I believe there is some "bad blood" between the Dr and some of the F2F services. The Dr started his own business and under cut all the services price he was doing consults for. From what I know the Dr is a standard F2F Dr. I know someone that uses him and they are ok with him. Need decent records to be prescribed.


4me

ahh I see.. wonder if it's worth pursuing a consult or too much overhead

I heard there was a good clinic in Tucker. MRI needed and very generous.

Sorry about that.. I got mixed up. The clinic I heard of was in Cumming.

What is the name of the one in Cumming.

I am going to have to get back to you on that one. My friend who goes there has all the info. Ever since the whole kennesaw thing I think all the PC are shaken up. I don't think I should be spreading it around. Once everything is cool. It is a legitimate place though, and you need to bring in a MRI to prove you are in need of the right medicine, but they don't treat you like a junkie from what I have heard. And this is no on site MRI bullcrap place. Once I get all the info I will PM you the details jacson.

anybody know of any good doctors to help with my anxiety? i see a doc at peachford now but he wont i need a second opinion. ive been on paxil and xanax for about 2 years now. please let me know through pm or on the board.

I don't know about anxiety, but there are a few of the no insurance, walk in get what you want clinics in Cobb and Cherokee County

Are you seeing Dr. Ha ?? Not trying to be funny just don't want to post his whole name
GF

In all honestly I swear if you complain of chronic pain to almost any Dr. you will get meds for anxiety. After reading this board for years and my personal experiences this seems to be extremely common.
I was given anti anxiety meds within 1 minute of a Neurologist appt. and offered them by almost every Dr. I've seen for the chronic pain since. He was my first specialist.
I bet if I had true anxiety I wouldn't be able to get them.
Go figure.
Xanax is really easy to buy from sites listed on this board and may land up being cheaper if your insurance isn't a cadillac health insurance plan.
K

While the Georgia HB 614 Prescription drug Monitoring Program has been snailing it's way through the state senate for the last year, this was the result - sponsored by the rapier-like minds that compose our current state legislators.

*snicker*

RX Bill Database bill passes Georgia Senate

A bill that would create a database to keep people from going from doctor to doctor for legal controlled substances passed the state Senate and is making its way through the state House, but a state law enforcement agency has been taken out of the equation.

The state Senate, during last year’s General Assembly, failed to pass the House version of the bill, HB 614, to create the Prescription drug Monitoring Program, a tool for medical professionals and law enforcement. It would create a database, that would have been managed by the Georgia drug and Narcotics Board, and would be comprised of information submitted by doctors who dispense prescriptions and pharmacies.

Doctors and pharmacies would be required to submit patient name, date of birth, address, and prescriber information, as well as what the prescription is and for how long it’s prescribed. The bill only applies to scheduled, controlled substances, such as Oxycontin.

Just before Crossover Day, the 30th day in the General Assembly in which bills must move from one legislative chamber to the other to become law, the state Senate passed the current version, SB 418, with a 38-9 vote. The current version takes the management of the database away from the Georgia drug and Narcotics Board and turns it over to the state Pharmacy Board.

Local Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming, voted for the bill, and Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, did not cast a vote. At press time, the bill had been introduced in the House and was in committee. Murphy did not respond to requests for comment.

“I did not realize I was off the floor for that vote,” Rogers said. “As majority leader, this happens occasionally while we are debating bills, but not often. My understanding is that the registry is available to any member of law enforcement who wishes to subpoena the records.”

“I believe it was the will of the Senate not to allow easy access to a records database with sensitive medical information,” Rogers said.

Rick Allen, director of the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Board, said he’s not happy with the current version of the bill, because the state narcotics board had been completely written out of the bill, and it already had applied for a grant to fund the program. He also said he’s “stepping back” in the lobbying efforts to get the bill passed.

Allen said he’s been trying to get the monitoring program bill passed for the last eight years.

“No, we’re not,” Allen said of his agency being satisfied with the current version. “We want it out there, but we were set up to run it, and we have a grant applied for, but the way they’re doing it now, the pharmacy board will have to re-apply for the grant.”

He said that would delay the implementation of the program for years.

Prescription drug abuse kills many people in Georgia each year—more so than illicit drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine or LSD.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Medical Examiner’s Office found, through autopsies conducted in 2008, there were 638 drug overdose deaths in Georgia. drug overdose was found to be the cause of death or a significant contributing factor in the death.

Of those, 543, or 85 percent, involved prescription drugs or a combination of prescription drugs and illicit drugs.

Statistics for 2009 were not readily available at press time.

DD Flynn, a Woodstock mother whose daughter, 20-year-old Christi Nowak, died of a drug overdose more than four years ago, is paying attention to the implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program, and said she hopes the state’s representatives pass the bill.

“Since then, I have become acutely aware of the staggering number of overdoses occurring on a daily basis, in growing numbers, from pharmaceutical drugs,” Flynn said. “Kids think they are safe, because a doctor prescribed them. Adults accidentally overdose, because Dr. A does not know he/she is mixing a prescription with Dr. B. Monitoring pharmaceutical prescriptions will greatly reduce the over-prescribed, cross-prescribed and mis-prescribed availability of the drugs that are resulting in eight to 11 overdoses per day. The label always says ‘Take as prescribed’; it doesn’t say go from pharmacy to pharmacy and resell them. Prescription monitoring will offer a database allowing physicians and pharmacies the information needed to carefully prescribe and to fill only those prescriptions needed, on an as needed, as prescribed basis.”

The local narcotics squad has seen its fair share of prescription drug cases over the years, which have remained relatively steady … until this year.

In January and February 2010, the Cherokee Multi Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) has made 13 prescription drug cases and seized $645,305 worth of prescription drugs.

In 2009, CMANS agents made 55 cases and seized $25,022 worth of prescription drugs. In 2008, agents made 15 cases and seized $16,390 worth of pills; in 2007 agents seized $4,438 in pills and made 14 cases; in 2006, 21 cases were made and agents seized $20,755; and in 2005, agents made 30 cases and seized $32,430 in pills.

The drastically high seizure amount in 2010 is due to a large case CMANS agents made in January. However, it remains under investigation, and officials could not comment in detail about the case.

CMANS Deputy Commander Tommy Pinyan said he believes the Prescription drug Monitoring Program would be more effective with the Georgia Drugs and Narcotics Board managing it, but he believes, as written, it could help limit the availability of illegal prescription drugs on the street.

“That’s not going to be as effective as it was originally proposed, but I think it’s an important first step,” Pinyan said. “As long as there is somebody monitoring it, that is looking for that (doctor shopping, etc.), then it’s going to be a help, but taking an agency like Georgia Drugs and Narcotics out, will not make it as effective. They are concerned folks, and they want to do what’s right.”

Pinyan said he’s not discounting the state pharmacy board—he just hasn’t had any interaction with them like he has the drug and narcotics board.

Rusty Grant, special agent in charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Regional drug Office in Canton, said what would have been a “proactive” tool would be a “reactive tool.”

“The way the bill initially was written was that the database would be a proactive tool, that law enforcement could find out that Joe Smith was abusing prescription drugs and doctor shopping,” Grant said. “The way the bill is now, we won’t be able to do that.”

Grant said law enforcement officers would have to have an arrest made and present the case to a Grand Jury before they could get a subpoena to access the database.

“Under Georgia law, we’re limited to when we can get a subpoena for that information,” Grant said. “There’s things, like child pornography, we can get subpoenas for, but prescription drug abuse or drug abuse isn’t something we can get a subpoena for unless we have a case before the Grand Jury.”

He said he feels the program would still help medical professionals, it just won’t be as much help for law enforcement.

“All along, what it was really going to be great for, was doctors being able to help their patients. Every day, patients go in and lie to their doctors by saying they haven’t been to another doctor even though they were at another doctor two hours earlier for the same treatment,” Grant said. “If we can get that passed, doctors would be able to see that the patient had been to another doctor and treated for the same thing, got a prescription for hydrocodone for pain.”

Cherokee Sheriff Roger Garrison, who chairs the High Intensity drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) board, said he also thinks the bill, if it becomes law, would make it more difficult for abusers to get their prescription drug fix.

“We encourage the passage of that,” Garrison said. “Prescription drugs are clearly one of the fastest growing drug concerns we have.”

Officials say some people tend to go to prescription drugs for their high because they think they are “cleaner” than illicit drugs. Abusers also tend to move from illicit drugs to prescription drugs for the same reason.

“Maybe they are moving from meth or cocaine to prescription drugs, because they think it’s safer—but it’s just as bad,” Pinyan said.




Another stellar day of law-making here in the great state of Georgia.

Toodles,

Teri

Anybody know a good pain doctor in GA? PM me please.

Hi

I know this post is a few weeks old, but I have a question if you don't mind answering.

What did you mean by "on-sire MRI bullcrap place"? Is on-site MRI some kind of scam or something?

Thanks :=) I'm just curious.

Hi there,

I just posted under the "chronic pain" portion of the forum and thought I'd try a post here as well.

My husband has a herniated disc, disc degeneration and bone spurs (I think there's more but that's all I can remember right now). He's had MRIs confirming these issues and his medical records date back to 2001. He's tried so many different treatments and medication combinations for his pain and finally settled on 90 Percocets and 30 Somas monthly which have really helped him. This is the regiment he's been on for years, never had to adjust the dosage as this worked well for him.

Long story short the doctor he's been seeing for years retired in December. We've been really surprised at how difficult it's been finding a good doctor willing to keep him on his current medications. They all want to cut him open, which is a path he doesn't wish to take.

The doctor we found willing to do the least intrusive procedure wants to perform a radiofrequency ablation, which we're researching. However, ideally he'd just like to stay with the medications.

Can anyone recommend a doctor who isn't quick to cut someone's back open? Honestly we don't know where else to turn. He just wants to go back to what works for him and these last few months have been a true eye opener to how lousy people with chronic pain are treated. It's horrible. I feel for him and many of you. I can't imagine someone with diabetes or high blood pressure having this hard of a time getting medications. People with pain are treated like their condition doesn't exist.

Thank you for your help

omg, this site is a lifesaver! The internet is one amazing invention. I still am shaken up about what i rambled on and on about earlier. I still am all worried about what that lady said, but I just have to remember I am the one in pain. I also feel between all the research i have done (which is how i found this site_) and what i have heard here, there has got to be an alternative, or more. I think i have found (my logical mind says) at least 10 alternatives for sure. Some are out of state but, whatever.

I have four prescriptions for C-II medications, one dated April 2010 for Dexedrine Spansule 15 mg. x 30 capsules, and another script from the same M.D. for the same date, April, 2010, for sixty (60) ten milligram Adderall tablets, another C-II dextroamphetamine/amphetamine salt combo tablet. I also have 2 more brand new scripts for the above, dated Wednesday, June 9, 2010 for the exact same amounts, by the same M.D., who is a Psychiatrist, from North Carolina, that has a eleven year track record on my diagnois of ADHD Combined Type 314.01.
My question is I googled on the internet last week, that the state of Georgia passed a Prescription Monitoring Program that took effect in July of 2009? Is this information correct?
I read in some posts in this thread from a few months ago, some posting activity, that leaves me confused, as to the status of the Georgia PMP program.....could some informed DBF member out there clarify this for me?
North Carolina, passed and activated a PMP program in 2007, and South Carolina, passed, and activated a PMP program in January of 2008. The DEA "drug diversion" website states the status as "Pending" meaning the legislation has been introduced, but implementation of the program is "pending" what exactly does that mean?
I called a independent non-chain pharmacy on Saturday, June 12, 2010, and asked the pharmacists would they fill a C-II prescription for Dexedrine and for Adderall, with the dates in April, of 2010. They asked me to come on in to the pharmacy, and they "would take a look at the script", I then told them, no problem, but, that the physician and the prescription was written in North Carolina, and the physician's DEA number was on the script, and I had two forms of I.D. Passport and Drivers License. The pharmacist, told me, firmly, but kindly, since it was a "Saturday" they could not fill the script until they verified the script with my Doctors office, which would be today, Monday, June, 14, 2010, that they could not fill the script on a out of state controlled substance script without verifying the C-II script's validity with communication with my Doctor during normal weekday business hours.
I called one other, "independent pharmacy" not a chain like Walgreen's, or CVS, or, Rite Aid, etc., and, when I told them the name of the C-II prescriptions, I was told they were temporarily out, but could order them and have them in a few days, either by brand name, or by generic name. (This is not unusual, as I have been on both meds for 16 years 24/7, and this occasionally happens, with C-II stimulants.
My motive is to pay cash, as I have "underdosed" + I have been with my sister out in the Southwest, for a month +, and I just want to get caught up. In the days before this "PMP" thing, all I had to to, was get my Insurance company to fill the hand delivered C-II script, and make my $10.00 co-pay, and since I have underdosed before, (taken vacations away from the stimulants), all I had to do was "pay cash at one of several independent pharmacists, and they were more than happy, in fact delighted to fill my local C-II script, still I am using the same Doctor, and, just filling back to back scripts like one week apart. I always go to Mom & Pop's pharmacies to fill the C-II's and I am not a mooch, and don't mind paying full retail on occasion, just to get caught up. Ever since I can remember, going back to maybe 1972 I think, the C-II's never are any good beyond 6 months (at best), and in a few states, are only good for either 90 days, by state law, or, on mail order, I have discovered, many firms either will not fill them, or they have to be no older than 30 days old, of course, for a 30 day supply.
If Georgia is fully operational with their PMP program, then, I will just skip a trip to Georgia, and I still have time to fill both April and June C-II's in my home state.
In the past, I used to go to the Sunshine state as recently as 2 years ago, and had no problem getting a C-II script filled at a independent pharmacy, including the weekend, but, I paid a very big markup for the service, like, triple price for generics, or double price for brand, but I felt everyone knew what was going on, and it was all about the pharmacy making a fast buck. Now Fla has a PMP law, and I have written them off. I do not want my Psychiatrists getting PMP reports, that I am filling "Adderall" in two different PMP states within the same month. He is a kind man, but has confided in me, (we are both in our 60's) that the DEA is pushing their weight around quite a bit this past year, and it is the worst scenario he has seen during his lifetime of practicing medicine. Even my Dentist, has become paranoid of writing a dozen Hydrocodones for $2,500 dollars worth of dental surgery, due to all of the pressure the DEA is placing on the medical community, I even had to sign a statement, with my dentist, of 15 years, that I would have a family member drive me to and from his office for a surgical procedure just to get
12 tablets of 5 mg. of Valium. Many Doctors appear to be scared that they will lose their license, or put in jail, and are rigidly conservative now, even with long term patients. This is disgusting. Thank God, I have saved some of my amphetamines and some of my hydrocodone for emergencies, for I fear when my aging Psychiatrist and aging Dentist retire, I will meet a new breed of M.D.'s who are too acared to even write a C-IV med, except for a one shot deal, for like a dozen tabs. I am used to getting 60 C-II's and even 90 C-IV Valiums or C-IV Ambiens at a time for the past 15 to 20 years. If Georgia is now active PMP, that means every state from the Florida to Virginia, is also with the "Pharmacy Police" and I will just have to turn to other radical means, if necessary, to meet my physical needs, which is outside of the United States.........I do not Doctor Shop, but I resent the minority who have abused the system, and, now the DEA seems to have lost the war on drugs (Cocaine & Marijuana) and are now trying to scare the Doctors to death with arresting them, when a few high profile cases, of abusers, or kids, obtain a bottle of abusable meds, and, our government seems to want to try to kill a fly with a 12 guage pump shotgun!!!!!

Does anyone know of a dr in southern ga

I am looking for a good pain management doc in or around Atlanta, Georgia, specifically the Dekalb or Gwinnett county areas but I don’t mind a drive for someone who will really help me.

I went to the same pain management specialist for about 7 years until he hired a new P.A. who took a personal disliking to me and several other unfortunate fellow patients. She cut the amount of pain meds I was taking, made sure I never saw the doctor again and eventually “fired” me as a patient! She referred me to another doc, many miles away from my home. If I thought this doc would be reasonable I would not mind the extra drive time but given the effort this witch went through to make my life a living hell, I do not trust her referral. I have fibromyalgia, scar tissue and adhesions left over from 8 surgeries for endometriosis. I also suffer from herniated disc problems plus a new, undiagnosed condition affecting my tailbone, sciatic nerve and right leg. I suspect I have developed rheumatoid arthritis as well - I have the symptoms now, several family members had it and my rheumatoid factor is often positive when tested. I have a lack of documentation and no MRI’s because, until recently, I had no health insurance and begged my doctor to keep everything off my record so that I could obtain health insurance. Now that I have the insurance I am making appointments with a Rheumatologist and an Internist and plan to get these tests – including an MRI - when ordered.

I am using a 75 mg Duragesic patch, four roxycodone 15 mg per day plus Soma as needed (no more than 40/month.) I have been using this regimen for years and am scared to death that I won’t be able to find a doctor who will keep me on these meds! Without them (& sometimes WITH them) I experience crippling pain that keeps me bedridden. I actually need more than I am currently taking as that P.A. I mentioned cut my dosages pretty drastically and I have suffered worse pain because of that for about 6 months now. I have tried looking at doctor reviews sites and calling higher rated docs’ offices but those I have called told me that they do injections and procedures, not solely medication distribution. The injections only make things worse for me and I prefer to go to a Rheumatologist for my other treatments. I know from experience, however, that only a pain management specialist will prescribe the medications I take.

I am new to this forum and hope I am posting in the right place. I am running out of medication and options so I am not too picky right now. I have seen a couple of mentions of “no insurance, walk in get what you want clinics” and would be willing to use these until I find a good, permanent pain doc. Someone in this forum suggested finding a doc who treats fibromyalgia (since I've yet to get an MRI) but the only one I found who advertises that he treats fibro retired a few months ago. Does anyone have any specific info on a good pain doc who is not afraid to prescribe strong medications? One who either treats fibromyalgia or would be willing to write a script for me with an MRI order? PM me please and I’ll owe you my firstborn grandchild!

Sorry so lengthy a post!

Thank you!
PFD

http://www.atlantathriftynickel.com/

You can go here and read it online(north edition) There's a pain clinic in Suwanee with a $25 off coupon. I don't know a thing about it, but the ad looks like what you're looking for.
Block ad on page 4.

i hope that will help you until you find a regular doc.

Good Luck to You

Thank you, Erebus! If I check it out I will report my findings & if anyone else has personal experience with a doctor, please post or pm me!

I am not sure how to find the place in Woodstock. Any more info would be appreciated!