Pain Clinics

[minihorses]

I know this isn't the place to ask about medical stuff not related to smoking but this is a big enough community that I thought I'd at least have a chance getting some first hand information.  Has anyone gone to a pain clinic?  If so what did you go there for (just overall reason to go)?  What did they do to help you? I did a search to find one where I live and the results were almost all a part of ortho and spine doctors. I don't know if my pain and numbness is originating in my neck or spine or something else completely.  Any experience and help you can give me will help me in thinking about going to one or not waste my time.  Thanks guys!

[YoungAtHeart]

I think I would want to get your pain source diagnosed, and maybe ask THAT doctor for help with pain management once you have that. Any ortho should be able to pinpoint the problem.  Some PT might help - or even yoga - or stretching - or relaxation techniques.  Some advanced places use bio-feedback....at the least, check out all the reviews!  I had a herniated disc in my neck that was CURED with yoga - after doing PT to no avail and taking the drugs (which is NOT what I wanted to continue).

My experience has been that a lot of pain clinics simply send you on your way with a Rx for pain drugs - and they are so easy on which to get hooked.

My advice would be to get some good homework done so you have a better idea of the problem.

Hope you can get some relief soon!

Nancy

[TW517]

I second what Nancy said.  Most of the pain clinics in my state were shut down by either our Attorney General or due to law suits from patient's families.  I'm not a fan.  I have 2 friends who lost son's to opioid addiction formed while taking legal pain meds for sports injuries.  I would stay as far away as possible from those places.

[Gwenivere]

I don’t think you can go to a pain clinic without a referral, can you?  Usually your primary care doctor or a specialist will send people there if they feel it is beyond their ability to help.  I’m very torn on this opioid crack down.  Yes, there are people that abuse it, like any other mind altering substance.  But many people need pain control to live functioning lives and have been caught up in the red tape having them have to get their meds more often because of restrictions down from a month to a week or two.  Thus putting them in more pain making trips out.  These medications were created for a good reason.  As always, it’s the abusers that complicate things for everyone else.  People have even abused insulin!  I have Vicodin that I take a half of when I get home just for a couple hours to tamp down my back pain which is relentless.  Sounds like you need a diagnosis first before it’s even an option.  

[elvan]

I agree that you need to know what it is coming from.  I have been to a pain clinic once...I am on opiate pain medications and have been for many, many years.  I never take them earlier than prescribed and I never feel any mood altering effects...they just, sometimes, take the edge off my pain so I can function.  Some days are much worse than others.  I went to the pain clinic for my back, they wanted to inject lidocaine and cortisone between the vertebrae.  My scoliosis is so severe that they couldn't get the needle into a space to inject the medication successfully.  I left with a very large bruise on my back and a group of med students, residents, and ortho docs shaking their heads.  For me, it is not going to happen.  I do have to have screenings done when I get pain medications to be sure that they are in my system and that I am not selling them...yeah, that's not going to happen.  I have a friend who goes to a pain clinic and she is on much higher doses of medication than I have ever taken, she is also on methadone to enhance the pain relieving effects of the meds.  She is functional but she has very advanced rheumatoid arthritis and has had countless surgeries to replace joints, including all of the joints in her fingers.  There was no improvement in the deformity or in the pain.  She was recently diagnosed with salivary gland cancer and had surgery a couple of weeks ago, she started daily radiation treatments yesterday that will continue for the next six weeks.  

I doubt that this was very helpful but it is the only experience I have...oh, and I think Gwenivere is right that you have to have a referral and a diagnosis.

Hugs,

Ellen

[Gwenivere]

Years ago I got random drug tests and my doc said the same thing.  To make sure they were in my system.  Can’t inagine selling them. Between the opiate and my benzos I could make a small fortune.  On the other end of the spectrum I was told I couldn’t have a surgery if they found nicotine in my test.   Told them I use NRT's.  Turns out there is some chemical that shows up strictly from cigarettes.  I guess we’re all safer for this stufff, but I always have this Big Brother feeling when I run into it.  

[indingrl]

Thanks for asking yet - Please take what YOU like and let go of the rest - to be HELPFUL is MY only aim - thank you ❤YOU know regardless of anyone's opinion here - pain management is tough and varies with each individual - just like finding what works for each individual choosing to QUIT USING DRUG NICOTINE -  too many opinions for YOUR serious and severe pain physically- will cause YOU more heartache with woulda or coulda or shoulda options - just sharing  - YOU DO - what is best for YOU by YOUR CHOICE - just wondering - do you have a pastor or professional therapist - or best woman friend WHO knows YOU and will talk with YOU - or YOUR husband to talk with - intimate family members OR a pain support group - others who have had YOUR similarities - pain in same areas of body - in HIS love and service - gentle hug❤

[minihorses]

You have to give birth to a triceratops to get an aspirin here.  My friend has a laundry list of problems and all involve massive pain: spina bifida, osteomyelitis, 7 amputations and in a wheelchair, UTIs, to name only a few.  She lives in constant pain and even she can't get any meds.  I highly doubt a doctor will give me anything for pain.  I know of a person, I don't know them but I met her once, that has reumatoid arthritis and sells her pain meds to buy weed, which she thinks makes her feel better than opiods and she's not addicted to weed. For pete's sake you can't get a box of real sudaphed without signing away your soul while the pharmacy writes down all the information from your drivers license, and don't ask for another box until 30 days from your last purchase without a trial by firing squad. Like 2 boxes of sudaphed marks me as a person cooking meth?  I don't like taking pain meds because they actually make me hyper of all things but I can't live with this anymore.  I'd go back to the chiropractor but it was breaking my bank account to go there all the time. I would feel better but it was only very temporary. I have a TENS unit that I use but in the summer it's too humid to wear without getting zapped. I'm in and out of the house a lot. I talked to my insurance carrier and they said they don't require a referral to go to a pain clinic.  I asked three times to make sure I heard it right but they said just a co-pay for the visit.  I might try to get an appointment if I find one close enough to home. 

[Barbscloud]

Thank goodness I don't need the pain meds.   My comment is about faulting "abusers" for making it more difficult to obtain them.   There should be more control over their distribution--people are dying (130 a day).  I don't believe many individuals addicted have arrived at that point intentionally.   Many people became addicted because they were over prescribed and the drug companies played a role in this by pushing their medications and claiming they weren't addictive.  Sound familiar?

[minihorses]

I decided to give the pain clinic a try. I found one close to home accepting our insurance.  It was an orthopedic office so I was happy about that.  I called them last Thursday at 11:00 am and they got me in at 2:30 pm.  Score! I filled out a ton of paperwork, got x-rays, talked to the doc and discussed next step options.  The x-rays of my neck showed really bad bone spurs and the ones of my back showed my slight scoliosis but some of the lower back vertebrae looked like there were a few areas were the disks are deteriorating but they also looked liked the bones on my back and neck were constricting the opening of the spinal chord.  We discussed starting physical therapy, chiropractic, or MRI.   I opted to get an MRI done.  I waited too long with my knee and ultimately made it much worse so I'm not about to wait that long again.  I've had this problem for many years and have done all the chiropractic and physical therapy which helps temporarily.  I can't function correctly so I hope to get the MRI soon.  Besides, I really like laying on a hard table in a cold room in a tunnel of noise.   I hope they have some decent headphones and get satellite radio so I can at least listen to my favorite music and hopefully get a nap.  Is that bad?

I'm supposed to go to FL the beginning of August  My mom is turning 90 in August and there isn't any family around her in the summer.  My sister and b-i-l are in NY at their cottage near Corning for the summer.  I am driving down alone because hubby doesn't want to go.  He would only have to bring a ton of paperwork, call and get calls from work crews, watch the security cameras, order materials for the machine shop, and let's not forget who's gonna clean the bathrooms (he does it) and fix the overflowing toilet.  My mom doesn't want me to come down if I drive alone.  I schedule my travel so as to avoid the rat race rush hours but there's always construction slow downs especially in Georgia.  But if I need surgery I'm not waiting till I come back.  We're going to a concert in SC in September, I have tickets and a hotel reservation.  I'm not missing that for the world. I mean this is Disturbed, they're my absolute favorite metal band. 

No matter what, I just want to get rid of the pain and numbness. I really want to get this gone asap.  I hope they can get me in for the MRI early this week.  Will keep this post updated.