What Specialist Will Help Effectively Treat Degeneration In The Lumbar And Stage One Vertebrae Slippage?

Posted on Tue, 27 Feb 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 Answered on

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : My Husband broke his back last XXXXXXX He had to be hospitalized for 8 days and have a rod put in to repair complete fracture from T11-L2. He by the luck of the draw ended up with a physician Orthopedic surgeon who may do good work but is horrible to deal with but he is part of a huge group which doesn’t allow him to switch Drs. He according to the surgeon has severe Degeneration in the lumbar as well as stage one vertebrae slippage and congenital issues also with an L6. According to this surgeon he needs a rod all the way down so he has to do everything else to treat for insurance to cover surgery. He is going to PT as well as we are paying for accupuncture and he has undergone epidural shots. Now he needs someone who will continue to write his Norco until we can find a surgeon we can have a good relationship with. He went to one pain management specialist who says he doesn’t want to prescribe and gave him a script for an anti inflammatory drug. Any ideas on finding help without someone thinking he is-drug seeking so he can function?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

The system is terrible. Get back to the surgeon who knows him best!

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Each time you switch a doctor and request for pain medications, all others would immediately equate it to drug seeking attitude which is certainly not always true.

As a matter of fact, it takes time to build a relationship that allows a doctor to comfortably prescribe this drug.

Remember, the regulations on doctors is so much that they feel like not prescribing this drug if they can stay away from.

His surgeon, though nuts, remains your best bet at the moment. Go to him and explain the severity of the pain.

He has seen the bones and can easily justify and understand why he needs this pain drug. All other doctors would rather shy.

I know it sounds strange but that's where your best chances are. I wish you well and await your feedback on this.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Ivo Ditah, Internal Medicine Specialist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar