any experiences of going to a pain clinic??

[liz74715]

what will a referral to a pain clinic do for me?

i have been diagnosed with fibro after all over pain for about the last 2yrs. i also have hypothyroidism since 2004. but recently went hyper i was overmedicatged or my thyroid had a flare up i dont know ehich. but i have an endocrine appt soon so will wait for that.

just wondered if anyone has been to a pain clinic & what was yoour experience?

i have been prescribed gabapentin, amytriptyline
tramadol, co-codamol. i took myself of the lot of them at the end of the yr as i was getting major cravings for sweet food . i did feel better off the meds for about 2 months until just recenrlt when the fibro & i have nerve damage in my neck all flared up & i have had to go back on the meds in order to get up & go to work. but i am really just dragging myself out everyday its mission to go in the shower etc just getting out of bed etc etc

any experiences of going to a pain clinic would be helpful thks.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Liz,

A tardy Welcome to MedHelp's Pain Management Forum. I am so sorry to hear about your Chronic Pain (CP) and the many issues it has brought into your life.

I see you reside in the UK. Pain Management Clinics in the USA vary and differ, state by state. I would assume that they would also differ a bit from country to country. So your experience may be very different from ours in the USA. Your laws are probably unlike ours.... only you know that or any of our other members from the UK. Hopefully they will add their wisdom.

I reside in two different states. In FL (a southern state) I must see a PMP. He told me if I had Fibro he would tell me to return to WI as he could not prescribe opiates for me. I don't know if that's the normal across FL. In WI (a northern state) it is our PCP that prescribe for and follow their CP patients. They can chose to treat Fibro patients with opiates but like all Physicians are closely regulated and monitored by the DEA.

Many physicians will require you to sign a contract in the USA.... That's not true in all states nor with all Physicians. If you are required to sign one read it carefully. Address anything that you don't understand or disagree with before you sign it. These contracts are designed to protect the Physician and Clinic and NOT the patient. We have little if any rights when it comes to these contracts.

What I have found is kind, understanding and astute Physicians which is extremely important always but even more so when you have CP.  I can't say enough about the importance of a good doctor - patient relationship! So I would be sure I  "clicked"  with the PMP.  If you don't, keep searching.

Numerous options were discussed during my initial appts with the PMP. We weighted the pros and cons to determine which one(s), if any would be beneficial in my particular circumstances.

I wish you the best with the PM appt. I hope you'll share your experience with us. We'll look forward to your updates.

Take Care and Good Luck,
~Tuck

[marycarmel]

I have fibro and can empathize with what you're dealing with.  I was diagnosed by my primary care doctor about 12 years ago.  Initially I was treated by my primary care and an orthopedic doctor.  Five years ago I had a joint replacement surgery in my thumb.  The implant they used was a failure across the board and I wound up having 9 more surgeries and developed RSD.  I asked for a referral to the pain clinic and for the most part, my experience was a good one.

Sherry gave you great information.  I just want to emphasize what she mentioned about the pain contract.  My pain clinic didn't have me sign one but after being there for a couple of years, I mentioned it.  I wanted things to be very clear.  The contract certainly protects the clinic but in some ways it's a benefit to the patient as well.  Sherry is right about making sure you understand and are very clear on the contract.  A lot of people have found themselves dismissed from a practice after breaking one of the rules inadvertently.

The other thing I'd mention is to also look into the medications and/or procedures that are recommended.  It's important to know the pros and cons of things.  For the most part, my experience has been positive with the pain clinic.  They have a much fuller understanding of chronic pain than other types of doctors.  They understand more about chronic pain and have more options available to them in treating it.

I'm not sure how long you've had fibro or how bad it is.  When I was first diagnosed, it was difficult.  I was lucky to get diagnosed as quickly as I did, but in the beginning I was overwhelmed with all the information on it and with all the different theories and treatments.  Eventually I found what works best for me.  After a couple of years I accepted that it's something I have to live with.  Some of the things I read were too extreme for me to consider.  I have a lot of minor issues with it but for the last ten years, I've found it very manageable.  I found that exercise was really beneficial.  I've had two bad flare-ups in the past few years and they both lasted quite a while but for the most part I've learned to not let it interfere with things.

I've found that when I exercise (and finding the right balance can be tricky,) eat reasonably healthy, and get proper sleep I can do pretty much what I always did.

Good luck with your pain clinic appointment.  

[namnam46]

Hi liz74715 -

First I want to tell you that I'm very sorry that I'm late to your post on here!!
  
I, also, want to welcome you to PM (Pain Management) Forum and let you know that we are very happy that you found us and posted on this Forum.  I see that you have been posting on the Thyroid Disorders Forum. That's what's so wonderful about MH is the fact that we have so many different Forums to choose from and we can post on one or two or all of them if we choose. :) ON this Forum we are all CP (chronic Pain) patients that help each other through our own experiences with pain. There are no Dr.'s on this Forum.

I'm so sorry to see what you have been going through with your pain.  Fibro is a very debilitating disease and I can only guess what you are experiencing with it!!

I have been going to a PM Clinic for over 2 years now and I love it. PM Clinics can differ from each other.  Some don't give meds, some give only non-narcotic meds and don't do procedures, some don't give any meds and only do Physical Therapy so you need to be sure that you aren't afraid to ask questions of the Dr. when you get.  Chances are that he will be happy to answer all of your questions that you have, most do. :)

The first thing that you will be asked to do is to sign a PM contract. Most PM Clinics require this of all of their patients.  It will, probably, stipulate that you use only one Pharmacy for all of your medications, that you will provide urine samples for drug testing periodically.  (Mine requires this approx. every three months or so. It just depends on the clinic, some require it on each visit.)  BE SURE THAT YOU READ IT CAREFULLY and ask questions on whatever you don't understand.  If you break this contract MOST Clinics can drop you immediately.  So that's why you need to be sure that you understand it.  

I have severe DDD and osteoarthrits.  I have had 3 hip implants and will have more.  My PM Cr. gives both narcotic meds as well as procedures. I have had 3 RFA's (Radio Frequency Ablation) that will "kill" the nerves by burning them so that the pain goes away.  This has helped 100% with the pain in my back.  They, also, do epidurals as well as many other procedures that can help with your pain.  In my PM clinic you are not required to have any of these procedures but in some clinics they do expect you to have at least some of them.  That's another reason to read the contract and to ask questions of the Dr.

My PM Dr. is and Anesthesiologist and is wonderful when it comes to pain relief. I'm on several different medications for my pain.  I have the Fentanyl Patches as well as Percocet 10/325 and Baclofen and Lyrica.  

The PM clinics are the best palces to go to get your pain under control so that you can live as close to a normal life as possible.  I fi didn't have my PM Dr. I would be in bed 95% of the time as I wouldn't be able to walk and move. I'm sure you know that feeling all too well!!  :(

I hope that I have been able to help you with your questions and if you have anything else you'd like to know just ask and I will try to help you. others will probably be along soon.  Unfortunately, not as many people are on line on the week-end as during the week.

Again, I'm so sorry that I didn't get to your question sooner!!

I'm so glad that you are posting on our Forum here and I hope that you will keep posting on here also, as you will be a great benefit to the PM Forum.

I want to add, in case you don't know, that there is also a Fibro Forum.  Of course, you are more than welcome to post there, but I do hope you will join this Forum also and be a regular contributor on here.

When is your appointment with your PM Clinic?

I'll be looking forward to your updates and I wish you the very best with your PM Clinic............Sherry  :).