Hi! I am rather new here and understand the time taken to be able to get to see a real pain management doc and the thoughts and fears...

I also understand not wanting to sound or appear to be a 'druggie' or a 'drug seeker' I have found that in pain mgmt, they are able to tell alot on the first visit, I would think I felt that way on my first visit.

I have found the most benifit to a visit with pm and all is for me honesty and I have a tendency to ramble as it is when going to the doctor and 5 seconds out the door realize that I have forgotten some major or even the main purpose of the visit. This for me is so frustrating.

I find that writing down the important things you are seeking from the pain management doc that a regular MD has not been able to have after all efforts of trial, been unable to help you manage your pain.

I also took with me the names and numbers of all current physcians currently seeing and a list of all medications currently prescribed, from the names of the current docs.

Mostly I would just as you put it here, what in our history of chronic pain you have tried and had no success with including otc meds, if any specific meds caused you bad side effects, and which meds taken in your past that you did feel some response to yet not relief enought for you to have a quality of life to date from those, and the benifits that may have helped the most, only not quite enough. What your taking now and lack of response to and the difference you are now feeling on the current meds and from this they may be able to help determine which specific class of pain relievers seem from your history had the best response, yet would give the pm doc something to find that in that class that may be the one that will really provide you with relief.

I have found that pm doc know of meds for me or names of similar meds taken with no results, I had never even heard of and yet tried and had success or no response, I wish you the best, and know how hard of work it can take to just get your foot in the door... It took and still does take a lot of monthly trials and errors and changes to find the combo that benifits you the best. I wish you the best of luck in finding answers or solutions to the pain you suffer from. Best wishes-