for refills (and my surgeon's office encouraged phoning that script in). So, yes I'm aware of the difference. However, I was always written a 30 day supply of medications and from what I understand that is the practice of the majority of Doctors. However, I guess some surgeons have adopted their own policies - however this is THEIR office policy to prescribe medications for only one week at a time - not a law. As another poster pointed out, it is based on the surgeon's comfort level with prescribing narcotic medications and some are now adopting weekly prescription polices. But, yes I do understand that Schedule 2 medications require a written script. :)

I just feel so bad for what Megss has been put through having to call in for refills each week and being made to feel erabarrassed when she calls. Given all she's been through, I feel like she is entitled to reasonable pain management. :(

~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
What is really odd to me is, don't most Doctor's give patients a medication supply for a month? The surgeons that have done my various procedures have always given me a supply of pain medications for one month. IMHO, that is what makes sense - they are not expecting your pain to be completely gone in one week are they? It just seems like it would create such an additional amount of work for them of patients calling in needing reveals on their medications, it doesn't make much sense for them to operate that way - certainly not an efficient way to operate.

Was there a reason they only give a medication supply of one week? :confused:

Also, I have to say this spine clinic really is doing a poor job of managing your pain post-surgically. I'm in pain management (I have such a messed up situation with my spine, but I digress), I would almost say if your spine clinic isn't going to take responsibility to manage your pain, you may want to consider having a referral to a pain management Doctor, that will take responsibility for managing your pain in a proactive and reasonable manner. Just a thought.

~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
Spine, Thanks for the information! Honestly, I had never heard of this practice prior to what poor Megss is going through. It just seems to add so much additional work for their offices. But, I guess surgeons are getting more and more concerned about prescribing narcotic medications and adopting new policies.

I agree. I think there should be that kind of requirement. I have to say I have been blessed with very talented spinal surgeons, who were very understanding and empathetic about pain management.



I will keep you in my thoughts! :angel:

~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
Yeah I am 8 days post op and already into my second script of oxycodone. I didn't even get a week, I got 5 days (since I was in the hospital for a few days). My second script was only 5 days as well, since it was an exact repeat of the first. With the exact same instructions. So it will run out on Wednesday and I will need to call in a refill on Tuesday already. It's just annoying. I think I mentioned it before, but my nurse will be out again next week, so hopefully her calls won't be routed to Cindy again:D
I was given 2 weeks of Valium and I suspect that is all I will get of that, and I was given 20 days of gabapentin. I will get refills on that since I permanent nerve damage. And as far as the Oxycontin, the ER gave me 42 pill- 2 weeks- and that is all I am getting of that. 5 days of the main med, oxycodone, is just weird.
I seriously can't wait to get all of my medical recorRAB in so I can go to that PM clinic. Just like Fiona said, they seem very compassionate and understanding about severe chronic pain, even when it comes to meRAB.
 
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