Is there a specialty for physicians who treat chronic pain?

[Hirka_T_Bawa]

@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.

[Ambivalid]

@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.