Question: hello. a fall in '98, i have struggled w/ back issues, but worked until 8/11 when i had failed micro disc surgery. i was supposed to have a spinal fusion the next month, but had a massive saddle PE so because of the risk it was not done. moved from san XXXXXXX to XXXXXXX in december. filed an ssdi application w/ a lawyer 1/15. on 1/26, saw the neurosurgeon who says we can only fix my back with a fusion- (spondylisthesis, DDD, facet artropathy, bulging discs).so, i go to his colleague, the pain management doc on 2/1. she throws me a mandate to get off the oxycodone 10 po tid in a month pre-op, then tells me post-op i get 3 weeks of percocet and valium- then nothing. i was blindsided. no offer to assist w/ the taper, no alternative negotiation- nothing. the fusion is in 6 days. so... today i contact another pain clinic who will work with me to ensure i am not under medicated post-op. i took an appt. w/ them for monday. here's my question... can my neurosurgeon refuse to do the surgery if i sever ties with the PM MD colleague? is a typed letter enough? or, should i wait until the 3 weeks are up, and then do it. i have had surgeries before, and NO SPINAL FUSION pt. will be pain free in 3 weeks time. (i am an rn). i told the new clinic if i was even 60 %, i would do suboxone for like a week to get off the oxycodone. they are supportive, and XXXXXXX i sound appropriate.
would my neurosurgeon fire me as a patient, possibly refusing to do the spinal fusion if i sever ties with his colleague, the pain management doctor?

also, perhaps it is best to wait until the 3 weeks post-op so i do not violate the pain med agreement?

also, i am thinking of generating a descriptive letter to her (cc the neurosurgeon) regarding her behavior and poor clinical judgment. i was very upset during that interaction.

no question... just comments.

i received a call from the surgeon to schedule the POST-OP visit. how funny that it just happened to be exactly 21 days from admission?

i will attend the appointment with the new pain management monday. i will not take up with them until i have severed ties with my current PM doc. in meeting them, they will know my plan to be covered post-op. if i end up 90%- wonderful! i can use suboxone for a week and get off. if not.. they can continue to monitor me for the duration. the oxycodone doesn't cover me anyway- as it's short acting and i get minor w/d in between. the spine center in california whom i was with for 5 years had me on oxycontin 20 bid since 8/11. we'll see.... thank you!