I recently was sent to a pain management doctor for the first time so I'm new to this.
I haven't gotten a great feeling from the office. I'm struggling with getting the referrals they told me they wanted me to have.
I'm repeatedly having to remind them/call them about the referrals - one I've been dealing with for a month now - still can't get it straightened out, and the staff get annoyed with me when I call.
The doctor orders stuff from people he's hand picked to work with. One company seems like a straight up fraud, and they've been sued for it in the past. They tried to send me a TENS unit that cost hundreds of $$ and isn't covered by my insurance - but they lied, said it was covered, and that at the most I would have to pay $25. That company has a history of fraud, and that seems like an odd choice of a company to refer your patients to.
I feel like because my insurance won't cover some of the things and companies he wants me to buy through, or I tell him I prefer other companies (i.e. physical therapists) that they just decided to not go through with the referrals. The referrals are for PT, compounded meds not covered by insurance, and a TENS units. The TENS unit referral has been dragging on for a month now.
The nurses are almost combative when I try and see where things are with the referrals. They are not trying to help me get this resolved while I suffer in pain.
I was referred to this doctor by my PCP, and I'm afraid if I fire him that my PCP will be upset.
I have chronic pain, and I very well may have fibromyalgia. I'm struggling to find good doctors that don't blow me off to finally get a diagnosis.
Anyway, I'm just curious what other people's experiences are with pain management doctors. My doctor is not very communicative, and his staff sucks.
I hate having to have blood and pee tests like I'm some criminal, and I do wonder if he's getting kick backs from all the companies he tried referring me.
I read on this doctor's reviews that he fires a lot of patients and that if he fires you no other pain management doctors will work with you in the city. Not sure how accurate that is, but it does seem believable.