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New member, specific question

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Sesamoidstreet

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Joined
Jun 2, 2014
Messages
5
Hi all,

This is my first post so I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place but I'll give it a shot. I have had chronic foot pain for the past two years, and ever since I got insurance this year I've been going to a PM who prescribed percocets, which have helped. However, the problem is never going to go away without surgery, so I elected to go that route and will be having the procedure done this week.

Long story short, my question is, my PM doctor knows I'm having the procedure, and he last wrote me a script for a months supply of percs about three weeks ago. I assume that the surgeon will also prescribe some sort of narcotic to deal with the post surgery pain. I don't know what it will be, but assuming it is also percocet, same milligram, will I still be able to fill it, even though the last script was filled less than a month ago? I just want to make sure I'm not doing anything illegal, especially since it's my mom who will be in charge of filling it while I'm in the recovery room. Not sure if it makes a difference, but I am in NY.

Thanks and I appreciate any help I can get!
 
The pharmacy may raise some eyebrows at you and phone your doctor to confirm but if the doc says your in pain give then to her then the pharmacy has to. This just happened to my mom she went in a week ago for her benzos and they called her a drug addict basicly and made her cry in front of a crowd of people while in withdrawals too cause she got her last one filled on the 15th. She told her doctor how she was taking them but I guess the doc accidentally changed the script the last time to two pills in morning and one and a half at night when before it was 2 and 2 so she unknowingly took more than she was prescribed that time so she told her doc the truth and the doc gave her a script dated for that day and said fill it right away you can seizure and die while withdrawaling from benzos. But still My mom had to go the night in withdrawals cause the dumb ass pharmacist treated her like a drug addict even though she gone there for the same meds over a decade no problems. The next day the doctor reamed them out and called them idiots and she went to a new pharmacy and they filled it.
 
As Trainspotter says, the pharmacy may make it difficult for you. Also, it depends where you're located.

To add to his answer...and if you're in the USA:

Honestly, it depends on your insurance, provider, etc. For example, I have Kaiser Permanente insurance. KP is a closed system with a very robust medical documentation system; every doctor a patient sees can access notes, tests, Rx's, etc. input by previous doctors. So generally, surgeons should know what a patient has been previously prescribed. Having said that, most surgeons will prescribe something after surgery. Generally, they prescribe the same pain meds a patient already uses if the are aware their patient takes pain meds. Some very thorough/on top of things surgeons will ask if one still has meds that were previously prescribed/how many in that Rx are left and come up with an amount of pills that is reasonable based on the amount left from the previous Rx. However, this happens infrequently at KP. Usually, the docs are so busy they just write a random Rx.

As far as the legality is concerned, if a doctor writes the Rx, the pharmacy will fill it; if they have concerns they will talk to you and your doctor. However, in the situation that you are asking about (I'm thinking you must have some sort of opiate therapy plan you have devised with your doc that allows you to refill every 28 days, am I correct?) it depends on the situation. If a new doctor/surgeon prescribes you something and changes the directions (i.e. "as needed for post surgery pain" as opposed to "take one pill every 4 to 6 hours for pain; must last 28 days"), the kind of medication, etc., at Kaiser this Rx is allowed in conjunction with your other Rx and it will not affect when you are allowed to pick up your regular Rx (the "must last 28 days" Rx).

Though, as I said, KP is a closed system. Other providers generally do not have such extreme access when it comes to medical documentation. That is, you see your GP at one clinic and have your surgery at a random hospital with which your insurance company works, so the hospital may not have a database capable of accessing your records. Of course, the surgeons will have been sent your medical records, but most likely they will only have (or read) what pertains to your surgery. Now, nurses, the person in charge of your anesthesia, an the like, may ask you what meds you are taking (and be honest), but only because they need to know for their purposes...it probably won't get back to the surgeon.

To come full circle with this, always be honest with your doc and surgeon. However, even if you have an Rx, if you get a new one from another doctor, especially because you are having surgery, it is your right to fill it. And you will probably need it if you are running low on pain meds/have increased pain. This is not illegal. What can be illegal is doctor shopping/having several different doctors prescribe you various pain meds because you are dishonest with them. The DEA has a database that tracks narcotic meds, but it only flags people who have done something previously that was illegal/verging on illegal. I'm fairly certain doctors have access to this database through their DEA licensing number, but I really doubt that your situation would raise the suspicion of any doctor or surgeon because you haven't done anything wrong. However, as I said, if you are worried honesty is the best policy.
 
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Hi guys,


Thanks so much to both of you for you input! To clarify a little bit, I actually haven't been using my insurance for any of my previous PM scripts, mainly bc I lost my prescription info card and the generic is so cheap that I just didn't bother calling them and getting my info/a new one sent. So in that regard at least there shouldn't be a problem, I wouldn't think. Similarly, I am covered by my union for prescriptions, and I have a separate provider for doctors and hospitals, respectively. As in, my union covers my scripts, blue cross/blue shield covers hospital costs, and GHI covers doctors. Unfortunately though, my surgeon/anesthesiologist are out of network, so while the hospital costs will be covered under BC/BS, I'm paying out of pocket for the surgeon/anesthesiologist. Not sure if any of that is relevant or even comprehensible since it's so freaking confusing but that's how it works, to the best of my understanding at least :)


The arrangement I had with the PM doc was basically what you described, that I was seen once a month and at that time I would get a new script for a months supply of medication. My PM doc knows I am having the surgery, but I haven't discussed the PM doc with the surgeon, simply bc after I have the surgery I will no longer need to see the PM doc. However, if you're suggesting I do discuss that with the surgical team the day of the surgery, I have no issues doing that, especially if it will make everything more legit.


From experience now, I unfortunately know know the stigma that comes along with this, having been practically treated as a drug addict when going to fill my completely legitimate (and necessary!) scripts, which is what compelled me to ask the question in the first place. I just want to mitigate any complications/issues that may arise from any potential crossover, especially since it's my mother who will be in charge of filling/picking up the scripts from the surgeon. The last thing I need to do is worry about all that on top of my surgery.


Thanks again for taking the time to respond and for your input! It is greatly appreciated!
 
I don't think you need to discuss it with the surgical team unless they ask. Or if it worries you...otherwise, just be honest if they ask. Also, your PM doc may not fill your Rx again after the surgery. He's probably aware that the surgeon (even if he doesn't have any contact with her/him) most likely prescribed you more meds post surgery. He may think you'll have enough meds between your previous PM Rx and the new Rx the surgeon writes you; also, if the point of the surgery is to fix the pain and get of the meds, the PM doc may think that the post surgical meds are enough. So if you're still in pain, or need an extra Rx just to taper off the meds, you should probably discuss this with your PM doc before the surgery.
 
Hiya Sesamoldstreet,

Unfortunately I am from the UK and am unaware of how the system works in other countries apart from my own. However, it looks like you've already received quite a few helpful responses, which is ace. I'd like to Welcome you to Bluelight and say it's nice to another new member join. I hope that your operation is a successful and that your pain get less. I wish you health and happiness. We're a friendly, warm, supportive and welcoming bunch here so please feel free to ask any further questions and we'll try to help.

Take care,
Evey
 
Hello and welcome aboard Sesamoldstreet! Lots of good people I e found here can help you&answer so many questions. I wanted to reach out specifically b/c I too have a chronic foot/feet pain&issue that I've known for about 20yrs. that it would progress...complete to deformity of bones in foot&toes, that would eventually halt me walking in any kind of "normal" way. Too severe&only surgery would correct it. So, I'm here for ya if you need anything- especially the pain if foot surgery! It sux to stand up as all the blood rushes to your foot and.. I am already stressed&nervous. I hate the moments before going under&having anxiety over the nerve block. In retrospect, it's not as bad..but I'm still dreading it. I don't know what kind of surgery/what for exactly, but it's foot & I can 100% relate. So again,anything- if you just need to write out your pain/frustrations/questions, I'm here. My surgery is June 24th.
As for meds., it seems like your on the up&up. As long as surgeon knows your meds. and if your Primary Care Physician knows you're have the proceedure, you're doing what your supposed to do. I think, the big deal would be (plz. correct me if I'm wrong) is if you had some kind of contract w/Dr. that you wouldn't obtain any pain med. from anyone besides him/her. ? Yes? No?
Pharmacies... UGH- they CAN suck. Last year I didn't have insurance for a month,(changing ins. situation)so I got a meds. discount card. That year, I had 3 surgeries(2were emergency!). I'd always gone to same pharmacy. One lead lady there just didn't never liked me. (One time she shorted me on a 3month supply of Clonazepam- I noticed it was lighter than usual.Luckily, I hadn't left store. I went back to her. She refused me as I'd "already accepted med. and left ". But I hadn't left the store! I called for store mgr. to come over&a count was done- 38 short. I told them to look at video footage- I never left store and it will show it was only opened when we "counted" it. She was still saying I accepted the med. & left. Basically, it ended up going to higher authority- brought on by me- as she actually said "I don't know what you do with your drugs when you leave here" ???!!? I was given the correct ammt. a few days later with an apology from store mgr. I didn't see her for awhile- until I had to get my levothyroxine (I have no thyroid gland- one of emergency surgeries that year). I handed her the med. discount card& she said "this card doesn't work for all the narcotics you get!"
(Besides the surgeries I had the only "narcotic" I get there is clonazepam! I paid for my methadone at a private clinic) I had enough if her&asked for a mgr.(it does take a lot for me to do such a thing- I'm fairly tolerant of crap people), told him what she said, that I was there to get a thyroid med., & pursued filing a complaint/grievance against her, and I transferred my meds to a different pharmacy altogether. Pharmacists can really suck and really mess w/your meds! They can pass SUCH judgement. I've not seen that lady since- even though I get my meds from a whole diff. pharmacy now, I still run into that store for snack items&never see her.
It may seem silly, but check your meds. before you leave store. Have a count done before you leave if need be.
Sesamoldstreet, I'm here for ya if you need anything& welcome!
 
Hi everyone,

First I wanted to say many thanks for the warm welcome and support. It means a lot! And Emme80, best of luck with your surgery! I feel your pain, literally, and I hope you are able to find some relief.

Second I also just wanted to give an update on the prescription dilemma in case anyone is interested. My PM doctor had me on percocet 5/325, and the surgeon put me on percocet 10/325, so I didn't have any problems filling the script at the pharmacy. I did go to a different chain, and didn't use my insurance, but I think it would've still been fine if I hadn't.

I hadmy procedure done (removal of a necrotic sesamoid) on Thursday, and so far so good. My only concern is that the ankle block they gave me still hasn't worn off - and it's been over 48 hours. I keep calling the hospital, probably driving the staff crazy, to make sure this is normal for it to last this long...and according to them as long as my toes are warm and normal color it should be fine. Not sure if anyone here has any experience with that, but if so some reassurance would be nice that I'm not going to have a bum foot forever. It's the strangest feeling, like a combo of a dull burning and feeling like it's asleep. I mean don't get me wrong, mitigating the pain is great, I'm just starting to get concerned that this is lasting suspiciously long.

Anyways, thank you again to everyone who took the time to reply and offer your support. It is greatly appreciated, and if anyone has any questions about broken sesamoids/sesamoid removal/etc please let me know. There is shockingly little info out there on sesamoid pain/injury/surgery, so I'm always happy to help however I can!
 
ComfortablyNumb95 said:
Hi and welcome to Bluelight. :)
@ Trainspotter those pharmacists sound like assholes. hope your mom's doing alright :)
Click to expand...

shes doing fine now she had to go the night in withdrawals but the doctor yelled at the pharmacist for letting her be sick when she had a legitimate prescription. I felt like killing the little fucker too some young asshole I want to kick his ass but also don't want to be charged right now especially. they all know me in there as I pick up her scripts a lot but she switched her prescriptions over to my pharmacy now so we never have to deal with the pricks again.
 
Sesamoidstreet said:
Hi everyone,

First I wanted to say many thanks for the warm welcome and support. It means a lot! And Emme80, best of luck with your surgery! I feel your pain, literally, and I hope you are able to find some relief.

Second I also just wanted to give an update on the prescription dilemma in case anyone is interested. My PM doctor had me on percocet 5/325, and the surgeon put me on percocet 10/325, so I didn't have any problems filling the script at the pharmacy. I did go to a different chain, and didn't use my insurance, but I think it would've still been fine if I hadn't.

I hadmy procedure done (removal of a necrotic sesamoid) on Thursday, and so far so good. My only concern is that the ankle block they gave me still hasn't worn off - and it's been over 48 hours. I keep calling the hospital, probably driving the staff crazy, to make sure this is normal for it to last this long...and according to them as long as my toes are warm and normal color it should be fine. Not sure if anyone here has any experience with that, but if so some reassurance would be nice that I'm not going to have a bum foot forever. It's the strangest feeling, like a combo of a dull burning and feeling like it's asleep. I mean don't get me wrong, mitigating the pain is great, I'm just starting to get concerned that this is lasting suspiciously long.

Anyways, thank you again to everyone who took the time to reply and offer your support. It is greatly appreciated, and if anyone has any questions about broken sesamoids/sesamoid removal/etc please let me know. There is shockingly little info out there on sesamoid pain/injury/surgery, so I'm always happy to help however I can!
Click to expand...
I hope you feel better soon and you heal fine:)
im sorry though I don't have any experience with the surgery you have gone through I don't think its too common.
 
Ahh...sesamoids..now I get your name..my bones ,metatarsal &call the other little guys there have shifted- the left foot I broke (atop foot...cracked the bones there good) which is what made my left foot already pre-existing situation worse. But basically, November 2013, my left foot was cut open, bones cut, tendons cut, then affixed with screws and all that grand stuff. Still, it swells and I have limited range of motion with big toe. When surgeon(l was in there, he said my sesamoids had shifted and were more broken down than he thought). That surgery ended up having me back in hospital - admitted for awhile in December for a massive bloodclot/DVT that was throughout entire left leg. Now, right foot just has to be done- it's worse(shifting) than left one was- but isn't getting as bad of infections(inside) as my left foot. He's mentioned he may have to(based on MRI) remove the sesamoids- which at this point- the arthritis there is so bad that I could care less- I could say goodbye to my sesamoids there- as they don't do what they're supposed to do anyways. Nervous for June 24th- I'm growing very sick of surgeries. Doctors are actually verrry hesitant to even do an x-ray on me due to how much exposure I've had. That freaked me out!
ANYWAYS, about the ankle block- at THIS point, (today) it should have worn off. I had the nerve block from knee down- it's... Freaky and wrong feeling...makes you wonder what kind of pain you may face! I hope it's for the most part worn off- you may still have some tingly skin numbness. If it's still Grade A numbness, call Dr. Sometimes peoples bodies retain the nerve block more than others. Mine stayed numb for almost 2full days. ( it sucked to hop to bathroom/kitchen with a leg that was there-but not. As it was wearing off, I realized I wish it stayed that way longer. I hope things are healing smoothly for you. Feet problems suck...b/c you need to...stand, walk- you know, be mobile.
I've once again written WAY more than necessary! I do hope things are better for you
! Maybe update on that nerve block?
Best wishes to you-Emme80
 
Hey all,

Thanks again for the responses. Quick update on the nerve block...still numb as ever and I'm starting to get more concerned. It's been over 72 hours now, with literally no feeling returning to any part of my foot. I get a few sharp pains once in a while near the incision but overall it's just that weird, foot fell asleep tingling feeling. Unfortunately I won't be able to get in touch with the doctor until tomorrow, but I will definitely give them a call first thing in the morning.

And Emme80, I know the bathroom hop all too well now :) sounds like you're staying positive even with your surgery looming...keep it up!
 
Hmmm...72hrs...well, I do recall (when 1st foot done 8months ago)it was fully numbed-nerve block from knee down. I knew my leg was there but it was not there-it felt just wrong, so unnatural! But it was thoroughly numb for 48hrs.or so. When it wore off, it didn't pop back quickly, it was slow- warm pins and needles but still numb... I began to get hits of the pain. Did they tell you how long the nerve block would last? I would agree that if toes are warm to touch, color good. I don't know extent of incision/how much manipulation was done, how much bone was removed, etc., but I was bruised purple & blue. It IS a good sign (unfortunately)that you are having sharp pain here and there. Can you make even slightest movement with any of your toes? Plz. keep updated...call your Dr. in the morning&be pushy. Insist on urgent response! It's all prob. perfectly fine, but you will feel MUCH better when you know from Dr. that it is perfectly par the course! ;)
 
Hope your healing well. I'm certainly hoping that the ankle block has worn off by now!
 
I know here in Wisconsin they usually allow a 5 day early refill at the pharmacist's discretion. Or if the amount per day, or daily dosage changes they can fill it as a new prescription at anytime. Ask your pharmacist they actually like it when someone wants to listen to them.
 
Hi guys,

Thanks again for all the warm wishes. just wanted to give another quick update. It's been ten days since the surgery and the ankle block has finally worn almost all the way off. I guess I should've been more grateful that it lasted so long, bc now the pain is slowly but surely starting to creep back in. I go back to get the stitches out on Thursday, so I'm interested to hear how it's been healing.

So, I guess the moral of the story is, the longer the ankle block lasts, the better!
 
welcome to bl hey im just trying to get 50 posts
dw he'll forget the next morning ;)
whats your address
 
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