I Lost My Pain Doctor – Five Things You Need to do Now!

The opioid epidemic has everyone in the medical field on edge.  Providers are struggling to keep up with new regulations and guidelines, regulators are working diligently to build safeguards to protect the public at large, and patients are left feeling the burden of an ever-changing landscape.

As regulations get tighter, drug enforcement officials are clamping down on those who may be inappropriately prescribing medications (knowingly or unknowingly). From a public point of view, this is exactly what we need law enforcement to do: work aggressively to find violations and help to protect us all.  But what if this happens to your doctor? What are you supposed to do? 

1.  Get the facts: look for a reputable news source to get the details of exactly what is known.  While rumors and hearsay may be juicy, their accuracy is always suspect.2.  Contact your doctor’s office.  You can often get updated information from the staff about what is happening and what you should do.  Note that if it was a serious situation, the first couple of days around the incident may not be your best bet to get in touch.  Expect a closed office, long phone wait times, and phones that ring off the hook. Keep trying – things may normalize after a couple days.3.  Take stock of your situation. How many days of mediation do you have? What will you do when you run out if you cannot get a refill?4.  Get your medical records.  As soon as you can get someone on the phone from your prior office, request a copy of your medical records.  If you have to find a new doctor, this can help the new team come up to speed on your history and can provide better continuity of care. 5.  If needed, start looking for a new doctor, even if just temporarily.  Be assured the medical professionals, law enforcement and legal teams will be working diligently to sort out any issues. but depending on the situation there may be no quick fix.  If you start looking for an alternative physician right away, you can get in front of the line for all the other patients who may be also looking for help.    Losing your Pain Doctor can be a difficult experience, but with the few steps outlined above, you can take a measure of control back and get back on track. 

At Pain Specialists of Cincinnati, our providers are experts at diagnosing and treating chronic and acute painful conditions. Since 2015 we have provided successful pain treatment to tens of thousands of patients in a comfortable and caring environment.  Using a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, we go beyond just medications.  We are committed to treating the whole person. We incorporate lifestyle changes, non-invasive surgical procedures, chiropractic care and physical therapy, dry needling, acupuncture, medical marijuana, and mental health counseling all with a focus on helping the patient feel better.