For whatever reason there seem to be a lot of doctors that just don't listen well to their patients. I think doctors need to be more attuned to what we (the patients) go through. I've been dealing with chronic pain for 6 years now. I went through ACDF surgery this past December after being told that it would 'fix' my pain. Well it didn't and know I have even more problems than I had before. I feel like I've been jumping through hoops for years now trying to get relief and it's just not happening. I've done chiropractic, P.T., acupuncture, etc. etc. but I still have horrible muscles spasms in my neck and shoulders. My neurologist volunteered to take over my pain management from the surgeon who did my ACDF. The problem is he doesn't listen to me (or believe me) when I tell him how significant my pain still is. He is forcing me to cut my pain medication down suddenly by 2/3 of what I am used to taking. I tried to tell him that's too much of a reduction, at once but he won't listen. Actually hung up the phone while I was still talking to him. So now here I sit still in pain and feeling ill from medication withdrawal too due to having my dosage being cut so drastically at once. I want to find another doctor but don't know where to begin. How do I find someone who will listen to me?

I am so sorry that your doctor will not listen. Try a physiosist. They can and do treat for pain. My doctor I researched along with four others. Believe me I interviewed them, not them interview me. My quality of life is at stake, and I needed pain meds. just like you do. She was very attentive right from the start. I do get pain control. In fact, she gave more than what I am using. I have the choice if I want to take extra or not. Please try this kind of physician, and start interviewing, psysiosist, or a pain specialist. Good doctors are around if you look. Bring your meds with you to appts. and a chart if you can to document all your symptoms. I hope you find the help you need. I wish you all the best. Let me know what happens. ginnie

I agree that a doctor has to have the ability to LISTEN & communicate. I don't care how good a doctor maybe if he lacks the ability to listen and communicate then I move on. A doctor not only needs to be a good doctor but one who communicates. I don't want to walk out of an office visit still feeling like I have a million questions and no answer. I understand they have busy schedules but we as patients need reassurance as well as to what is going on with our health.

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.

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.

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

Dr. Smith,

If the intent is to achieve long term resolution of the problem, it shouldn't be construed as 'dr shopping'. Also, why should a patient have to suffer in the interim because a physician refuses to listen to them? I told my doctor that the new medication he prescribed was not working on my pain and he ignored my statement telling me "I would be fine". Well I'm not fine. That's why I'm looking for a new doctor.

Whether it should or shouldn't isn't the issue. Without informing any of your current doctors of your intent -- your PCP in particular -- it could be construed that way, and it is far easier to get ON a list of doctor shoppers than it is to get OFF of one.

If you have a physician who does not listen and hangs up the phone on you, then IMO, you don't have the right doctor for you, and you should find another. Going to a walk-in clinic cold and asking for pain meds (regardless of whether you're asking for a referral to another doctor) is, IMO not the way to do this.

A better way, IMO, is to explain the situation to your PCP (who is the one to coordinate all other care) what is going on and request a referral from him/her for pain management, AND another neurologist -- this one isn't working out. Your PCP should be familiar with all of your records and medical history, and therefore, be the one to address your issue short term and refer you to someone who can help for longer term care.

Google: how to find a good pain management doctor

Did you go to the clinic, and if so, what happened?

Doc

Dr. Smith,

I went to a new primary care physician and I really lucked out because this new doctor took a lot of time to answer my questions and discuss my concerns. I also received a referral to pain management. I feel that this new doctor is going to continue to provide much better care than I have been receiving. He suggested that I take my MRI's to the pain mgmt doc and talk with them about radiographic neural abrasion as a treatment option. He thought it may be a better solution for the ongoing problem with my muscle spasms/pain.

I still have a ways to go in terms of finding a migraine prophylactic med that works and has tolerable side effects. I ended up stopping the lyrica because the drowsiness/brain fog was causing too much interference with my ability to focus on my work during the day. I don't have all the answers yet but at least I feel I can trust my PCP to listen to me and be accessible when questions/concerns arise.

That sounds much better; I hope things work out!

I got lucky with my PCP too; he has 20+ yrs in PM, communicates well (both ways), and has been very open to my ideas/input. He acknowledges that patients often know their own bodies, and more about their conditions, than the doctors that treat them.

Assembling the right interdisciplinary team is paramount for pain patients, and the right PCP is the cornerstone/quarterback of the medical branch (shown in blue) of that team.

The procedure suggested by your new PCP is also known as Radiofrequency (or RF) ablation and sometimes as facet rhizotomy.

I found these other links describing it as well:
http://www.aradiology.com/procedures...ion/index.html
http://www.eorthopod.com/content/rad...uency-ablation

From these four links (and where they may lead, along with Google) you should be able to glean enough information to be able to talk to your doctors about this procedure, and how it relates to your individual situation, in order to be able to make an informed decision.

We're in the same boat as far as finding a good migraine prophylactic. After enough years, I've pretty much given up, and continue to fight the battles w/ ins. for enough abortives. I have gotten some relief with some PT exercises and changes in diet & lifestyle -- enough to reduce my frequency to below chronic (<15/month).

Your new PCP should be able to help you with referrals, but I've found I still have to do my own homework in finding the specialists I want to see (PCPs recommendations didn't always work out -- not his fault), and then my PCP will give me the referral to see them. It's a lot of work, but again, having the right team of professionals in your corner makes a HUGE difference in the care you get.

Best Wishes,

Doc