chronic intractable pain

Dr. Smith · 07-04-2012, 07:10 AM

How're YOU doin'?

Doc

ginnie · 07-04-2012, 07:22 AM

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

Dr. Smith · 07-04-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ginnie

I interviewed 4 doctors that specialized in pain management. The one I picked was also a physiasist.

All this time I've been thinking that's a misspelling physiatrist, so I google: physiasist, and lo & behold, it pops up a few hundred too many times to be just misspellings, but I can't find a definition for it.

So is it a different specialty, or a different term for the same specialty (and if so, is it an Anglo/American or Euro/American thing or what?) or is it misspelled/misunderstood(?) that often?

I'm befused.

Doc

ginnie · 07-04-2012, 08:44 AM

I didn't get the spelling wrong. I took it off my doctors card. She said that this field is getting more attention. Her name is Dr. Simon, she is boardcertified. She combines pain management With nutional help, suppliments. The reasoning behind this, is to address the problems at a cellular level. It was my pharmasist, who gave me insite to this particular field. I had four docs on my list to interview. When I found this doctor, I knew I found someone good right away. She does provide pain support, and has led me to another orthopedic specialist. That is where I found out I should not get the surgery for my ankle. she saved me Lots of pain. When I googled it up for local doctors who are board certified in this, I did not find anyone else. I don't know how recent this branch of medicine is. She has several other letters after the MD. I think it is helping me Doc. ginnie

Sally Mae · 07-04-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

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

Thank you for the links doc. You just saved me some time from googling the procedure myself. I hope the RFA procedure is less painful than the cortisone injections I had. I did not care for those at all.

Dr. Smith · 07-04-2012, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sally Mae

Thank you for the links doc.

Just a reminder that a couple of those links are places that do the procedure, so their websites may be a form of "marketing". They looked like good explanations, but I have no idea how much "rose-colored paint" they may or may not be adding to the picture.

Doc

Sally Mae · 07-12-2012, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Smith

Just a reminder that a couple of those links are places that do the procedure, so their websites may be a form of "marketing". They looked like good explanations, but I have no idea how much "rose-colored paint" they may or may not be adding to the picture.

Doc

Things are on hold with pain management. I am waiting for the pain management clinic to verify the referral from my MD. I have to call again since it's been a week. It's frustrating dealing with office staff that don't seem to 'have it together'. Being in pain and not feeling well is bad enough. Having to struggle to get the care you need in a timely manner is exhausting at times.

Dr. Smith · 07-13-2012, 01:00 AM

Yeah, that's what I call 'medical inertia'. It takes considerable effort to get the process in place and moving, but hopefully, once it is, things will go more smoothly, and require less effort to maintain momentum.

Doc

Sally Mae · 08-07-2012, 05:46 PM

As I'm waiting for my facet injection procedure date, I sustained another whiplash injury. I had to slam on the brakes on the freeway when the car in front of me came to a dead stop. It was so close......probably less than an inch from his bumper when I stopped. I was thrown forward and back again from the sudden stop and it totally messed up my neck. Also triggered a monster migraine several hours after the injury. I can hardly turn my neck from side to side now because my muscles are in such bad spasm from the whiplash.

I was just at the spine surgeon's office to have x rays done and found out that my C4 vertebrae is out of alignment. The x-rays also show bone spurs on C4- C7 that weren't there 6 months ago. I feel worse than ever with the neck pain and can't wait to get the procedure done. We don't even know for sure if it's going to work. I don't want to be disabled. I've worked so hard to try to have a career, went back to school etc. I feel like my health issues are destroying my chance of having a normal life. The harder I try to fix my health problems, more problems seem to occur. I'm trying to hang in there but I feel like the odds are stacked against me. This work absence may cost me my job if my medical leave doesn't get approved. Feeling pretty down right about now and in a lot of pain.

ginnie · 08-07-2012, 08:21 PM

Sorry you sustained the injury when you already hurt. Hope that the injection works for you. Many people have good outcomes. if it doesn't however, I would go to another protocal, and not repete that particular proceedure. I know about taking two steps forward in life, only to have to take a step back. Nothing is easy these days. I sure hope your life can keep on track and allow you to continue with all success. ginnie

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