The Cons of Going to a Pain Clinic

When you or someone you know are/is in pain, you want to do every thing you can for yourself or them. However, new regulations have really put the squeeze on some doctors about how and when they can write pain medications. So, what to do? One thing you can do is ask your doctor to recommend you to a pain clinic.

However, here are a few things to consider before going to a pain clinic.

The first thing is that you must sign a contract with them that you will get pain medication from absolutely no other doctor for anything at anytime. If they find you getting prescriptions for any type of pain medication from another doctor, they will dismiss you from the clinic.

The second is that you will be drug tested (for the pain medication in your system as well as illegal drugs in your system) almost every time you have a visit. Also, at any time they can call you in for a random drug test.

The third thing you need to know is that they will count your pills whenever they desire. You will be called one day just out of the blue and told they want to count your pills. You have just that day to show up for the pill count or you will, again, be dismissed from the clinic.

Fourth, if for some reason you miss your appointment and do not notify them, this will also be grounds for them to let you go from their clinic.

Fifth, you are given only a one month supply of any pain medication at one time. Some medications such as Oxyconton and Oxycodone must have a new prescription each time you are to get them. The prescriptions cannot be faxed or mailed to the pharmacy. Some clinics will, however, mail them to you. Otherwise, you are required to pick them up at the clinic during their normal hours if you are to get a refill on your medication.

Sixth you can always plan on waiting in most pain clinics for at least two to five hours before being seen. This is just a normal thing since most pain clinics are so filled to capacity and must see several patients in one day. Also, some doctors have more than one office at which they work. Therefore again, they must see as many patients as possible while at a certain office.

Seventh, the majority of pain clinics will not give you pain medication on your initial or first visit to the clinic. They will usually do numerous tests and blood work before prescribing any medication.

Eighth and the worst part is that if they dismiss you from the clinic for any reason, they no longer are required to prescribe you with any medication. Therefore, you are going to going without your medication until you find another clinic or another doctor to prescribe it. In other words if you run out you are going to be coming off of it "cold turkey". That can be a very difficult thing to do. Other than that, once you have been kicked out of one clinic, it is very difficult to find another one to take you.

So there you have the cons of pain clinics. They are wonderful things as long as you obey all of their rules and regulations. But sometimes those rules and regulations are difficult to obey. Yet, they still have the right to let you go if you do not do everything they tell you and do it right when they say to.

In conclusion, I just wanted people to know what some of the bad parts of pain clinics are before they decide if they want or need to go to one.

Source:

Personal experience of dealing with it with my husband