# Is there a specialty for physicians who treat chronic pain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 15, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specialty-for-physicians-who-treat-chronic-pain/824538 "2018-11-15T02:38:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specialty-for-physicians-who-treat-chronic-pain/824538/21 "2018-11-16T05:36:26Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The doctors at the legitimate pain clinic in my town are all board-certified anesthesiologists, and work with neurologists, orthopedists, etc. Back when I worked at the grocery store, they also avoided narcotics whenever possible. I have one pain clinic in my area I actually respect. They are the only one I saw regular patients actually decease their narcotic doses. It’s the only one I’ve actually recommended. Most of their docs were anesthesiologists. > [@hajario](#): > > She is a pediatrician also. I believe that she did her residency in pediatrics and then a fellowship in pain management. He job is to manage the pain medication for children in the ICU of a large hospital. Oh my! I couldn’t imagine that. I give total props to her, that is an amazing job. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Schedule II prescriptions (such as amphetamines and most opioids) cannot be refilled. A new prescription must be generated each time. I assumed from the description, he was probably prescribing Phentermine (Adipex) for weight loss. It’s schedule IV, so could have up to 5 refills. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2018, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specialty-for-physicians-who-treat-chronic-pain/824538/22 "2018-11-16T06:26:40Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Schedule II prescriptions (such as amphetamines and most opioids) cannot be refilled. A new prescription must be generated each time. > > Of course it’s not necessary to see the patient each time this is done, but it is good practice to do so for most patients maintained on schedule II drugs. At a minimum they should be seen every 3 months. > > This is not to say the gent you describe wasn’t a pill doc, just point out that scripts without refills are mandatory at times. > [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](#): > > I have one pain clinic in my area I actually respect. They are the only one I saw regular patients actually decease their narcotic doses. It’s the only one I’ve actually recommended. Most of their docs were anesthesiologists. > > Oh my! I couldn’t imagine that. I give total props to her, that is an amazing job. > > I assumed from the description, he was probably prescribing Phentermine (Adipex) for weight loss. It’s schedule IV, so could have up to 5 refills. Maybe according to federal law. But many hospital/healthcare systems, usually the ones run by religious organizations (which is many), have extremely strict policies re the prescribing of _any_ federally controlled painkiller, regardless of it’s schedule. I am on a long-term Tramadol regime and I must be seen by the doctor every-single-month in order to have my prescription renewed. No refills. And Tramadol is a Schedule IV controlled substance. ETA: forgot to add that on top of the monthly visits, i must submit to monthly drug screening as well. Both to ensure that im taking my medication and not diverting it and to ensure that im not using street drugs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-specialty-for-physicians-who-treat-chronic-pain/824538.md?page=1)