How does this clinic look to you guys? | Arthritis Information

The one dr, dr Rottenberg, was suggested to me by a patient at my office a while back. I think the web site has some good info. It has a good section on fibro and I saw that they actually do prescribe the anti biotic minocin, so if I decide to go that route, they should be able to do it!

http://www.painrehabdoctor.com/officeinfo.html

I ditched the old pain dr today. They screwed up my appt yet again. This is the 4th time. It stinks because the massage therapy was the only thing that was providing me any relief. But, I have had MANY other problems with this clinic. The dr herself can't even explain the abnormal values found in the blood work that she ordered! The crying, hysterical message I left a couple of weeks back-it took them 10 days to even respond to me with oh, the dr is concerned and will see you in 6 weeks!

My concern at the moment though is that I need my oxycodone refilled. I have enough pills to last until Tuesday. The routine has been that I put the request in on Thursday when I go to therapy and pick it up the next Monday when I go to therapy.

They hired some new office manager a month or so back to help straightened things out but she is a witch. I have been going to this clinic since April, and they have had at LEAST 3 COMPLETE changes in office staff. I can count at least 15 differet people that hve come and gone and its a small, one dr office! No one stays for more than 3 weeks or so!

This new manager woman said the dr probably won't refill the script if I don't keep my massage appts. I told her that was complete BS! She said well the dr will probably at least want to see you first. I told her I would LOVE that but can not get an appt until mid October and this medication is not something you can just stop cold turkey.

So, I am upset, hurting and angry. I got up an hour and half early, drove 40 minutes to their office for nothing. And now I may not be able to get my pain medication refilled. Does anyone know any laws or something about drs just cutting off a serious narcotic like oxycodone to a patient? I have not abused it, I take it ONLY as directed.

I did call the new clinic above and left a message requesting an appt. I hope it doesn't take forever to get in.

Oh, for those interested in the insurance billing question. According to their insurance biller, it is legal to bill for massage even if it isn't done by a physical therapist or the dr herself as long as the dr ordered it???? I am tempted to call blue cross and find out the real truth but than again, I don't want all my claims to be denied because I don't have the money to pay for the claims if they get rejected. Especially if they think they can charge me the 0 like they are charging the insurance.
((((Michele))))) Wow, it doesn't seem to end, does it? I feel so badly that you are going through all this. I don't have time right now at work to check out the clinic website, or check on anything about legalities, but I just wanted to say I'm thinking about you and trying to send out good energy that something will finally go smoothly. Hang in there!I would contact your State's licensing board and your insurance company and file a complaint, as it sounds like the doctor who has been treating you is incompetent. Good luck. The Florida licensing complaint office in Tallahassee has been closed to the public since 911. You do it all by phone now and no one responds. Be very careful with your weanoff and go to ER if all else fails. Take care.

So sorry Michele, I wish there was something that would help you through this period of time. I hope the new clinic will be good to you.

I called the about noon, its 2 and I still haven't heard from them! Neither my old dr or the new clinic! I do not want to stop my pain meds, I NEED my pain meds more now than ever sine I stopped the pred and the humira!!!! I do have a small stash of vicodin at home but I am not sure if you can wean from the oxy to vicodin. I switched up from the vicodin because it wasn't working any longer and have been on the oxy for 5 months, I can't even imagine the withdrawal on that.

when you say you only take it as needed; how often would you say as needed is? I wouldn't think the withdrawals should be that bad if you aren't taking that much of it already.

You've managed to come off a lot more of your meds than you ever thought possible to begin with. Try not to panic. It's all going to get worked out.

Hang in there. Sounds like you are doing pretty good considering how horrible you were just a couple of weeks ago. Mentally anway. I'm glad to hear that.

I was instructed by the pain dr herself to take it ever 12 hours no matter what so it would build up in my system and better control my pain.

She actually called me a few minutes ago and is looking a few things up and is going to call me back. She is worried because there is a LOT of protein in my urine and very little in my blood.

Will update in the morning when I hear back from her again.

I did get an appt for the new pain clinic October 6 for a second,actually about 8 opinion!

What a nightmare!! I get my oxy from my rheumy, but live in fear that I would run out and have to go off cold turkey. I have accidentally missed a pill and had withdrawal symptoms. I cannot imagine going off cold turkey. I don't know if the Vicodin will do the trick, but it will be better than nothing.

My hugs and sympathy.

Lynne

[QUOTE=micheleb]I was instructed by the pain dr herself to take it ever 12 hours no matter what so it would build up in my system and better control my pain.

She actually called me a few minutes ago and is looking a few things up and is going to call me back. She is worried because there is a LOT of protein in my urine and very little in my blood.

Will update in the morning when I hear back from her again.

I did get an appt for the new pain clinic October 6 for a second,actually about 8 opinion!
[/QUOTE]

Gee, Michele, how can there be protein in your urine if your problems are just because you are "fat and depressed"? I guess it isn't all in your head after all. Thanks everyone!! I was SHOCKED when the pain doctor herself called me last night. She called just before 5 and we talked about 15 minutes than they had to go but than called me later at home and we talked over an hour.

She told me that she herself has bladder problems, fibro, adrenal insufficiency and a few other things. That even with being a dr herself, she can not figure out the root cause of her illnesses either. She has been to many drs, including the endo I am seeing next week. She told me how to prepare for the appt with the endo and that he is old school but is good on things thyroid and stuff but is one of those drs that doesn't believe in fibro so not to expect him to answer all my questions. Ok, good to know.

She told me about a dr at Providence hospital here that is the leading guy in toxic mold exposure and environmental illness. I will probably try to get an appt with him since I have been exposed to the mold.

She said that she has had communication with my current rheumy and that they are calling me "undifferentiated connective tissue disease or UCTD, which is an auto immune disease of unknown origin. The treatments are pretty much the same, anti inflammatory, steroids, vit d, etc. I asked her about the humira and she told me that it is now approved for the use in fibro patients and thought it will probably help me but that I need to ask the rheumy for sure. I see the rheumy the beginning of October and will wait until I speak with her to decide if I will restart the humria or not.

She said she is gong to a big conference the end of the month and is taking my "numbers' with me to discuss with the group. She said not to give up but that I need to start accepting the fact that while there is DEFINETLY something wrong, they may never find the exact cause or origin.

She had already mailed my oxy script and told me to keep taking the provigil. She said that I need to eat more than I have been and that she will run a full kidney work-up when I see her Oct 6th. That way we know it is not diet related or from steroid use. She will retest my urine and blood for the proteins.

It was a lot of time one the phone and not many answers but I guess it is better than nothing. I am keeping my appt with the other pain clinic as another opinion but didn't tell her about that appt. I will probably call next week and set up a massage therapy appt or two because that is really the only pain relief I get.

I know she was probably just trying to save me as a patient for the money but she at least telling me that while, yes, i can stand to lose a few pounds but that my problems are not from being fat and depressed. We did talk about her staff issues and she said she was going to talk to her girls and get things straightened out.

I am super exhausted today. My eyes are watery and puffy and I am shaky and week, probably just from stress and not sleeping well. I have to take my doggie Harely to the vet tomorrow at 10:45 for allergy issues. He gets allergies for a few weeks in the spring and fall but its never been this bad and he has red hot spots on his little body and itches constantly despite twice daily doses of benedryl. I also made an appt that I will have to pay for at a local massage school at 3pm. They only charge an hour and I have been there twice before and usually get a decent massage. It won't be the same type of theraputic massage I get from the pain clinic but its better than nothing. Otherwise, I plan on resting.

Mt boss is in today and we have a full load of patients right up until 6 pm tonight so its going to be a very long day. I will try to read a few posts between patients but may not be able to catch up until Monday! Love and hugs to everyone.

Sounds like you might be getting somewhere with these doctors! Take her advice; eat more than you have been eating. Glad to hear you're going to get at least some of the meds you need.

Hang in there!

It looks to me that your doctor has made a huge effort to understand you and your disease and to reassure you that she believes you. I'd sure keep this one! You've been disappointed in doctors so often that it's probably hard to trust, but I'd give this one a chance. I went through something like this when I was much younger, so you have my sympathy!

Kathy

That doctor sounds like a keeper! You have totally turned the corner.

Lynne