Treating dr. and/or PM dr.

[AQA]

Fore that is the question????

What is the benifit in seeing a pain management dr. if the treating dr. is handling everything???

[Manley2]

Well in my case my PM is my treating doctor.

[The Masked WorkersComp Avenger]

AQA,

Your standard, "run of the mill", family practice Dr (while he/she may be very competent and knowledgeable in SOME areas of pain management) is more or less an "all-purpose" Dr, who is trained to deal with a myriad of ailments/disorders (i.e. hypertension, diabetes, asthma, etc.), BUT not specialized in any ONE area.

However, the pain specialist has been throughly educated and highly experienced in dealing with various aspects of acute and chronic pain. This type of Dr will make a much more accurate diagnosis of your pain and the neccesary medications and/or procedures to help you.

It's more like a educated guess (or in some cases, just a "shot in the dark", with the Family Practice or even the Internal Medicine physician).

Plus, the pain management Dr ALWAYS stays up to speed on current medications and treatment options (including surgical procedures).

For this reason ALONE, it would behoove you to have such a Dr treating you, especially when a Workers Comp Claim is involved.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

With me, my family practice Dr, is in complete control, meaning any doctor that will come into the picture must confir with him about anything, even medication and changes. Then a referral is writen to what is requested, and if it's medication my family practice Dr writes the script. I always feel a team needs only one leader in control. Plus, I don't wish anyone to think I was doctor shopping for medications and such. So, this way, everything appears to stay nice and clean for the record.

[jayne]

My treating PC Doc is also my PM doc we live in a small farm town with the closest PM Doc 3 1/2 hrs away in Tulsa......My Doc keeps in contact with PM Docs to help me without the long ride....he does all the PM for this county....PM docs along with OB/GYN pay a hefty mal practice preamium so he does both for this county....He has been my Doc for 18 years and trust him with my life as he has save it once already... and as BBBB says it keeps everything on the up and up one Doc one drugstore....

[bronco54501]

Thanks AQA for posting this, I've wondered that my self.. My family DR did bow out of treating my injury, but also wrote the referal for my phisitrist whom has been there from day 1.. He had me in pt and didn't help with much of the pain but did get strength back in back and left leg... It was my surgeon who refered me to the pain clinic to help controll my pain, which my injury dr was allready doing..

I really dont care for the pain clinic even though they are trying with the injections I have only seen my dr there once the first visit and was twisting my back to get range of motion and put my back into spasms and started appoligizing and saying he will never do that again.. And then told ncm I lost 30% range of motion in twisting. And that was the last day I saw him, now they just send the nurse practioner..

There is no compasion from the pm and I feel I'm just a test rat and a high card for charging wc.. I will stick with my first dr as he is just right there if I need him...

[capricorn]

AQA...at one point I was seeing my PCP, PM, spine specialist, neurologist and another Ortho for my shoulder. Eventually as time went on and I was not going to get any better and all agreed I stopped PT. Now I see my PCP for my medications. IF I need a trigger point injection I will see my PM Dr. but only then.

Grasshopper

[chrischris]

I would love to consolidate and get rid of a few docs.

AQA, if your treating dr. just provides meds, and you are able to talk to him/her in the event you need an adjustment or a procedure like physical therapy, then IMO, you don't need a PM doc.

I have two PM docs; one for industrial and one for non-industral. Neither of them scribe meds. They provide procedures like nerve blocks and will be trying accupunture soon.

My treating doc scribes all my meds. I just tell him what was recommended, we talk about it, and he is always willing to let me try somethiing new. He even scribes my psyche meds.

I guess every case is different and a lot of it depends on the doctors you have.

Take care and good luck!

[AQA]

Thank you all for your responces. For the most part, the majority is saying the same thing.

I asked the question because the wicked witch from the west (aka NCM ) is rearing her head again. She is playing games again. You know, if you ask a question. You get everthing but the answere to the question.

Anyway I will see her at my next dr. appointment. I am sure she wants to put a stop to me seeing the pm. dr.. Which is fine with me, now. My treating dr. is the neuro surgeon, and I am now getting my meds. from him.

One of the best things from this forum is being able to get view points and oppinions from other injured workers.

Thank You.

One more question. Those of you that are taking meds.. How often do you have your blood tested????

[jayne]

every 3 months now....for awhile it was every month....