So yesterday was my big doctor's appointment with the new pain management doctor. I was super nervous about it after my last two appointments being so disappointing with the orthopedic doctors...but I think it went REALLY well and was as good as I could have hoped.

First off...the appointment lasted 3.5 hours...so it was a marathon appointment and I left in so much pain but feeling so positive about the appointment overall that it was worth it.

The doctor was very blunt and straight forward and I liked that. He seemed very knowledgeable about RSD (I guess he helped write the guidelines they use to diagnose it) and he agrees with me that my current issue is not the RSD. He thinks that I have cervical radiculopathy that is causing the shooting pain from my next, through the shoulder and arm, down into my fingers. This is the same thing I thought (though I will admit to not knowing the medical term for it). He was astonished that not only had the orthopedic doctors not done an MRI of my cervical spine but also that the ER doctor didn't get a CT scan when I went there the day of the accident. He gave me a script to get one done.

He also thinks that I have Peripheral Neuropathy and that it is also contributing to some of my issues. They want to do a skin punch biopsy at my next appointment to test for this and it sort of scares me...but I will do it. I have heard that it SOUNDS much worse than it is. However...the dr poked me with a little needle pin prick thing all over the place to test my "sensations" and I thought I was going to die from the pain. I am still burning in every single place he touched me with that thing during the exam as well as every place he put that temperature measuring thing (it has a metal center to it so everywhere he put it I felt like a spike of fire was jabbed through my arm or leg where it touched me...ugh).

Those are the two big things...plus he also thinks there is some tendinitis and a rotator cuff disorder. None of these things are "good" things but he really seems to have an idea of what is wrong and an idea of what the treatment plan should be.

He put me on Lyrica, Mobic, and Tizanidine hoping that these will help with the pain and also help me to sleep. I don't like the idea of taking so many pills...but will do it in the hope that they help with the pain. I so badly need some relief from this after 7 months of this extra pain...which has just pushed me over the edge of what I can handle at this point in my life. I try to be so optimistic and keep pushing on...but these last couple months I have really been losing my grip on things emotionally. Now I feel positive and optimistic again and feel like I can get through this.

He also wants me to see a psychologist the next time I am in...I assume that's just standard practice at this place. I would have seen her yesterday but apparently she was too busy. I've never seen a psychologist before so I don't know what to expect but I'm not worried about it.

So the doctor I feel good about. The pain clinic in general and their staff? I'm not quite so sure. Everything seemed very disorganized and hectic. The one thing I am slightly concerned about is that when the resident came in before the doctor to take my history and stuff he mentioned a pain contract and that I would need to do a urine test and someone would come in and talk to me about that. It never happened. People kept asking me if I had my "purple sheet" and then they would disappear when I said no and then come back and not mention it again. That just seemed odd...I had zero problem with taking a urine test or talking to someone about and signing a pain contract...but maybe since I didn't ask for pain meds the dr didn't think it was necessary?? I don't know. My boyfriend (who was with me the whole appointment) said at one point the resident handed the purple sheet and stuff to the doctor and he just dismissed it and tossed it aside. So I don't know...I just hope that doesn't come back at me like why didn't I comply with the urine test or something. No mention of it in my notes from the visit though so I guess I'm probably fine. Or maybe that's something the psychologist does but since I didn't see her that day they just thought to leave it for next time?

I also read through the notes from the visit and asked the nurse to have them correct something that was in the history (the resident didn't do a very good job taking the history in my opinion generally but as most of you know our histories can get very long and complicated when you go back 7 years). The resident wrote that I have been unemployed since November. I've been off work since then but am still very much employed. The nurse said she would tell him to fix it but I will ask them to check next time I am there. I honestly felt like when the resident was taking my history he really didn't get any information from my current issues since I fell off the ladder in October...but when the doctor came in we went over all of that so hopefully that also doesn't cause any issues with work comp.

Anyway...all in all...it went well and even though it was a long wait to see this dr and will be a long wait to see him again (my next appointment is June 8th as that was the earliest they could get me in)...I think it was definitely worth it to see this doctor. I think he wants to help me and I think he can. Hoping the meds will help give me some relief over the next month but even just the boost in my optimism from this appointment has me feeling better already (mentally even if not physically).

I knew when I finished the package of bagels and the container of cream cheese at the SAME TIME on Wednesday that this was going to be a good week for me...lol.

I am so happy it went well for you! Sometimes getting a diagnosis can be such a relief plus the added bonus of it not being CRPS helps too. It sounds like he did a very through exam which I'm sure helps when deciding on treatment options. It is so wonderful to find a doctor that actually listens to you.

I wouldn't worry about the pain contract and urine test because they did not prescribe any narcotic pain medication. From my experience they only need one when controlled substances are being prescribed.

I know there are others here who have seen a pain psychiatrist so hopefully one of them can chime in with their experience. I only saw one once because it was protocol for the SCS trial.

I hope June 8th comes quickly for you and that your meds help! Keep us posted

Oh, Catra, thanks so much for letting us know how the appt. went at the doc.

Wishing you the VERY best. How soon will you be having the MRI? That will be a big help toward confirming some of what the doc suspects at this time.

I am so happy to hear it was a positive experience. And an uplift in one's spirit is always beneficial.

Keep us posted as you go along. Thanks again for the update.

Catra,

Thanks for sharing your doctor experience with us. I am glad it was a good experience, and you are feeling optimistic. I wish you the best.
peace
zinnia

I have to wait for work comp approval for the MRI so I would guess a couple of weeks before I actually get it. My dr appointment isn't until June 8th so I doubt I will get the results before then unless it's something where time is of the essence (which I suspect it isn't since this is going on 7 months since the accident now...8 months by the time June 8th comes around).