Community Chat

[RINGER]

I am not going to go into a lot of details except to say that I had a heart to heart with my doctor and told him I don't call his office unless I am in pain and would appreciate it if he would call in a med to help....fast forward--a week ago got 2 shots in elbow was in a lot of pain and it came back again so called the office requesting pain med. I DO have vicodine he prescribed for my back issues but don't want to take them and even discussed possible meds he might put me on so I thought he would call one of those discussed. NEVER heard a word but the office said IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 48 to 72 HOURS TO get a response!!!

I spent a long time trying to find other RA's in our area that isn't difficult to get too (we are seniors and driving in the DC area is awful) and no luck.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE RA DOCTORS TREAT THEM THIS WAY?? Pain has subsided but I am still ticked beyond belief so I have decided when I* see him again I will get a prescription I can have ON HAND because I cannot get a response and once again CALL THE JERK OUT for his poor patient relationships!

[ahoymate]

My experience it can take pharmacies 24-48 hours notice to fill prescriptions if the MD's office needs to call it in.

The stress is not helping your RA. Getting a prescription while U R in the office to have on hand is a good idea. If U feel this way about him, JERK, I would find another MD. Part of the MD/patient relationship is good rapport and good bedside manner.

Best of luck 2 U

[Lacey1]

You may not want to hear this but is your doctor concerned that you are abusing your pain meds? This is a very common problem. You are already prescribed a narcotic pain med. What was it that you were hoping that he would prescribe? It sounds as if you were hoping for a stronger med than the vicodin.

[NoelSeven]

My rheumatologist and internist are always offering me pain pills. They give me anything I want, but I think that's because I have a history with them and I always try to tough it out by myself.

I don't do well with pain killers. I have lupus and those of us with SLE sometimes get unimaginable pain.

Here's what I found out, but it may not be right for you... We can take two Ibuprofen and two Tylenol at the same time. One medical source says the combination is as good as Vicodin for some people.

I'd suggest you not try it until you talk to your MD first. Ibuprofen is an NSAID, so you want to make sure it's OK for you. It works wonders for me, especially because Ibuprofen also helps with the inflammation.

[glb613]

Why don't you have a supply of pain meds? I have RA and have pain medication on hand in case I need them. I've never heard of not having a supply when RA can flare up without warning.

[kittymomNC]

I'm sorry this is happening to you. I don't have RA, but my brother does, and I know how painful it was for him before he got on the right meds.

But the reason I'm commenting is that it's not just RA doctors who do this. As some of you may have read on my posts, my son has cluster headaches, which cause excruciating pain for an hour or so one or more times each night for months...sometimes they happen during the day. The last bout lasted 4 months. He has a couple of different kinds of meds given to him by his neurologist, who is a headache specialist. The first time he had them and saw this dr he was going to prescribe oxygen, which some people on the boards have said is the only thing that helps, but the headaches stopped for almost a year. Then they started again. When he calls their office and asks to speak with the doctor for just a minute about his meds, or trying something different, it takes them at least two days to call him back. If he hasn't been to the office in a while, after it takes two days for them to return his call, they may say you need to make an appt. Then he makes an appt, goes in, and the doctor just says "take your meds".....really??? He has asked about another med that was prescribed before, and the dr says he doesn't need that. He gives no suggestions about any alternatives, and has not suggested the oxygen again.

We live in an area where there are four major hospitals, one of which is in the top 10 in the country, and a majority of the doctor practices have been absorbed into that system, so we're supposed to be able to get some of the best medical care available. But I'm sorry to say, it's not that easy.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW NEUROLOGIST!! Maybe you should start looking for a new RA doctor?

[151949]

I would say if this doctor has already given you a Rx for vicodin you do not have an emergency situation at all, that would require he make an exception to his normal practice for you. You are not his only patient - what do you think he is going to order for you that would be better than Vicodin?

[151949]

On 8/2/2014 glb613 said:

Why don't you have a supply of pain meds? I have RA and have pain medication on hand in case I need them. I've never heard of not having a supply when RA can flare up without warning.

She said he had given her a Rx for vicodin.

[loveschocolate]

I believe 48-72 hours to get a response is poor practice. Find another doctor.

[Kachina624]

People expect to get the same level of personal service from a medical provider that they might have gotten 50 years ago. Times have drastically changed folks, and you are now pretty much just a number. With so many more people being covered by insurance and Medicare (baby boomers), doctors are absolutely swamped. There are not enough hours in the day to see patients, let alone make calls. I have my doctor's email address and when I do have a serious complaint, I contact her that way and she can have a nurse take care of my request. I've only ever used it once. I'm very careful not to abuse this. You might ask your doctor if there is an expeditious way to contact him.