I am going to the pain clinic for the first time ever on the July 1st, adn I am wondering what to expect. It took me years to get my insurance to take me seriously and give me an referral to one. I am so happy about going but really nervous. I just hope they dont give me tramadol again. that stuff doesnt work at all. Have any of you been to an pain clinic? I am going for my lupus pain, and my back.
I went to a pain management center for cancer. It was when I first had radiation as the tumor had not shrunk enough and it was rather uncomfortable. I had no pain until they started that treatment and pain lasted for about 4 months during treatment and then it stopped. I was admitted for 3 days and a team assessed the pain and worked with combinations of drugs to determine which would be the best for me. They included anesthesiologists, internists, oncologists, radiologists and three other doctors. They also work with councilors to tailor it to your needs. For example my really peak time for pain was mid afternoon until late evening and that was the time that I was unwilling to take meds as I have kids and wanted to be alert for them. The worked with me to medicate only enough to get through that time and increase only later at night if I still was not pain free. The did require extensive follow up and tight control of medications. I had to see them weekly while being medicated. It took about an hour a week to review and do the assessment. They did help me and I found them to be supportive and receptive. I am hoping that they can help you.
Thanks heat for your very helpful and detailed reply. I appreciate it . I hope your cancer is gone now? I hope so.. bc you are such a sweet person. I am glad they were able to help you. I go on JUly 1st. so I still have about an week till I see them.
I have known a few people that have gone to pain management clinics - and the ones I'm familiar with introduce techniques - such as hot/cold water compresses, stretches, etc. Many of them do NOT want to prescribe any pain killers. The BEST way to alleviate pain - awful, almost debilitating pain - for me was found with acupuncture. Pain killers will only take the edge off...but I found you can walk around stoned out of your mind and STILL feel pain. Acupuncture (may take several sessions) FIXED my pain...though I still go for tune-ups occationally.
My cancer is under control and I am on a medication which is a blocker to stop cell growth. It is working and that is a great thing and I no longer have any pain. I am very lucky, I think I have a buried horse shoe. Be very honest with them and also realistic about your need and expectations. I think that is when they work for you rather than just treat. I never asked to be pain free, I asked how to be able to manage with the pain. The only thing I would not do when being treated by them was to drive and that sucked but I did not trust my reflexes enough to take that chance. I was not told not to drive but I knew it was not a wise thing for me to be doing. At that time they also applied for me to be able to use and grow if I wished to, I have not even bothered with that as the need is not there although I am approved. I honestly was putting so much crap in my body to cope at the time, another substance was about the last thing I wanted to add. The chemo drugs and all of the drugs required to cope with that was more than enough to sink a ship let alone crash a body. Be brutally honest with them about you and any problems, sleeping, eating, even emotional and the ways you have been coping. Also be honest with yourself about the expectations that you have and what is important to you. I hope that they are able to bring you relief and that you can lead a more normal life once you see them.
I think a lot of it depends on how old you are, your conditions, the mentality of the area your in etc. I know around here even the pain clinics dont want to rx narcotics, even if you have a very valid need. They will try all kinds of other things first. The one I go to (and most of them I think) is very strict. First time I went it was and hour and a 1/2 of going over the law, their expitactions and rules. I had to sign a pain contract, agree to random drug tests and pill counts (in a year of going they have never done one) The Dr wount write a script with refills (even though you can here for what Im on) and wount call it in till at least the afternoon of my last day of meds. I always have to talk to him before he'll do anything. I think he just wants to cover his ass. I live in the heart of the bible belt, and some of the pain clinics I went to were nuts. Even before I was taking any narcotics, or wanted any narcotics they would treat me like I was a drug addict.
