QuestionDo narcotic contracts ever expire, especially if an MRI showed that the pain increases when the MRI shows more damage?
AnswerWell, what a great question....
First, the technical answer... unless it has an expiration date, the contract continues while you are receiving care from that doctor.
Now the practical answer....
Those contracts are in place for a few reasons... the biggest is to prevent or identify abuse of these medicines... it hopefully deters people from doctor shopping, ie getting narcotics from different doctors to treat their problems or to get high or to get extra medicine to sell. We, as doctors, are strongly encouraged to have these with patients and explain that there should only be a single prescriber of these medicines and if someone starts doctor shopping, then the contract is violated.
Now, everyone realizes there are emergencies--- car accidents, injuries, broken bones, kidney stones, surgeries and that there will be times when emergency changes are needed. But if one of those episodes occur and you wind up in the emergency room, you should have the ER doc call your doc or at least, you call as soon as you can to explain.
Simply going to another doctor for additional pain medicine because you feel you need more, without informing the primary doctor would violate that understanding.
Obviously, this is an interesting topic for me.... if you have a more specific question, feel free to ask it......
