physical medicine and rehabilatation - Pain Management Message Board

kim32 · 02-03-2003, 03:39 PM

I have an appointment this coming wednesday to see a doctor in the physical medicine department, has anyone been to one?? what exactly do they do?
My primary doctor wants me to see this doctor for my chronic pain.
They won't be doing like Electric shock therapy will they?? haha
All my primary doctor said is that they help me cope with the pain, she didn't exactly know what they will all do.
She tried to get me to a pain clinic but they won't take me :-(
so that's why she decided to refer me to a physical medicine place.
I have an appointment in March to see a mental health person who specializes in chronic pain.
Right now i'm taking Oxycontin 20mg, 2 times a day. I just don't want to have to take pain med's for the rest of my life, i wish that the doctor's could just find out what's causing me this pain.
I have tried to have my primary doctor give me "neurontin" for possible nerve damage that i have since my gallbladder surgery, and she said that she will think about giving that to me after i go and see this physical medicine place. I just hate all of this waiting game and not knowing what's going on in my body! :-( darn gallbladder, that's what started all of this pain! :-( Kim

kathy23 · 02-04-2003, 10:36 AM

Hi Kim,

yes, i have seen a physicitrist(sp?)last week. they are a doctor who writes you an rx for physical therapy if it is needed. mine was very nice. i have a disc herniation at the T7-8 which is very uncommon. she precribed neurontin for me. the dosage she gave me was 300mg. it was way to strong for me and she reduced it to 100mg. even at that dosage it just made me feel very odd. my pm doctor told me to stop it until after my epidural on thursday. the physicitrist is also having me do PT. i don't have my 1st appt. until next week though. i don't know if it will help. i tried it about 3 years ago and just made matters worse. i will try again since i want to avoid surgery at all costs.

i hope this helps a little bit.
take care
kathy

02-04-2003, 08:50 PM

Good to see you again. Have you been able to get any relief yet? DRs are such a trip. They are quick to get you to this pain stage then can't figure what to do with you after that. Here's hoping that you get relief soon. That we all get relief soon.