Walked Out On Doctor

[Broken Dahlia]

Hi everyone, went to pain management this morning and walked out. I was very anxious about this appointment; my one experience with pm doctors was years ago-they drug tested me, found out I smoke pot, and dismissed me from their practice. I didn't receive any treatment, and he reported me to my primary so that I couldn't get xanax anymore, either. My primary changed his mind and still prescribes after I freaked out on one of his nurses and we have never discussed it.
So, I went, and when we finally found the clinic I felt even worse. It wasn't labeled as pain management and my doctor's name was xeroxed and taped on the door. The paperwork I was supposed to sign wanted consent for drug testing plus my pharmacy information; I don't want anymore narcotics and now that I'm walking again I don't need (and really don't want) lumbar injections. So I left. Now I feel like I'm about to get in big trouble, like a child. I feel like I misbehaved and surely some punishment awaits. I know that I can make my own decisions about my health, I am an adult. I sure don't feel like one, though. Any thoughts? Thanks for reading my ramblings.

 

[Chimera]

I'm sorry to hear that your appointment was such a waste of your time, I don't believe you've done anything wrong in walking out when you realized it wasn't what you needed.
Maybe, though, you should notify your referring doctor, because as my Dad used to tell me. CYA (cover your ass).

 

[Broken Dahlia]

I'm sorry to hear that your appointment was such a waste of your time, I don't believe you've done anyt...

Thanks, the doctor who referred me is my podiatrist, so if I lose her I lose her. She just wanted confirmation of the CRPS diagnosis, which I get, but I have a lot to lose if this went badly. I guess I'll let her know I can walk now; that was everyone's goal.

 

[Lucycat]

She just wanted confirmation of the CRPS diagnosis

sounds like a strange direction to take. I would have expected a rheumatologist to diagnose CRPS. ( I assume it means Complex Regional Pain Syndrome as it does here?) Once a diagnosis is made referral to a Pain Management team to manage the pain, but certainly here they would not be making the diagnosis. Cultural differences again I guess.

Anyway, if the PM appointment was not going to achieve anything for you, I believe you did the right thing. I am shocked that it is routine to do drug testing on patients. I would have thought that an honest discussion could elicit the information they require. Clearly they are expecting many people to be self medicating which they are entitled to do. Any complication as a result of prescribed medication interacting with an undisclosed self- medication would be entirely the responsibility of the patient.

 

[Justmehere]

I used to have CRPS. It got to the point I couldn't walk or function much. Your podiatrist is very smart to want to confirm the diagnosis because it could change how they treat foot problems significantly.

I worked with several pain med clinics and later I worked with a physiatrist - different than psychiatrist. Almost all decent clinics that treat pain will require you to do drug testing and it's state law in most states that if you are prescribed a controlled substance (like Xanax), your name goes into a database all doctors can check. It's how doctors keep their license, and has little to do with judgement of you.

In the US, CRPS is most commonly treated by pain medicine doctors, physiatrists, physical therapists and sometimes orthopedists, neurologists, and podiatrists (they can do blocks that can help.) It's not typically a disease most rheumatologists treat by themselves. They can't do some of the tests done to confirm a CRPS diagnosis.

I can understand why you were upset and the choice really is yours. And a zeroxed name? That seems weird...

The thing about CRPS is that the longer someone has it, the harder it is to beat. It can be cured (I'm living proof) but the sooner the treatment the better. Narcotics are not really effective for CRPS anyhow, and most pain med docs love parents who understand that like you do. There are also a few conditions that overlap or mimic CRPS - it's really a diagnosis of exclusion.

I had it so bad I had it systemically and they had little hope for me but after a lot of trial and error, I found a doctor I really liked and got all my function back.

There is a huge link between CRPS and unresolved trauma and a number of new studies coming out that show that doing somatic trauma therapy work can do wonders for resolving CRPS.

I agree you didn't do anything wrong but made the decision that fit you at the time. It's clear this clinic isn't for you but I hope you consider other treatment options. If you have CRPS, it's one awful condition but there are new treatments that can help return function and reduce pain significantly.

Check out the book "The Body Bears the Burden" by Dr Scarer - he's a former pain med doc who treated a lot of people with CRPS and trauma histories. He has a lot of great treatment ideas in the book and it helped me pursue the treatment that helped me the most.

So sorry you had to go through all this :hug:

 

[Broken Dahlia]

sounds like a strange direction to take. I would have expected a rheumatologist to diagnose CRPS. ( I as...

Thank you, my husband thinks this was the right call as well. He was with me the first time around, and saw the damage that was done.

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

You did the right thing. I know that feeling of impending doom, but nothing will happen, trust me.
I used to have that feeling every single time I was sincere about my feelings. But after I did that about a hundred times the feeling of guilt and impending punishment faded.

You set your first step, you´re on the road to getting rid of that feeling altogether. Just keep it up.
Good luck with the CRPS, I have some experience with it too (still carrying it around).

 

[Broken Dahlia]

I used to have CRPS. It got to the point I couldn't walk or function much. Your podiatrist is very s...

I would have gone through with the appointment if I still couldn't walk, but now that I can it didn't seem like they could do much for me. I don't need the nerve block or narcotics, and I already take an antidepressant, go to therapy, get acupuncture twice weekly, and do physical therapy everyday. This seems to be working, I can walk again. I have heard horrible things about the injections and how they are pushed on patients, much like surgery is pushed by surgeons.
I will definitely check out that book, thanks for the recommendation. Would you mind telling me what therapies you tried? I am starting emdr, but I'm thinking about somatic therapy, too. I don't know if emdr will help this and I am afraid to bring anything new up as I am already dealing with enough. Thanks again.

 

[Broken Dahlia]

You did the right thing. I know that feeling of impending doom, but nothing will happen, trust me.
I used...

Thank you, that is reassuring. Does your CRPS flare often?

 

[EveHarrington]

@Broken Dahlia

I wouldn't have trusted this doc, either!

 

[Broken Dahlia]

@Broken Dahlia

I wouldn't have trusted this doc, either!

Thank you! I really feel better, and I think I have stopped beating myself up about it. You guys are awesome!!

 

[Upside Down Eagle]

@Broken Dahlia

I developed it after I broke my toe, so I have it on my feet. At first I had frequent flareups (it´d be blue, swollen and burning) but when I found out it was cprs I started on my own with small exercises, just moving my ankle at first, then my toes, then gradually trying to step on the big toe, and walking very slowly.

I also massaged it daily with warming oil to improve the circulation and tried to desensitize by scrubbing it with a toothbrush. All of that really helped. Sadly in the meantime I broke my other toe so right now I´m not able to do much about it, but I can really recommend doing what you can on your own. Don´t be in a hurry though. Forcing it is no good (oh, and painful...)

Edit: Oh nevermind I see you´re already doing physical therapy :)