'pain management' - Pain Management Message Board

cuppa t · 07-10-2003, 07:12 AM

hi all,
since i'm in the topic 'pain management' thought i'd ask if anyone out there knew exactly what it means. have seen drs? in the yellow pages who are listed under this description. has anyone ever been to seen one, and what do they do? is it more like physiotherapy? went to one when i first had back problems, it was awful, ended up worse!! thanks for any help. P.S. anyone had acupuncture for pain?

[This message has been edited by cuppa t (edited 07-10-2003).]

Mo7609 · 07-10-2003, 09:44 AM

Hi there,
I had my first pain management appointment on Tuesday. I was a little nervous as to what they were going to do but al went well. My Dr evaluated my situation, did a few little test to see how injured I really am and has reffered me to have an epidural a series of 3. My GP originally sent me there because there was nothing more he could do with me and I was sick of being in pain all the time. Now I am on the duragesic patch and vicodin es 4x a day for breakthrough pain as before I was going through 15 vics a day. I am sure that every pain doctor is different as to how they treat their patients but I do know that usually go to them when you have cronic pain and there is nothing else that your GP can do for you.

Shoreline · 07-10-2003, 02:29 PM

Hey T, Seeijng a Pm doc doesn't gaurentee a thing. Some use opiates to manage pain in conjunction with other modalities and other PM dopcs woul;dn't prescribe a tylonol 3 if you were wheel chair bound.

Philosophy on how to treat varries from PM doc to PM doc. Some docs simply run block shops where they do nerve blocks, trigger point injections, Epidurals and the only meds they prescribe are anti depressants.

A multi faceceted aproach to pain management is the best way to go. Youwant more than one method to help with your pain. If you can learn relaxation techniques, yoga, self hypnosis,or bio feedback its just another tool you have to deal with the pain. Medications are there but if a doc doesn't try other methods to manage your pain before going to long acting class11 meds he's setting himself up for investigation.

He has to document other attempts to manage pain. He doesn't have to perform each method himself. If you have seen several PM docs make a list of every method you have tried and bring this to your apt. Trigger point injections, nerve blocks, massage, chiropractic, PT, TENS,TINS acupuncture, anti depressants, anti seizure meds, bracing, the list goes on and on. All these things may possibly work. Try them and if they help refine your skills or continue the treatments, if they don't help don't continue with something that doesn't work.But document that you tried and what your experience was.

Docs will protect themselves and need documentation that other methods have been tried and failed and medication management is your only alternative.

If your wondering how some folks get large doses of meds and why you have to fight for a vicodin you have to understand that every method I mentioned I had to learn or try with different PM docs before I met one that would prescribe opiates.

It took 3 surgeries, 10 years and a dozen different PM docs before a single one wrote a script for an opiate pain killer.Granted I went through all this before OxyContin was even on the market. Now everybody wants a quick and simple cure with immediate results.

Personally acupuncture didn't do a thing for me but my brother gets lasting relief for days from the guy he sees. It's really a matter of the practioneer having that special touch. Anyone can learn placment but it really is an art that some folks have a gift for and some just stick the pins in were the book says too.
Good luck, Shoreline

TDHZ28 · 07-10-2003, 10:18 PM

Everything the post above said is true. When i had to seek new Pm. I had an aweful time with PM route. So I got an appt. with my new pcp and I took all my PM records where I had been treated for 2 years, it was all documented about treatments other than meds that I had tried and failed and 3 NS's who all agreed meds were my only option. I cried each time I left these NS's visits, I so badley wanted fixed to return to work and the physiaclly active chick I was. My first PM warned me it would lead to where I am now on 240mgs oxycontin with oxyir for B/T. I finally have relief tho. I had been in total denial it would happen to me. Look for dr.'s with D.o. after their name. I can also tell you from what all I've heard and witnessed that finding a pcp willing to manage your meds are much eaiser to deal with than the PM's. I posted that it seems if you even are honest with the Pm's and say look I had to take that extra oxy, they freak and threaten to send you a packn. with my pcp I call and tell what happened and the symptons and relief i obtained. He says ok come get new rx. We are now thankfully at a stable comfy dose. Plus he never questions when I need my xanax adjusted to keep up with the side effects from oxy, i.e. twitches, jittery, stress etc... But the SE's have subsided, it takes about 2 weeks. I thank god for sending me to him. I prayed for so long, in so much pain to please god, send me I need to be to function without pain, for myself, my teen daughters, my hubby of 21 years and my family who all need me and count on me in times of crisis, they call me the matriarch now that our mom died. I have my sleepy days and bad pain days where I've done too much and lay around till I can feel good again. But honestly noone without our kinda pain ever really understands. My main source of support is my best friend who has ovarian cancer and in late stage, I know she knows my pain and believes me. Sorry to ramble, off to bed, but here if you need anything. Take care and I will add you to my prayers tonite in hopes of you finding a dr. to help you with compassion, and meds for comfortable living. Peace and hopes, THERESA

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pain from cervical radiculopathy, spondy, permanent nerve damage, c5/6 buldging dics, DDD,nerve root lesions, anxiety.depression from chronic pain or vice versa. current meds,oxycontin 2 40's twice a day, oxyir for B/T, xanax, paxil, estratest, synthroid, phenergran.

cuppa t · 07-11-2003, 09:05 AM

thank you all so much for the information, it is most helpful. nice to know i'm not the only one, tho' by your accounts, you are far worse off than i am. again thankyou so much. cuppa