OK...I'm new but bear with me....I'm a 51 year old on pain mgmt for 20 plus years.....I had a bad accident that not only put me in hospital for 4 1/2 mos...but I broke my back...femur in 13pieces...ankle...arm wrist dislocated shoulder...2 body casts and many years later...I have 70%loss of height at l1....9 herniated discs...failed knee replacement and way too many other things to type...re pain mngmt... I live in Florida... so VERY difficult here...for 6 years I was on high doses of actiq n oxy...weened myself of oxy...but when I had to move to Hutchinson Island...north of west palm....for three years its been almost impossible to find a Dr who gets it....they're all terrified here...when I left n fla... I was on 360 ...1200micrograms a month...docn iI knew it had to be reduced....but since moving here 3 years ago...current Dr has me on 100 duragesic and 4 #10 Perce a day...last appt I said I was not living...prior did small potted gardening...occasionally walked on the beach...maybe even dinner with hubby...after 2 years in bed...I at least make it to the couch...but only leave twice a month to Dr....last appt I asked to go from 6>4 hours on the Percs... he looked at me as if I asked for heroin... said I was on highest meds in his office....my quality of life is in the neg... did a DNA test to ck how I metabolize meds...I want to scream...LOOK AT MY MED HISTORY...someone help...I feel like giving up...sick of defending myself....didn't know where else to turn rill I stumbled on this site...sorry for rant...any suggestions appreciated....peace all....d

something that helped me was seeing a shrink ... for pain management ... saw him for 3 yrs and it was the best thing I ever did.. good luck

Hi, I live in Florida too. I have heard a lot of people talk about difficulty finding a good PM Dr. I don't know if I can say I'm lucky or if I am just in the right program because I am very satisfied with all my Dr.'s.

I haven't changed Dr.'s except 1 time in the very beginning when I started seeing a Ortho. Surgeon, I decided to switch to a PM Dr. with in their group of doctors. I have been with them since and have no issues and am very happy I have all of them.

I've also heard of people changing PM Dr.'s a lot and it seems that those people are mostly the ones who have problems finding a PM because they keep searching for one who will understand their medicine needs.

I hope I never have a problem where I am right now and I wish you success in finding a PM that will work with you so you can have more quality of life.

I'm up in Mn & I have had terrible luck w/pain management ended up weining myself off after 10+ yrs off strong meds b/c I was referred to one of those pay for scripts... Billed ins for dr services.. Never saw a dr only nurse practictioner... Tests billed never had done.. Out of state. Reported it to insurance & now I've given up. & i cant take pain & chronic fatigue ... I don't know where or what to do

Hi Pamd,

Before I began seeing a pain mgt. doc, my only info on them was what I saw on the news on the television. Something similar to what you describe. I was under the impression they were nothing more than a pill factory for people that did not have pain but wanted scripts for pain drugs.

When my PCP suggested that I see a pain mgt. doc, and referred me to a specific doc, I was very hesitant based on my perception of them from the news casts I had seen on TV.

I felt sure that my PCP of many years would not be steering me to some pill factory so I went. Best thing that I have done. I could not have found a more sympathetic, caring, doctor that listens to his patients and does whatever it takes to help alleviate their pain. My guy is a board certified anesthesiologist and board certified pain mgt. doctor.

Pain meds make me sick. He is treating me with nerve blocks that have been very beneficial to me.

It sounds like you are caught between two opposing types of pain clinics, those portrayed on the news and ones that are reputable but very reluctant to prescribed any oral pain meds.

I hope you can find one that is in the middle of the spectrum, one that is not only reputable, but will also prescribe the proper treatment, including oral pain meds if that is what the patient needs for restoring some quality of life.

Good luck to you.

Dear deedee ocean,

I, too, like Moonstar54, have heard others from Florida have difficulty finding a good pain mgt. doc. Keep looking for one that will help you.

I am so sorry to hear what you have been through. Your frustration is understandable. Wishing you better days and a successful search for someone to help you.

Pain Management doctor can become your best friend. You just have to be patient and find the right one. The first two I went to were pill pushers. I actually had a woman who kept nodding off while checking one day. I told the receptionist that doc needs to cut back on that woman's pills. That was the last time I went to that office. The third office I went to was a charm. They have the best staff and don't just freely give stuff away.

What can you tell me about how pain management can help me?

First I have to find what they can do for me without the strong pain medication. Then and only then can I decide if I want to go to a pain management clinic at a hospital that can keep my pain under control without having miss out on everyday life events.

guess what i am saying is, I want to live my life and control my pain too

Any guidance from you all will greatly be appreciated.

God Bless you all!