Like I stated I did the pain program well for 4 days out of 4 weeks but 8 hours a day with a similar plan like you are stating at cleveland clinic. The reason I stopped cause my pain was so high and they wanted me to get a procedure. It was my choice to go to this program. Anyhow I don't regret going at all though it was not right for me. There was more to it then just like OT in terms of housework but trying to find things you can do in life or learning how to do past things in a new way. The group therapy was not about sucking it up but more about the emotions one feels towards living like this and how it impacts your family etc. I have a friend who was ordered by her WC to do a program like this and she was so set against it and after she did the program it helped her so much. I know it is frustrating for you but I hope that it can benefit you even in 1 way.

Well, I do rant before thinking, but I usually think before acting. I reread the agreement they sent me to sign (which had the tone of a court order for parole) and realized that I have serious concerns over a good portion of it. But rather than push any of the issues right now, I think I'll wait until my appointment with the doctor on the 27th.

Since she's the one who initiated this whole thing, I'll at least give her a chance to explain this a little better and to answer my questions. As it stands now, my obligations to them are painstakingly spelled out by some attorney, but their written description of what they will do for me is so vague that I could be spending 48 hours learning how to be a balloon artist for all I know.

Right now, this really looks like a one-size-fits-all type of program, and that's not going to be focused on PN. If it were designed for people with our problems, I would be much more on board. But again, I'll let the doctor have a chance once more to sell it.

And to anyone who has offered their opinion: thank you, and it might seem like I didn't listen to all points of view, but I honestly did consider what everyone had to say. That's why I brought the question here.

[QUOTE=JoanB;644327]Well, having gone to the three required evaluations, I just got a letter from the pain management doctor announcing (big surprise here) that their team of experts has determined that I would benefit from their program.

***I cannot imagine what your insurance premium must be like. When I got the referral to PT, I went a grand total of twice. That's it. She gave me the exercises, time passed, I did them (not as frequently as she would have liked), went back and she checked my progress and that's it. Two sessions.

***One distinction I noted was my PT is a neuro PT. It is an area of specialization and she knew a lot about the disease.

CB

A few years ago i went to have an epidural steroid shot in the cervical spine as a test/treatment for the broken bones feeling in my feet when i stand or walk. The doctor who was doing it was part of a pain center in a hospital and they wanted me to sign papers that they were the only ones who could prescribe me anything with substances such as hydrocodone, codeine(which i get prescriptions once in a while from my pulmonary doctor) or that i would have to get their permission to fill any prescriptions from pulmonary doctor etc. and that i had to give them the name of my pharmacy and i could use only that pharmacy for all my prescriptions even for things like anti biotics. I told them i didnt want any pain medication prescriptions from them that im there for a shot only. Anyway it went back and forth. I got the shot, it was a big mistake by the way, it increased my pain exponentially and still has to this day. The whole experience left a very negative taste to me.

You bring up a good point, cowboy. We do, in fact, have what they call a "Cadillac" policy. I get 35 PT units per year. Some cynical people might suspect that that's the reason these people think I'm such a perfect candidate for their program. I wonder what conclusion they would come to if it were you...which, if I'm correct, is reprehensible and immoral of them, but that's another discussion.

And daniella, I really do believe that while your program was about what you said, this OT description explicitly says "Use of proper body mechanics (ways to move and lift) to prevent or reduce pain." And that's what I'm saying--that kind of stuff does not address my problems.

Please believe me, I'm not anti-PT. I've had it for:

• A broken ankle: appropriate treatment
• An injured back: appropriate treatment
• A hip replacement: appropriate treatment

But they're gonna have to give me concrete examples of what these things are that will help me before I deem this appropriate treatment.

Jannaw, you said Exactly! In the description, it says that this program is flexible, yet in reality it's all or nothing and cram-packed full of rigid schedules and rules (opposite of flexible). If they offered an option to choose the parts you want, I might be a little more open to it. Speaking of opposite world, the letter indicates that this program consists of all group activities, yet it is "designed to meet your special needs." I think that they need to go to my program, where I teach them the difference between synonyms and antonyms.

Echoes, I'm so sorry that your treatment turned out so bady! My mother had those same injections because of stenosis in her spine, and it seemed to help for a short time. But your situation sounds different. And the obsessive controlling behavior that you describe with the prescriptions sounds very familiar. They even want me to agree to drug testing. I get it that they come across a lot of drug-seeking people, but if they're so good at what they do, they ought to be able to recognize those instead of treating all of us like criminals when we walk in the door.

I don't want to get high, I don't want to spend time with other people learning how to gracefully accept my plight, I just want my pain reduced. If they can't do that for me, I wish they would just be honest.

Hi no I will agree with you that even the program I went to it was not individualized enough and part of why I could not move forward. There were people with nerve conditions but not with RSD and PN and that is treated different so I do understand. The honesty part is another issue because I will say that I was not told honestly what the program was about I went to. Sometimes even the concrete ?'s I was told opposite of what was true. I hope you can find something that relieves your pain.

Thanks daniella. It's good to know I'm not crazy...at least about this.