Well, just got home from the new pain doc was so nervous about. Absolutly loved him. one of the first things he said was that he was suprised at what high doses of both the Methadone and the OXYIR I was taking, as in more than he would even consider doing! I had started to be concerned cause even though I love love love my old pain doc, we weren't tying any treatments and seemed to just kep uping my meds. I know some people would love that, me, get tired specially when you realize that whenlook at all the meds you take and the daily amount of pills, you are taking 42pills a day!!!!
SO, He is puyttingin for a PT eval to get medicare to pay for a tens unit for me at home, were doing the office ketamine treatment Dec. 3rd, I told him before had my SCS (which due to staph infection was taken out 6 weeks after implantback in 06) that was doing over night epidurals and they were great. He brought up doing week long ones at home with a catheter. Both things definatly have been interested in doing, but my old doc didnt do ketamine at all would do the single shot epidurals but driving 2 hrs to do it and then sittingfor 2 hrs to get homewas just to hard. This doc is 20 min away. He also is switching me fronm effexor which hasnt helped with the nerve pain nor the depression to Cimbalta, another med to help keep me awake during the day rather than feel constantly in such a fog. SO, decided right then and there would do a pain contract with him and change.
I feel bad though like just deserting a doc that has treated me great the last 9 yeras. He understood when mentioned to him was looking for one closer and totally understood, even said if found one and down the line wasnt happy and wanted to come back, his door would always be open. Getting him a thank you card and sening him a thank you with a little gift.
Now my question, has anyone done the office ketamine infusion? how was it? side effects? how long did it help for? if anyone that has could letme know I would really appreciate it.
HOpe all are having a pain free or close to one day
Blessed Be
Deb
RSD is not who we are, we are survivors and fightersZ!!!!!

Hi Debbie,
I'm so happy for you. Sounds like you have a very good Dr, willing to lower the pain meds and add other methods. Proud of you too. Vicodin takes pretty good care of my pain. Hope I never have to go higher. My Dr. just switched me to Cymbalta 60 mg. and it is working so much better than 2 others I was on. What I notice most is the depression greatly lessened.
No I have never tried ketamine. I did call Dr. Swartzman for an appointment. I live in Arizona and the ketamine trials were done here at the Mayo Clinic. I believe there were 5 main Drs. One from Germany , Dr. S. and Dr. Harbut and a couple others. A good friend of mine worked under them with note taking. There are two Mayo clinics here and I live about a mile from the one where the studies were.
I have full body RSD. 12 years. I look forward to good results for you and way less pain. I have a great Dr. here, but he is moving and will have to get a new one. take care, Loretta

I am so very glad that it looks like you have a good PM Doctor that is willing to help you and try and make you better!! I have used a TENS machine also and it didn't really help me but everyone is different and I have my fingers crossed that it will help you and take some of your pain away!!

I haven't done the office Ketamine (it isn't licensed for use in the UK), however I am on oral ketamine at the moment. I haven't had any really bad side effects that some people have but I do feel like I am drunk after I take the Ketamine. My Neurologist said that was normal and a lot of people report that side effect. I have also had a Ketamine Epidural and that took my pain from an 8 and a half to a 5!! The oral Ketamine works but not has well as the Epidural did, my PM said that was probably cause the Med was acting on a different part of my Central Nervous System.

I really hope this works for you and am keeping you in my thoughts. Please keep us updated when you can.

Love, Alison

So happy you have found such a great PM doctor. Its more than half the battle, I have a great one too, I dont know where I would be with out him. Just wanted to say good luck with you ketamine infusion. If you have alloydina they helped me a geat deal with that. take care cz
Hi Ali!

Debbie, It is so fantastic that you found a doctor closer to home that you like. I hope you can continue to build on that relationship. You are so lucky to have treatment options available to you. i have an SCS but I live in such a rural area that is all there is for me besides my meds. I would have to travel to have other treaments. I did to try blocks but they failed miserably & I wondered if it wasnt because I got them & then spent three hours in a car getting home. SO I really understand finding a doctor closer. I hope you let us know how the ketamine treaments work out for you. I wonder if Medicare covers them? I have been interested in them but I doubt anyone in my state does them. And if they do it would be a long way for me to go to get them. But please keep us updated on how they work if you wouldnt mind. I would really appreciate the information. Can you tell me what state you live in? Thank you Debbie.
hugs, Denny

HI,
called medicare and said in doc thinks medically necessary than likely also have a back uj wich says same even if medicare doesnt. once do it and get my bill statements n wil let you know.

Blessed Be
Deb