Pain Management Specialist - My New "Best Friend"

General
1

I started seeing a pain mgmt specialist a couple of months ago because the Hydrocodone my Rheumy gave me was just laughing at my pain. My body had gotten used to it. I was very wary about these places, but my office is staffed by legitimate MDs, most of them anesthesiologists. They are concerned about managing my pain and not pushing pills. It has been a great experience for me. Although the stronger meds do make me a little more tired than I ALREADY am, it has given me a better quality of life. Hopefully, once my CellCept and Plaquenil kick in, I won’t need them any more. :slight_smile:

I just wanted to share this for anyone who is struggling with uncontrolled pain like I was.

2

what are You on? i need to find one if these places but I'm scared I'll be judged for Going

3

My oldest son saw a pain management doctor who was also an anesthesiologist and he was wonderful.

Glad you found someone you're happy with. Best of luck.

Sharon

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Taesra, I will PM you to answer your question about my medications.



I just want to let people like you know that there is hope for people like me for whom the joint and muscle pain is unbearable and keeps us in bed. I was also afraid to be judged, but the thought only crossed my mind for a while. First of all, no one has to know unless you tell them, and besides, I don’t know about you, but I’m at a point in my life where I really don’t care what people think about me! It is MOST important for me to be kind to myself, and if that means visiting a doctor who specializes in pain management, then so be it.



I am certain that there are people who go there just to get drugs, however, you and I don’t fall into that category. Therefore, we should not be ashamed! We are just trying to get relief.



MY STORY, in a nutshell:

Hopefully I won’t need the pain docs forever. I was newly diagnosed with Unspecified Connective Tissue Disorder (probably Lupus) about 3 months ago. Right before that I had finished my prerequisites for nursing school, gotten an academic scholarship and been accepted to the program. I was so thrilled with my accomplishments, and ready to start this new phase of my life. BTW, I am a 38 yr-old mom to a 3rd grader and a wife. The month before I was to begin I had to decline my spot in the program due to my pain, all of the meds I was taking and the fatigue. It just hit me so suddenly and so HARD. There was no way that I could maintain the standards of the program and take the rigors of nursing school feeling like THIS. So here I am, taking a year off to find the right med for me, hoping to be well enough to apply for next January’s class. Prednisone made me suicidal (no joke), methotrexate made my hair start to fall out and still didn’t work for me. Now I am on CellCept. This is my second month. My point is, once I find a med that works for me that gets me out of this state of CONSTANT flare, then I won’t need the strong pain meds. So don’t be ashamed, and TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! :slight_smile:



P.S. Do some research on the office and doctors before you go. Make sure the docs are board certified.



Hugs and kisses to all who are hurting and feel alone,

Athena

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P.S. Thank you for your well-wishes, Ann A and redwingfan. XOXO

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Did you need a doctor to refer youto the pain mgt doctor?

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Athena,

Will you PM me too......? I'll have to get a pain guy again once medicare kicks in and it worries me too....

Athena said:

Taesra, I will PM you to answer your question about my medications.

I just want to let people like you know that there is hope for people like me for whom the joint and muscle pain is unbearable and keeps us in bed. I was also afraid to be judged, but the thought only crossed my mind for a while. First of all, no one has to know unless you tell them, and besides, I don't know about you, but I'm at a point in my life where I really don't care what people think about me! It is MOST important for me to be kind to myself, and if that means visiting a doctor who specializes in pain management, then so be it.

I am certain that there are people who go there just to get drugs, however, you and I don't fall into that category. Therefore, we should not be ashamed! We are just trying to get relief.

MY STORY, in a nutshell:
Hopefully I won't need the pain docs forever. I was newly diagnosed with Unspecified Connective Tissue Disorder (probably Lupus) about 3 months ago. Right before that I had finished my prerequisites for nursing school, gotten an academic scholarship and been accepted to the program. I was so thrilled with my accomplishments, and ready to start this new phase of my life. BTW, I am a 38 yr-old mom to a 3rd grader and a wife. The month before I was to begin I had to decline my spot in the program due to my pain, all of the meds I was taking and the fatigue. It just hit me so suddenly and so HARD. There was no way that I could maintain the standards of the program and take the rigors of nursing school feeling like THIS. So here I am, taking a year off to find the right med for me, hoping to be well enough to apply for next January's class. Prednisone made me suicidal (no joke), methotrexate made my hair start to fall out and still didn't work for me. Now I am on CellCept. This is my second month. My point is, once I find a med that works for me that gets me out of this state of CONSTANT flare, then I won't need the strong pain meds. So don't be ashamed, and TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! :-)

P.S. Do some research on the office and doctors before you go. Make sure the docs are board certified.

Hugs and kisses to all who are hurting and feel alone,
Athena
8

Athena,

I was seeing a pain management doc after a back injury that left me unable to walk for quite a while in 2001. It is not just pushing pills and I am uncertain why so many people believe that is the case. I have a spinal stimulator that sends small shocks to my spine to interrupt the pain signal to the brain (no pills) I had hydrotherapy, massage therapy and rehab after my surgeries...all before the quite lovely diagnosis of lupus and Virtually everything thta could possibly go with it. I have been on meds as well as the other therapies for 12 years. That said, I have nephritis, which I am assured is due to the lupus but after 12 years, my liver is fine, my stomach only mildly irritated. It's because these doctors in almost all circumstances are anesthesiologists who may have a PA that works with them as well. In NV, ONLY my pain mgt doc can prescribe any narcotic management and having been through nuerosurgeons, orthopeadic surgeons, etc. I can tell you, unless pain mgt is your specialty, they just don't get it. Every visit to the hospital is a nightmare and a half because "that's not what the books say". A pain specialist is going to look at you as an individual and for crying out loud this site alone should let you know how different we all are. Why would we feel pain the same or take the same med? Duh!? I know that I have mentioned seeing one of these specialists before and sort of got ignored and I understand there is a stigma, but something I heard many years ago when my ex-husband was throwing this in my face, and I really was feeling week...

My doctor told me it's very similar to a diabetic in that the diabetic in NOT addicted (and by the way the rate for addiction from true pain sufferers very low) but is DEPENDANT on the medicine for a somewhat normal quality of life. Very same issue for a sufferer of chronic pain. I have been with my current doc for almost 4 yrs and we switch up about every 6 months- 1 year as my body becomes immune to the pain managing properties. Occaisionally, injections can help, but between, SLE, DLE, Fibro, Nephritis, Nerve issues (this just diagnosed yesterday) pins and needles there isn't much that doesn't hurt. When you are in pain your BP rises, your pulse rises, your appetite wanes, you lose interest in things and basically uncontrolled pain can kill you because of the stresses it puts on your body. They are specialists just like any other specializing physician. They go to extra schooling.

Athena,

If you do need it THERE IS NO SHAME! I absolutely refuse to allow anyone tell me what I should be feeling just as you should take whatever they say for the ignorance it is.

For Taesra, who needs to know? Besides, ask them what they are on? BP med, sleep aid, whatever, it is all to improve quality of life. We can take meds to improve quantity by why bother if you are miserable.

These docs are highly scrutinized by the states that they are licensed in, and most are not about pills or meds, it's about Pain Management!

Good for you,

Hope this helps you feel so much better.

DeAnne

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I have to say, I agree with DeAnne. I was surprised when I read that some of you are afraid to go or afraid of being judged, etc... When my son was sent to a pain management doctor, it was because his other doctors couldn't find a reason for the pain, and he was a teenager and taking way too many narcotics (which were barely helping the pain anyhow). He was sent there not for narcotic prescriptions, but to see if there was a way to get him BETTER pain relief. So, I feel just the opposite about pain management. I think that they are interested in figuring out where/what the problem is and helping you get it under control.

I sincerely hope that any of you who need a pain mgmt doctor will get a great one, and that they can help you feel better. You have chronic pain that needs to be managed. A pain mgmt doc specializes in pain.To me, it's no different than seeing a dermatologist for a skin rash. :)

Sharon

10

This is very good to hear. When i was first diagnosed in 1990, pain management specialists were all about herbal remedies, meditation and NO medication. They treated patients like it was in their head. I have heard secondhand that pain doctors now work with actual meds and are more of the MD variety. This gives me hope. My pain has been mind bending and shattering to my body, and docs have been increasingly afraid to prescribe things like hydrocodone and have wanted me to “learn to tolerate” pain as my lot in life and just get used to it. Thankfully, i have been able to drastically decrease my pain meds just in the last month after my 5th Benlysta treatment, but i am still not able to be pain free and do need to take the pain pills. I have been so afraid of having to live in excruciating pain, which would render me completely disabled and unable to function, but i now have hope that there will be help out there if the Benlysta does not completely eliminate the need for pain medication. Thank you so much for posting about your experience and to the others, too, who are having similar experiences as you with the new breed of pain management doctors. I can’t tell you how relieved i am to read all this.

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I’m so glad I read this. I’m really in awful pain and my now ex never wanted me to go. That’s Ben 7 years ago…and two suicide attempts due to the agony I was in. Thank you. I’m not a weak person, just was alone and tired. I’m getting great tips here .

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I was wary of pain docs at first because of the mis-infomation that I received about them. Your responsibility as a patient is to be your own best advocate and do a bit of research on the office and docs within that office (are they board certified?).

@abooker1022, My Rhuematologist referred me to this pain mgmt group. I live near Houston, TX and see a Rheumy near the Med Center. This group is located right up the street, still in the Med Center area, which helped to give them credibility in my mind. Usually the best of the best are at the Houston Medical Center. I know I’m probably biased, so don’t slam me!!! :slight_smile: LOL! I did need a referral to go.

@tinkerbell, @Lone Wolf, There’s no need to suffer! I am so happy that I have gotten more of my life back, going this route.

I wish all of you health and happiness today, and remember to BE KIND TO YOURSELF, any way you can.

I’ll be happy to answer any other questions.

HUGS,
Athena

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@tinkerbell, Pain can make you not want to live anymore. I understand. Especially if the physical pain is compounded by emotional pain.

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Tinkerbell,

Believe me, even with some of the pain meds early on, due to seeing the wrong doctors and not specialists, I did get were you were. Again, why extend life if it is a life so filled with pain that you are homebound and unable to enjoy life. I was so incredibly active in my early years...my doctor thinks what I have now is due to a case of Mono when I was 12. Years of nothing and then BAM! But there is hope, do not give up. I also recommend that you might as your doc about Cymbalta, both pain mgt and an anti-depressant. It has helped me and it is prescribed by my pain mgt doc. I have no problem with people asking what I am on as it changes so very often as your body gets used to the medications. Sometimes, going to what is considered a milder medication because the body is unused to it works well again. Again, while the stigma, especially from people who have never had a true pain issue is unfortunate, but based on ignorance is no reason whatsoever not to take care of yourself. Heat wraps, warm baths, a moisturizing heating pad like the one I live on, and there are some great herbal teas and supplements that help also...make sure your doc knows exactly what you are taking.

You are worth taking care of.

XOXO,

DeAnne


tinkerbell said:

I'm so glad I read this. I'm really in awful pain and my now ex never wanted me to go. That's Ben 7 years ago..and two suicide attempts due to the agony I was in. Thank you. I'm not a weak person, just was alone and tired. I'm getting great tips here .
15

I see a pain management specialist and they are very helpful although it is difficult at times to juggle the side effects of pain medicines yet find something that works. I do feel sorry for these doctors because they do have to decide who has legitimate pain and who has an addictive personality but they are willing to try almost anything reasonable. I've been going for a little over a year - the only bad thing is that I must go in once a month and that along with my other appointments gets a little overwhelming. I guess another bad thing is the gatekeepers at the front desk. The doctor at one point told me to just called if I needed to add in a prescription. The front desk refused to even take a message and said I had to make an appointment.

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Thank you for the advice of getting a pain mgt doctor. I havebeen referred to a pain clinic and will aee them on the 20th!!! May I ask what you are taking that works so well? I cannot take hydrocodone and anything less is useless. Thanks again!