Pain Management

[cooter]

I have a pain management DR that takes care of all my meds and inpatient precedures. I see him more than my own PCP! My

question is how much clout does he have with claims as far as injuries?

[john999]

If he has MD behind his name he can help you a lot. If you are trying to get an increase or IU then he could say that your pain meds make it impossible for you to work. The question is will he do that? What kinds of meds do you get? If you get meds for severe pain he should be able to say you are unable to work or say you have chronic pain syndrome. When rater sees you are on morphine or some other powerful narcotic they conclude you are in bad shape. Nobody takes those drugs for fun. I have never met anyone who takes long acting morphine for a high. Fentanyl is awful as well. No high, but some pain relief.

[rdnkjeeper]

In my experience no VA employee will help you! If they do they usually don't last very long. Not trying to be negitive, just my experience.

[john999]

VA doctor "lack of guts" syndrome is why we get IMO's and IME's. There was a time a few years ago when my PCP (bless her) would write letters for me. Now I have a new doctor and she won't. Change of policy. My old PCP wrote nexus letters that hit the ball out of the park. These were formula letters she had on her computer. The VA knows exactly what a vet needs for SC.

[carlie]

Several years ago I had a WONDERFUL VA PCP.

His name was Dr. David Layer and I unfortunately lost his services

as he changed positions within the VAMC

In 1999,200 and 2001, he had written several letters to VBA on my behalf.

I recently had some issues granted by BVA and the grant hinged on the letters

and medical evidence of record from those years.

His letters were strong enough when,combined with the medical evidence of record

to get the BVA judge (Wilkins) to consider and apply the BOD in my favor.

My local VARO level never bothered to even consider the BOD but the BVA sure did.

Anytime a medical provider is willing to put something in writing that helps support

your claim issue, get it.

No telling how far down the road it might be helpful to you.

JMHO

[Geo4K]

VA doctor "lack of guts" syndrome is why we get IMO's and IME's. There was a time a few years ago when my PCP (bless her) would write letters for me. Now I have a new doctor and she won't. Change of policy. My old PCP wrote nexus letters that hit the ball out of the park. These were formula letters she had on her computer. The VA knows exactly what a vet needs for SC.

You know, I went back to my first C&P MD and asked her if she would "firm up" her comments about the DDD and Cervical Vertigo she made in my C-file. Well, it was like I fell off the face of the Earth. I am so naive...

[cooter]

If he has MD behind his name he can help you a lot. If you are trying to get an increase or IU then he could say that your pain meds make it impossible for you to work. The question is will he do that? What kinds of meds do you get? If you get meds for severe pain he should be able to say you are unable to work or say you have chronic pain syndrome. When rater sees you are on morphine or some other powerful narcotic they conclude you are in bad shape. Nobody takes those drugs for fun. I have never met anyone who takes long acting morphine for a high. Fentanyl is awful as well. No high, but some pain relief.

Thats what I neede to hear John, thanks