Absolutely! We pay them and they work for us? And to do that to a patient that is really struggling with health issues is unconscienable. He says "oh you're healthy you'll be fine". I don't think I'm healthy. A healthy person does not have great difficulty doing basic self cares due to pain from a chronic health condition. A healthy person does not have to cancel social engagements repeatedly because of the pain she is in or because she knows she won't be able to keep up with the rest of the group due to pain. Also, a healthy person does not miss work frequently because there are days where the pain is so bad that she can't move or think clearly. A life that's been changed that drastically by pain is not the life of a "healthy' person.

Thank you Ginnie. I'm glad you found one that will listen. So your doctor didn't question the amount of pain medication you need to control your symptoms? That's what they've been doing to me. When I tell them I still wake up in pain several times a night and have bad pain when I get up for the day (don't feel rested) they don't accept what I'm telling them. The response is "I don't understand why you still have that much pain". "Oh you shouldn't need to be taking that much pain medication." Too much is only 40 mg to get symptoms under control. They're disbelief is so frustrating to hear! I say "I don't understand either why my pain is not improved but that's why I'm here, duh!" The lyrica dose they put me on is now making me like a zombie since it got doubled. I cannot function taking this much lyrica. It has helped with my migraine but it still does nothing for my nerve pain/neck pain even after doubling the dosage.

I am going to a walk-in clinic today that a friend recommended. I'm hoping that they will address my issue short term and refer me to someone who can help for longer term care.

Sally Mae,

That could be construed as "doctor shopping".

The preferred way is to ask for a referral for/to Pain Management (PM), keeping your other doctors in the loop ahead of time, and then seek out a PM specialist.

N.B. I think the specialty Ginnie means is physiatrist
http://www.aapmr.org/patients/aboutp...ysiatrist.aspx
or google: physiatrist

Good pain management doctors can come from other areas of medicine too. You'll find that some PM doctors do/will not prescribe opioid pain medications; this is sometimes referred to as Interventional Pain Management
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post888177-23.html

The above link also has some information on how to find a good pain management clinic/doctor for you.

Doc

I do hope you can find another physician. However going to a walk in clinic, you will not be satisfied and helped enough. You do need a pain specialist, that deals with this all the time. This is the best route to getting some help. No regular doctors these days, want to prescrible meds on a regular basis in this type of clinic. You don't want a fly by night kind of place either.
I interviewed 4 doctors that specialized in pain management. The one I picked was also a physiasist. Yes she prescribed enough, and lets me decide. I am allowed 4 per day. I usually stick with one unless I am really on my feet a long time. I do take another, twice a day, and have for the past few years. Again, I do hope you all the best. Bring all your records, and keep a pain chart if possible. Pain specialists, do like it whn you record your symptoms, what makes it worse, times, duration etc. ginnie

Sorry you are going through that with your back. I am fused C3-7. I don't usually recommend any kind of medication, but there are those that do not give you side effects at all. No light head, or sleepy feelings. I take MS Contin, and have for many years. I have not needed to up the medicaton, and it works most of all. I was increased gradually until some relief was found. I hope you ask your doctor about this medication as a possible alternative for you. Tylenol, does have liver problems assiciated with it. I have stomach issues, and this medication has not hurt me. Please let us know how you do. You have been through alot, and I wish your surgeries had turned out better. ginnie

Thanks all on the response.

Ginnie as to MS Contin. I am not familiar with this medication. One thing and I am not sure if I included this in the post or not, but I am limited on medications as to what I can take. Because of being born with one kidney and having kidney disease in the one I have some medications are off limits for me. I have a feeling MS Contin I could probably take but need clearance on that from doctors.

I am seeing a neurologist and really thinking of changing doctors. Not sure if I will a Pain doctor or another neurologist that specializes in pain is still up in the air. I'm seeing who is on my plan that I feel is best qualified to handle me since every doctor that I see says I am a complicated case.

I feel like I live my life as ok which doctor do I see next and that is where my world revolves around. Just trying to survive each day.

Anyway I appreciate all the input and support from everyone. I feel I can only talk to someone that is in my shoes, no one else seems to understand where I am coming from ...............

I hope you find the doctors you need, so you don't have to look around for another one. That is hard to do, and I have had to do this as well. I have a pain specialist, and neurologist. The pain doctor is new after being with another one for the last 5 years. I hated to look around, and interviewed 3 before I found this one, who is also a Physiatrist. She takes the whole body into consideration, not just the pain problem. She is an MD of course, but the Physiatist, is another branch of medicine, that tries to use vitamines and gets you into a healthy state.
This med. that I mentioned is morphine in low dose. I really get no side effects at all from it, yet it controls the pain pretty good. I also have to be careful as I have barretts esophagus, that started with Gerds. I can't take the meds. that upset my stomach. It is a big decision to go on any narcotic, and this one is no exception. You have to commit yourself to be very careful and follow the directions exactly. You can't skip doses, or just take it when you want.
I really hope you find both a doctor, and medication that will work for you. take care, ginnie

MS Contin (also available generically) is continuous release morphine sulphate, which is metabolized in the liver. As I think you observed, there's really no way to tell how you (or anyone) will do on any pain medication without trying it, and carefully titrating to establish an effective dose with tolerable side effects. That could take some time, but that's just the way those things go.

It's possible to find/have a pain management doctor with a background in neurology, but there's nothing that should preclude you from having more than one doctor on your team. Again, it can take some time and considerable effort to build a team that's the right fit, but many of us can tell you it is soooo worth it. I think most of us have multiple doctors, but that's a personal choice of whether you prefer multiple perspectives or are more comfortable with one doctor managing all (a role usually filled by the PCP). There are no right/wrong answers there, but in this day of specialization, the latter may be a challenge to find, especially in a limited plan pool.

Many of us know, and can relate to, the "guinea pig complex" well, and the unpredictable, unreliable life of one day at a time.

Doc

Hi all. I've been doing some research looking for another physician that may be able to deal with my pain issue.

I looked at the directory from my insurance company and found a list of doctors that deal in "Pain Management."

I found a number listed in Philadelphia, Pa itself. I live in Jersey but can take a train and be in Philadelphia in about 1/2 hour. So it is convenient.

I found one doctor that is affiliated with a major teaching hospital in Philadelphia. Two of my other doctors are at the same location and it is a great hospital. So between their reputation and having been a patient there I am confident in the facility.

When I normally try and find a doctor I usually look for several things. First I usually do like a recommendation from someone else but when that is not possible I look at the following: I look at how long they have been around; who they are affiliated with; undergraduate work; medical school; fellowship etc.

This one doctor is listed under Anesthesioligy with interests in Pain Management. His interests revolve around spine related issues. As to undergraduate education he went to Yale; Medical School NYU Medical School and did his residency at the same hospital that he is now affiliated with.

On paper he looks good. I've run across some instances where on paper they look good and then meeting them it was another story.

What criteria do you all look forward when evaluating a physician. I know beyond the above I wont know till I meet them. And then it comes down to ability to listen; communicate etc.

Any opinions/suggestions. Thansk for listening.


Allan

We do pretty much all those same things. Sounds like you've got it pretty well covered, and I agree with your comments/observations. I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but I haven't had any sleep.

Just did (think of something). Another thing we look for is any disciplinary actions, complaints, etc. I don't recall how/where; my better half does most of that for us.

FWIW, Angie's List, a pay rating/review service (NAYY) is rating/reviewing doctors now. They haven't been doing medical professionals for very long, so they may not have a lot yet, but it's growing.

Several of our doctors are also affiliated w/ the same major teaching/med center, which has advantages in that all our records, etc. are right there on the same system.

Now if we could only get them to talk to each other!

Doc