I was recently told by my pm doc that she could no longer prescribe my pain meds because of a urine test that showed to small of an amount of one of my meds?? I have been on MS contin 60mg 3xday, and percocet 10-325mg as needed for almost two years with the same clinic (post failed ALIF surgery). Anyway the ms contin shoued up correctly but I guess the percocet did not show enough? I have been in contact with the clinic about this because I thought as needed meant you did not have to take ALL the time.
Anyway all they would say is they can work with me on a plan to taper off using the last month of meds they prescribed. So that is it? I have tried to take less before and the pain is still there. Do I have any options for finding a new PM clinic, or since I apparently failed my urine test does that ace me out from anyone else helping me now??
I am a little scared to go completly off in just 4 weeks.
Any input would help.
Do you have the bottle of percocet to bring to the clinic to show them that although you did not take them that you still have them? I don't know if this will work but it is worth a try......Paul
Cervical stenosis and myelopathy (most symptoms permanant), DDD, OA, 16 surgeries to date (including 3 level cervical laminectomy, bilateral knee replacements, A-C joint resections in both shoulders), 19 MRI's, and many many many cortisone shots and ESI's
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Wow, it almost seems that they want you to take more narcotics than you need?!? It seems to me that urine tests and pill counts NEED to go together, especially for "as needed" meds.
I am very sorry to hear you are having this problem. Hopefully a pill count like Paul suggested will help.
Good luck! Let know how things work out.
Male, 37 yr old. Wonderful wife. Two AWESOME daughters (9 & 5)
Bilateral Pars defect with grade 1 spondylolisthesis (stable).
No surgeries. 2 ESIs. 8 weeks PT.
Meds: Tramadol, Gabapentin, Norco 10/325, Elavil, Flexeril and Lisinopril
Still working fulltime but with unpaid intermittent FMLA leave (up to 16hrs per wk)
that they just want to make sure that you are not selling them. Paul's idea just might work and would be worth a try. I would not think that they should expect the percs to show up if it is written as needed?
I am in no way associated with the medical field. Anything that I post comes from personal experience only.
DDD, Facet Arthropathy, DJD,Collapsed Disc, Sleep Apnea
PT, Epidurals, Facet Blocks,Medial Branch Block, Rhizotomy,Discogram,Annular Tare L3/L4 Endoscopic MicroD and PLDD,
Methadone, Percocet, Baclofen, Welbutrin
I hope they do give you a chance to bring in the pill bottle. But once they discharge you, they usually won't entertain any explanations or even give you an appt. It will be recorded in your medical chart which you'll need when you get a referral to another clinic. Please remember to take the meds exactly as prescribed. If you don't need as much anymore, let them know so that it will be adjusted for you. Take care and I hope things work out for you.
PLS,nerve damage,facet arthropathy,severe DDD,DJD,scar tissue
Back Surgeries: Microdiscectomy/ laminectomy,2 level TLIF/Laminectomy w/ hardware, Synchromed infusion pump
Meds: Methadone,Dilaudid,Oxycodone,Zanaflex,Cymbalta,NSAID
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