Pain Management Appointment With My Specialist
[ Wednesday April 3rd 2024 at 4:15 pm ]
I've just completed my quarterly pain management appointment with my pain management specialist. I am happy with how this appointment went. I trust my pain management doctor. He asks good questions. I can tell he cares about me. He is trying to be helpful. Yesterday evening I prepared a chart showing what I am using for pain management. He responded first thing this morning. He thanked me 4 different ways in two sentences. I am trying to responsible. I have no qualms over accountability for my use of the pain medications.
My pain management doctor spent time preparing me for the assessment I will have on April 9th of my left artificial hip. The artificial hip has been making a grinding noise. I just can't get the upper hand on it. My local hospital emergency department doctor is wondering if I am experiencing hardware failure. I feel equipped to talk to the surgeon who will be assessing my next week. This was time well spent.
The remainder of the appointment was more serious. I am going to make a complaint against my family doctor with the College of Physicians and Surgeons. This will finish wrecking the relationship. Although my family doctor's actions show me that she has already abdicated her role.
- During my January 16th 2024 appointment my family doctor brought up 3 referrals on my patient chart that had been declined and told me she was refusing all further referral. One of these was from a surgeon who didn't have the technical skills to assist me. The two others were declined. One didn't provide a reason why he was declining the referral. The other didn't believe he could offer a surgical solution. But I have the right to an assessment and second opinion when situation evolves. My family doctor denying me this basic right to health care.
- Three days later I contacted the surgeon who replaced my hips concerning the recurring grinding noise I am hearing and the pain it is creating. He is now retired. He directed me to arrange follow up through my family doctor. With my family doctor just having told me she was refusing to do further referrals the relationship is wrecked.
- I went to the emergency department of my local hospital to get a referral. To add insult to the situation the emergency department doctor marked my referral as "urgent". There is simply no doctor - patient relationship left based on the specific needs of my health care.
With this explanation and my pain management doctor talking me through the implications of resigning my family doctor he is willing to assume this responsibility until I am able to get myself another family doctor. On account of the pandemic there are virtual health care clinics available. I should still be able to get the help I need as I navigate life without a family doctor for the time being.