Well I'm feeling hopeful yet scared. I'm going to the cleveland clinic right now its not till Aug 7 but she said probably will be earlier because they almost always get cancels to there pain clinic. Its 5 days a week for 3-5 weeks. I have to go to the assesment but if accepted which she said since I have had every test,tried many meds,pt with no relief and still have most days in bed will be accepted. I'm nervous but feel hopefull that they can help me get the tools to get back to life and learn how to manage the pain with therapies/treatments/better non narcotic meds. I have been fearful in the past because most are just a day and then they send you home and I get worse where the vicadin and other meds doesn't relieve the pain. So this is daily and for awhile to be able to follow up on me. I want to live my life and am sick of this living in my bed and on a good day doing errands.I try to push on my own and do random errands now but the cycle I'm in of the extreme pain and having been in bed most of the days for the 5 months or maybe more now is making it so hard.Also that all my docs here and treatment are not moving forward at all. It seems worse then when began all of this. So I will keep you updated and pray they get an earlier opening.

Great news...keeping fingers crossed that you are accepted. Hope you feel better soon!

Yeah, Daniella:

I wish you the best. Hope you feel better.

Love, Melody

Daniella,
That's really good news - I hope your assessment & acceptance into the CC pain clinic is a mere formality and that they will be able to give you some relief. I contacted them some time ago when I was first struggling w/ a diagnosis and found their people were very helpful and concerned - they responded promptly w/forms and information. Ultimately and fortunately, I found an excellent neuro @ UPenn so I didn't need to go to the CC but I've kept the info just in case.
The very best to you.
Alkymst

Daniella,
I'm so hoping this helps you. Hopes and prayers go with you.

Billye

Thank you so much. The lady said since I have had like every test and tried everything I should be admitted on that day so I'm hoping she is right and thats how they set the apt that after the intake to start. I'm real nervous but hopeful. I can't imagine how hard it will be getting through the full days there. The lady explained the first days are ruff but the support and treatment therapies help so much and after a few days people even feel its easier. Like just now I did a few errands and am really in the worst pain with viadin again and I know will pay for days just from doing more errands. I just hope they can get me in sooner and they said they will try real hard. I'm going to call every few days too. I just need to get through these days and am trying to push more but the pain in my leg is excrutiating but the rest of my self feels so much better when up.Your all so wonderful and thank you. I will let you know.

Well, I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you. I am in hopes they will work some magic for you.

You will find this a wonderful place. If you do have to stay in a hotel at first, the Cleveland Clinic Guest House is across the street, sort of. I say this, because the hospital is not just one building, but an amazing huge array of spread out buildings, but it is very, very easy to get around. The staff at the hotel is very knowledgeable and helpful and there is a deli in the hotel.

There are shuttle buses to take you to any of your appointments. They run from the hotel all around the hospital to different stops on a regular basis. When I was there, they had a pre-scheduled sheet of appointments made for me, and I went from one appointment to another, then in between, back to the doctor's office, and then to the hotel. This may not apply in your case, but as I was pre surgery for my aneurysm, I had a lot of testing to complete that was not done in my home town.

This is the easiest place to stay, even if you only need one night before you go into the program, unless something has changed. I was there in 2000.

Take care,
Cathie
P.S. Hope you will have some way to check Internet when you go, so you can post occasionally, but if not, know that we will all be thinking about you.

Thank you. I'm not sure where I will stay the intake lady said when I know more a firm date she will help me. I will have a car though cause the program is m-f full days but weekend off and I will be there 3-5 weeks. I live only 3 hours away. I'm going to bring my laptop I pretty sure so will check in. Now its just waiting to go and hoping for an early cancelation. I'm trying to stay hopeful but be realistic. Any progress I will be happy. I have been pushing the past few days out trying to get ready. I'm having a hard time obsessing that I make things worse though all docs tell me I need to push out of bed and the pain is so anxiety provoking. I never know when the pain will get where I can't even talk or when my other dizzy/spacy feeling comes on. I hate that and want to be more regulated like at the program. Well thanks again.

Any chance that any of the meds could be causing the dizzy/spacy feeling as side effects?

Cathie

You know how much i have wanted you to go there,i been hoping
and praying. It is a wonderful place and is rated so high for that
pain Clinic. And it will be close to home and did i tell you how good. Ha
Chant there will be a opening over and ovrer and there will. Oh this
has been a good day..I want you to get out that door when they call
i don't care if your only scivvies,just make sure there clean. D just do
whatever they say,you can do it. I remember reading when Billye went
to Mayo,it was such awfull weather but the Neurotalk folks talked her
through it. And she was so brave she did it all. Aug is the lucky month
in our family so i'll just give it ti you... Well we will kept praying
and chanting. Sue