Pain Management

[morticia]

hi i was wondering if anyone went through pain mangrment.

I have servere back problems and im thinking of asking my doc to go into pain management. whats it like what should expect. any one who has been through pain maganent doctor any feed back would be appcaited.

i just would like to know what to expect.

thank you

morticia

[mpvt]

If your suffering from chronic pain then going to a pain clinic for pain management is a very good idea.Let us know how you make out.....Dave

[morticia]

thanks Dave but i do have one question do they treat you with pain meds or shots or exercise? I will definalty let all of you know how I;m doing

Thank you
Morticia[:I]

[mpvt]

It's usually a combination of pain meds and exercise.Each case is different,some people with back pain have a big belly and the Dr. will put them on a diet and specific exercises to tighen up the stomach and lower back muscles.....Dave

P.S. I don't know were you live but here in Ontario Canada you have to be referred to a pain clinic by yor doctor,just so you know.Have a good day and Hoppy Easter.....Dave

[chad5749]

quote:Originally posted by morticia

hi i was wondering if anyone went through pain mangrment.

I have servere back problems and im thinking of asking my doc to go into pain management. whats it like what should expect. any one who has been through pain maganent doctor any feed back would be appcaited.

i just would like to know what to expect.

thank you

morticia

Hello,
I have been going to a Pain Mangement Clinic for over 2-years now in the USA and can only share what it is or initial intake was like for me as this is the only Pain Management Clinic I have ever been to.

In my experience, I suffer from Chronic Pain. I began before being referred by my Primary Care Doctor had to go throuh a lenghty trial and error Prescription non-narcotic medication trials and multiple tests to try and 'pin point' the origin of my pain. Once the PC Doc had tried all that she could do in order to contol my pain, she referred me to a Pain Management Clinic.

In the beginning, I had a CT scan of the Head, turning out to be normal. Followed by Physical Therapy for 60-days, which did not benifit or reduece the pain, Numerous x-rays which showed that my Cervical Spine was pulled 'straight' from the nautural curvature of a normal Cervical Spine. (due to the spasms in my neck pulling it out of its normal shape). Finally, I had my first MRI of my Cervical and Thorasic sp? Spine and the MRI showed that I had bone spurs on the C4-5 and C6-7 resulting in the narrowing of the Central Canal, being of Stenosis.

This was then determined to be a Chronic Condition and thus she felt that a Pain Specialist could better control the pain. As the Physical Therapy did not benifit me.

On the Initial visit to the Pain Clinic, I had to provide a list of all prescription meds as well as medical records and test results prior to my visit. I was then given a Urine Drug Screen and signed a form stating that any Controlled Substances that showed in the UDS were in fact legally prescribed to me and able to provide proof of such prescriptions. From there, I was assesed by an Anistesiologist (sp?) to see if injections or pain block would benifit my condition or help to control the pain.

I was then placed in a hospital gown for a skin examination for any traces of 'track marks' or to rule out the possibility I was 'shooting up' drugs.

In my case the area effected was or is too much of a risk for pain block injections and could result in paralysis each time an injection would be needed. I was instructed to lose weight, as I am Morbidly Obese.

I then began Opiate Prescription Therapy with Hydrocodone APAP, and over time as my conditon progressed, a Consult with a Neurologist and a Neurosurgeon as well as EMG or 'Needle tests' of all four of my extremities, showed abnormal or nerve damage in all extremeties. I form there was placed on Oxycodone APAP, next I was taking the Oxycodone APAP (gerneric for Percocet) and placed in addition to the Oxycodone APAP a Duragesic Pain Patch, which over a 6-month period caused me multiple skin allergic reactions to all brand and generic forms of the Fentanyl Patch, was and Currently Placed on Morphine Sulfate Extended Release tablets (generic for MS Contin®) and switched from generic Percocet® to a generic form of Roxicodone® for breakthrough pain, and Baclofen to help with Spasm.

I now have to visit the Clinic every month for medication and random Urine Drug Screens and sign a form each month/visit that if they were to do a Urine Drug Screen would only my prescribed medications appear in the results? Also, Random checks for the Routine Narcotic Medications being prescribed by them are in my system since the last visit. So basically they make sure that the Medications prescribed to treat the pain are actually being taken as prescribed by me and not being illegally sold or used up (abused) from the date of previous visit. I am still with the Morphine, Oxy and Baclofen in pain all of the time, as all with chronic pain experience, thought the pain level is tolerable and 'pain flares' are at a lower occurence.

There is alot of things that differ between legality's and procedure of Pain Clinics as I am only able to share what this is like for me at Pain Management Clinic in which I am currently a patient. Sorry this is so long, just hope it can provide you with a more detailed experience I have with such current pain clinic. Best wishes in your relief of pain.--


~º~chad~º~

[morticia]

thank you Chad for your info it really helped out alot! I hope you feel better soon. thanks for the replies every one i really do appaicate it!

luv n hugs
Morticia[:I]

[harvick29chick]

Hi. Im new to the board but thought I would jump in and tell you my experience with em. I was sent to a pain management doc as a last resort, with my weird back problems..ha ha. I grow scar tissue in all the wrong places, especially around my nerve roots in my lumbar areas. When I started with my pain doc, I was on Duragesics 50mcgs, two at a time on..alternating days when putting on a fresh one for full 100mcgs all the time. I also took, Valium for a muscle relaxant, Soma at times, and lortabs for breakthrough pain. I had SEVERE pain in my right leg when I stumbled in his office. I couldnt sit on his table, barely could talk to him it was so bad after my 3 hour ride there. ( I live in the sticks!! ) Anyways, he did a transforimal steroid injection right around the nerve S1 root....I knew the minute he shot that in that it was the right spot it hurt like FIRE! He also put numbing meds in with it.
I HAVE HAD no pain in my right side since.
My last visit he said that I didnt look like the same person. lol. I have a lot of nerve damage on the left, that is worse than the right, so we tried that side this time. I hurt like crud for two days after, but slowly I hope to have some relief.
The positive side....I am down to NO duragesics, nothing for pain but normal stuff. I hurt, Im not saying thats completely gone, but thats just cuz im too stubborn, I want off the patches!!!

It all depends on the doc. Mine is in Wichita, KS......is Awesome!! Caring...I owe him my life as not even a MAYO doctor would look at me.
Good luck...and happiness is all about how bad you want it!!
>>Janese

[jenfen75]

I am currently under the care of pain mang. doc for L5, S1 nerve root compression, which causes severe pain and numbness down the right leg and foot. I had a lumbar lami in 05 and a fusion in 06 to that area and ended up with worse problems afterwards. I am now on a combo of things including a Fentanyl (Duragesic) patch. I am moving from Texas to Wichita around the end of May. I saw your post about having a good pain Dr. and thought I'd see if I could get the name from you. I have to make an appt. in advance so that I won't have to wait when I get there. You know how you get only one month's supply of your meds and all! I appreciate any info you can give me or anyone else out there! Thanks, Jen

[hattieli]

Hi my name is Hattie i am searching for a pain doctor for my husband he has severe back ?ain and he really needs treatment and meds can you recommend one.

[manwhosoldtheworld]

mostly back pain is occurs by muscle or ligament strain, there are other causes such as damage or injury to spinal nerves, bones, or discs. Sciatica, which is not a disease but radiating pain and other symptoms caused by inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve, can be caused by many conditions. Osteoarthritis of the spine is a common cause of back pain in people over 65 years of age. Some other back problems also increases with age. But sometimes caused by a problem with the kidneys. Moreover regular medical check and daily exercise with proper guideline really work out.... God bless

[hchapman073]

Hi. Im new to the board but thought I would jump in and tell you my experience with em. I was sent to a pain management doc as a last resort, with my weird back problems..ha ha. I grow scar tissue in all the wrong places, especially around my nerve roots in my lumbar areas. When I started with my pain doc, I was on Duragesics 50mcgs, two at a time on..alternating days when putting on a fresh one for full 100mcgs all the time. I also took, Valium for a muscle relaxant, Soma at times, and lortabs for breakthrough pain. I had SEVERE pain in my right leg when I stumbled in his office. I couldnt sit on his table, barely could talk to him it was so bad after my 3 hour ride there. ( I live in the sticks!! ) Anyways, he did a transforimal steroid injection right around the nerve S1 root....I knew the minute he shot that in that it was the right spot it hurt like FIRE! He also put numbing meds in with it.
I HAVE HAD no pain in my right side since.
My last visit he said that I didnt look like the same person. lol. I have a lot of nerve damage on the left, that is worse than the right, so we tried that side this time. I hurt like crud for two days after, but slowly I hope to have some relief.
The positive side....I am down to NO duragesics, nothing for pain but normal stuff. I hurt, Im not saying thats completely gone, but thats just cuz im too stubborn, I want off the patches!!!

It all depends on the doc. Mine is in Wichita, KS......is Awesome!! Caring...I owe him my life as not even a MAYO doctor would look at me.
Good luck...and happiness is all about how bad you want it!!
>>Janese

janese-
I was just wondering where u go, who do u see? i was going to dr. parks for 2 years, and he did the exact same thing that my previous MD was doing, I was just paying him more! I've been on pain management since I was 14 years old, I'm now 24. I was born with a bad back they said, they don't know what caused it. I guess just hereditary. In August 2010 I had to go to the ER because I went to stand up, and couldn't, it was like I hit a nerve and couldn't get past it. I went to the hospital, and was immediately sent back. I saw Dr. Chang in the back, and he did some things to find out what was wrong, and MRI and CT scan, he then ran a metal thing against my foot, and I never felt it. He admitted me, and I had surgery the next morning by Dr. Raymond Grundmeyer from Abay Neuroscience. I had only met him for 2 min. the previous night. So it was basically a leap of faith. I went with it. I had surgery the next morning. He did a posterior instrumented fusion with cages, and 2 titanium rods; one on each side of my spine; from L1, L2,L3,L4,L5, and S1.. and he fixed the problem of my sciatic nerve was pinched off from my disks. Since I've had the surgery, the sciatica is completely gone! My back feels so much better! I'm now off of all my strong meds. I still take my Lortab and Soma for my neck; and my chronic daily migraines.. looking at neck surgery now. I'd recommend seeing dr. grundmeyer to anyone; it may take a bit to get into him but if you let them know whats going on, they may get you in sooner. I was just wondering who you were seeing that you liked? ive seen a few of them; but alot of pain management drs want to just do injections; which dont work at all for me. sorry this was so long; thanks..