Ft. Lauderdale Pain Clinics...which are the best?

[Don]

Hey folks,

Looking to make a trip from NY to Ft. Lauderdale, will be flying into the airport there. I'm looking for a few suggestions as to which clinics I should consider going to, and which are considering the "best". I have substantial records showing my pain issues, and am currently prescribed oxycontin 20mg x 60 by my primary here in NY...but it simply isn't enough to fully control my pain. I'm also looking for any information as to people who have gone to certain clinics with records, and what they were able to walk out with on their first visit (and pricing of such). I figure that with my current records of oxycodone prescriptions that I wouldn't have trouble getting at least 200 30mg roxi's in my first visit. Also, do they prescribe/dispense the name brand oxycontin...if so what is the pricing?

Thanks for any and all advice...

[piercit]

The word is most clinics are not accepting out of state patients. So the first step would be to find out which ones will. Google is your friend when it comes to finding this out. Most clinics do not prescribe name brand oxy. You can get dillys and roxis and norcos for the most part. You will probably not get 200. They are not prescribing quanity like they use too. More like 180 max. On first visit you will probably get 90 roxis.

It use to be a post like this would get 15 responses because clinics use to pay finders fees, now it is getting tough for in state genuine CPP patients to get proper scripts.

[FLA Patient]

One thing you need to remember - this will not last. Most clinics that cater to out of state patients will most likely close down this year. You have a doctor in an oppressed pain state like NY prescribing OC. Good luck going back when your "Florida pill mill" closes. Then you may not even be able to find a doc willing to give you any OC.

There is a lot to be said for building a long-term trusting relationship. You may be better off pressing for breakthrough meds or talking to him/her about increasing the dose. A daily pain journal. Something.

FLA is not going to be a long term option, so you will have to go back.

[FLA Patient]

BTW - I go to a full on strip-mall with out-of-state patients clinic in Florida and they gave at first exactly what I was taking before. It took Months to get any increase at all which I really did need, and that was minor/rational.

I don't think it is going to be as easy as you think to stroll in with an old script for 40 mg/day, and walk away with 200 mg+.

I personally believe the stories of crazy docs giving out OC like candy are far far overblown. I think most are real docs that simply practice appropriate pain management. Anything over 30 tabs of Vicodin seems to be suspect these days.. Crazy,

[fish]

FLA Paient is exactly right. It isn't as easy as the media and others make it sound. I know from my own experience that most doctors want proof of pain and proof that you can handle taking a large amount of opiate pain meds. I know that the media and some folks make it sound like you can go anywhere with a few hundred dooarls and just ask for something outragous and walk out with a script for it. Chances are that on the first visit you will get what you are already prescribed. Usually they will increase you from there by 1 pill a day every few months if what you get isn't cutting it. There are doctors out there that are in it for monetary gain but, not near as many as what is percieved. Good luck

[piercit]

I have to agree with FL Patient on all counts. If you have a good doc in NY I would work that angle, instead of coming to FL and hoping for the best.

I know with my doc they have really tightened up and they were tight to begin with. I was with a lesser type of clinic and I could not stand it. They are stiil in business though, right now everything is up in the air here. The perscriptiom monitoring program is approved with no funding. If it does not recieve FULL funding by December 1st the law expires.

The state goverment keeps talking about a crack-down but I have heard about that for years. A whole lot of questions right now. What is not a question though is they are really pushing to limit out of state patients. You can get around that, but you will need a stae of FL ID.

You would best be served looking to up your script with your present doc...good luck and let us know what happens...P

[Don]

Thanks for the information guys. So chances are all the media hype of walkin-in clinics dishing out massive amounts of narcotics is far slimmer than it either was or is perceived to be? I do have substantial records of severe pain and long-term narcotic useage, but have only recently started being prescribed the Oxycontin 20mg x 60. I had a refill on the 10th of February. Is Florida now using a monitoring system, meaning that they won't even refill by 20mg since it was recently filled? And also, is it now impossible to go to more than one clinic per visit (do they have a monitoring system now)?

Thanks again

[piercit]

There is NO perscription monitoring system in place at this time in FL. There is NO national system. So your best bet would be NOT to include your present perscription information/ doctors info... to a new doc. That way there they can decide how much you need initialy.

You will need a reason why you are not seeking treatment in NY.

You can still get busted doing something stupid such as using your insurance for both scripts or using the same pharmacy. But in reality you can still easily doctor shop here in FL. You will still be able to doctor shop after the perscription monitoring program by simply using fake ID's.

All in all the only results I have seen from stepped-upped enforcement is it is making it harder for genuine CPP patients to get what they need...P

[benkie]

i am planning on moving to florida in january . but my doctor cut me off of my meds this month and wants me to go to a pain clinic here in town. but i hear they try to cut you in stead of giving you the same amount. all i want is the same i am getting now so if anyone knows of one good pain clinic in ft. laud. let me know. like i said i even have a copy of my last rx and can print out the fill list from my pharmacy plus i have proof mri's doctors notes etc.