Favorite Pet Peeves

[PMR 4 MSK]

---

Members do not see this ad.

nurses are THE worst. they know just enough to be dangerous, but not enough to be reasonable....

Have you ever had a physician with chronic pain who is currently on opioids come to you? Nothing but trouble.

 

[Aether2000]

"Doc, I am not a drug addict, you can't cut me off my oxycontin" From a patient positive on UDS for methaphetamine, MDMA, THC, and non-prescribed methadone

"My husband and I share everything" Patient was positive on UDS for 3 opioids we do not prescribe to her

"I am here for pain meds since you are cheaper than buying them on the street" From a patient who gave this reply to the first question (what brings you to our clinic) on the initial evaluation

Patient "I don't want any injections because they hurt too much"
Doctor "I understand, that is why we offer different levels of anesthesia"
Patient "Sedation makes me out of control"
Doctor "Thats ok, we will use a general anesthetic and you will be completely out"
Patient "I am deathly afraid of general anesthesia- my cousin died because of the general anesthesia"
Doctor "What was the operation?"
Patient "He had a ruptured aorta"
Doctor "Well you don't have a ruptured aorta, and we can do this safely"
Patient "I am still too afraid to have a general anesthetic"

 

[Ligament]

"I have a really high pain tolerance"

Oh, reaaaaaallllly???? haha

 

[Ligament]

I actually tell them in 80% of cases:

"No, you have a very LOW pain tolerance"

They don't like that but I think it is important check on reality for them.

 

[Apollyon]

"I have a really high pain tolerance"

Oh, reaaaaaallllly???? haha

Back in South Carolina, I had a patient that was surprisingly insightful. He said to me, "I don't have a high tolerance for pain. I have a high tolerance for pain medicines."

Fair enough!

 

[hyperalgesia]

"A high pain tolerance"

That one's like a broken record and annoys me to no end.

 

[mdvol]

I assumed the ole "high pain tolerance" was so universal I didn't post it. Sometimes on a rough day, I will just flat out say to them, "I beg to differ but in my medical opinion I think the issue is a low threshold/tolerance for pain".

 

[caedmon]

Asking for disability before any treatment is attempted...

 

[Tenesma]

laying out all their controlled substances prescription bottles in the following sequence
1) by the height of the bottle
2) based on expiration of each drug
3) based on which one "works" the best

before you get to say anything they start off with "I need more of these" - pointing to the above referenced line-up of pill bottles.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Me - "How can I help you?"

New pt - "I need someone to prescribe my pills."

Me - "Well good luck with that. I'm sure you'll find someone soon. How can I help you?"

 

[ghost dog]

Ratemds.

I saw a patient who was obviously addicted to Oxycontin.

She told me that she had taken her dose that day. When I performed an onsite UDS, she was negative; when I confronted her with the negative result (and thus her lie), she then changed her story, stating that her "friend" had given her something similiar to Oxycontin.

It's amazing that people on narcotics always seem to have "friends" like this.

She then went on ratemds indicating that I insulted her , accusing her of lying.

If the shoe fits....

 

[Jitter Bug]

Most people who tell me they have a really high pain tolerance then explain with the following convoluted logic: since they have such a high pain tolerance, if they feel pain that's a 4 it must really be something horribly wrong that others would feel as a 12 (out of 10, yes I know). So therefore even minor pain must be a big big deal.

Which is just a strange intellectual rationalization people play to avoid admitting they have a low pain tolerance.

 

[101N]

The new patient couple, one with chronic pain and on chronic opioids, the other disapproving of the medication. First words out of the disapproving spouse's mouth - note not the patient's mouth - "He/She want's to get off the Oxycontin."

Transference in action.