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Has anyone been to a Pain Management Clinic? What am I in for?
For months now, I’ve been very transparent and honest with my general practitioner about my Norco dependency. Up till now he’s been reassuring that he’ll help me get off the meds as I rehabilitate my knee (I’m 5 weeks post surgery). Today he asked me how I was doing and I told him I had tapered down to 5.5 Norcos/day – which I thought was pretty commendable. He asked if I still had pain in my knee, to which I answered honestly: Yes, I do have pain… my kneecap pops out of its groove (bone on bone pain) – plus I have some stiffness and post-surgery tenderness. I told him I realize the chemistry in my brain is off and I may feel more pain because of this, but I plan to keep tapering and push through. To this he told me I’m not being patient enough with my injury; that I am probably hindering my physical therapy by being in pain when I go; and that I’m most likely clinically depressed. Whoa. He wrote down the information to a pain management clinic and said I need to see to go there from now on. I just started my taper less than 3 weeks ago… can he already be sick of me? What just happened? I was really content with tapering off Norco and thought he was going to help me through it. Anyone here have experience with a pain management clinic? Are they going to cut me off CT from the Norco, or will they help me continue my taper? I’m so bummed out right now.
Oh man! That was sounding promising, then ended up being horrible. I'm sorry you went through all that. I hope your pain is under control these days.
Thanks! I talked to my doctor again, and I'm going to continue tapering off meds and going to Physical Therapy. No pain clinic. I could have just called my surgeon, but their office is always so busy and it takes forever to get a reply. So, I just relied on my primary to help me out. This is my second surgery in 6 months on my right knee, and my primary knows that I've been taking Norco for months and months during this whole ordeal. I figured he'd me more sympathetic to me tapering off them than the surgeon. I'm physically dependent on them, so experiencing bad withdrawals when just trying to stop cold turkey. What a mess.
Hi, I think i must have missed some weird posts that are now deleted?
Anyway, miss-creative, first, if you are only 5 weeks post-op, give yourself a break, I don't imagine that your healed yet, so if your doctor is giving you norcos and you take them when the pain is unbearable, well that's what they're for, I'm surprised your surgeon isn't prescribing them rather than your family doctor.
Also, pain management clinics are for people who have a chronic condition, 5 weeks out of knee surgery, i would consider it acute post-op pain, not chronic. Its quite possible that you'll do just fine not taking the medications when you don't need them, but don't worry yourself over it right now, first get better. Take care.
Anyway, miss-creative, first, if you are only 5 weeks post-op, give yourself a break, I don't imagine that your healed yet, so if your doctor is giving you norcos and you take them when the pain is unbearable, well that's what they're for, I'm surprised your surgeon isn't prescribing them rather than your family doctor.
Also, pain management clinics are for people who have a chronic condition, 5 weeks out of knee surgery, i would consider it acute post-op pain, not chronic. Its quite possible that you'll do just fine not taking the medications when you don't need them, but don't worry yourself over it right now, first get better. Take care.
My experiences with pain managment:
First place I went, they kept putting through procedure after procedure of injections and nerve cauterizing (can't remember what it's called) for my lower neck. They put me on 3x 5mg Norcos and bumped that up to 4x 10 mg Norcos. Then they added 2x long lasting Morphine tabs. I had to go in for a Dr appointment every month at first, then every other month. They call you in randomly for pee tests and pill counts. If you don't come in and play by their rules, they cut you off without any notice. Too me they are legal drug pushers and make tons of money off your insurance companies with these repeated expensive procedures.
I transferred to a closer pain management Dr. He wasn't about meds but about treating the cause of the pain. He did some injections in my neck, but only with injected anesthetic. It hurt like he11 but it actually worked better and lasted longer. He didn't believe in the putting people in the light sleep through IV. He wouldn't prescribe the narcotics, so he had my primary do that. Eventually my primary didn't want to be responsible for them (was only giving me Norco) and neither did the pain management Dr. The pain management Dr gave me fentanyl patches and baclofen. Eventually he wanted me off those. What a nightmare coming off the fentanyl so I was prescribed the clonodine and phenegran to get me off it. I quit going there because it seemed to be a waste of my time checking in and doing pee tests every time. I wasn't getting any better and figured I could just deal with my pain through my primary.
So that's my experiences. I wouldn't recommend it unless they are focused on treating the cause of pain instead of focusing on dispensing meds IMO. Good Luck!
First place I went, they kept putting through procedure after procedure of injections and nerve cauterizing (can't remember what it's called) for my lower neck. They put me on 3x 5mg Norcos and bumped that up to 4x 10 mg Norcos. Then they added 2x long lasting Morphine tabs. I had to go in for a Dr appointment every month at first, then every other month. They call you in randomly for pee tests and pill counts. If you don't come in and play by their rules, they cut you off without any notice. Too me they are legal drug pushers and make tons of money off your insurance companies with these repeated expensive procedures.
I transferred to a closer pain management Dr. He wasn't about meds but about treating the cause of the pain. He did some injections in my neck, but only with injected anesthetic. It hurt like he11 but it actually worked better and lasted longer. He didn't believe in the putting people in the light sleep through IV. He wouldn't prescribe the narcotics, so he had my primary do that. Eventually my primary didn't want to be responsible for them (was only giving me Norco) and neither did the pain management Dr. The pain management Dr gave me fentanyl patches and baclofen. Eventually he wanted me off those. What a nightmare coming off the fentanyl so I was prescribed the clonodine and phenegran to get me off it. I quit going there because it seemed to be a waste of my time checking in and doing pee tests every time. I wasn't getting any better and figured I could just deal with my pain through my primary.
So that's my experiences. I wouldn't recommend it unless they are focused on treating the cause of pain instead of focusing on dispensing meds IMO. Good Luck!
I agree. Pain management is allowed to prescribe pian meds and they will. They arenot closely looked at as other dr's. They will get you hooked and worse than where u are now. I have dealt with them for over 15 years, Since i know know how to deal with my meds my own way, I trust myself more than them, There have been many times they wanted to jack up my meds, and being a history with them, I have learned to say NO! They even wanted to restart me on OXYCONTIN, of which they had me on 26 a day 13 years ago, and I went CT. Now i say NO, and just take what I know I can handle, and am now weaning myself off of. Beware, be very aware.
Thanks so much for the kind words Mary!
Loofielew, I still stand by post in that in the 11 plus years I have been dealing with pain issues and coming online, I have never seen a situation where a reputable Dr. is saying they are desperate for patients or they can't stay open...
I still think your logic is backwards in that reputable, Board Certified PM Drs. are in such high demand as many of the bad ones have been shut down and there are many people who need pain mgmt. so every Dr. that I know that is sought after is booked up in advance.
I also don't know of any good PMs that are "afraid" to do their job because of the DEA. If you truly understand Federal Law, the CSA (Controlled Substance Act) was enacted in 1970 and the last amendment to it was back in Oct. of 2008. The only thing that is required by the CSA is that any patients who are on controlled substances be seen by their Dr. every 3 months. There are of course exceptions to this law as those who are confined to their home or in nursing homes.
It's really each state that has their own laws/regulations but there aren't any laws right now that tell a Dr. that he cannot prescribe controlled substances to patients who need them. It's just about proper documentation as well as proper prescribing.
The only Drs. who "fear" the law are the ones that are doing things illegally.
So, you can call me all the names you wish as it truly doesn't bother me in the least....I still caution anyone who were to contact a stranger by email who is saying their Dr. is in such need of money so they are on the verge of shutting down.
Loofielew, I still stand by post in that in the 11 plus years I have been dealing with pain issues and coming online, I have never seen a situation where a reputable Dr. is saying they are desperate for patients or they can't stay open...
I still think your logic is backwards in that reputable, Board Certified PM Drs. are in such high demand as many of the bad ones have been shut down and there are many people who need pain mgmt. so every Dr. that I know that is sought after is booked up in advance.
I also don't know of any good PMs that are "afraid" to do their job because of the DEA. If you truly understand Federal Law, the CSA (Controlled Substance Act) was enacted in 1970 and the last amendment to it was back in Oct. of 2008. The only thing that is required by the CSA is that any patients who are on controlled substances be seen by their Dr. every 3 months. There are of course exceptions to this law as those who are confined to their home or in nursing homes.
It's really each state that has their own laws/regulations but there aren't any laws right now that tell a Dr. that he cannot prescribe controlled substances to patients who need them. It's just about proper documentation as well as proper prescribing.
The only Drs. who "fear" the law are the ones that are doing things illegally.
So, you can call me all the names you wish as it truly doesn't bother me in the least....I still caution anyone who were to contact a stranger by email who is saying their Dr. is in such need of money so they are on the verge of shutting down.
Weathergirl is very respected in this forum. It's possible your physician is reputable but it just is very unusual way to get patients. She is, like myself, a long-term pain management patient & knows her stuff. So, please, stop with the name calling. She makes valid points.
I wrote this on your other post....
But this is just EXTREMELY fishy for any legitimate Dr. to be asking their patient to solicit for other patients on the internet.....No good Dr. has a "need" for patients as they are booked up for months.
As I wrote on the other thread. My PM takes anywhere from 30 min to an hour for each patient, even if you've been there for years so he only sees so many patients a day.
For a Dr. to be "desperate" to stay open and need the cash from pain patients...is just the biggest RED flag I can think of!
I urge people to NOT email this person nor think of seeing a Dr. like this.
But this is just EXTREMELY fishy for any legitimate Dr. to be asking their patient to solicit for other patients on the internet.....No good Dr. has a "need" for patients as they are booked up for months.
As I wrote on the other thread. My PM takes anywhere from 30 min to an hour for each patient, even if you've been there for years so he only sees so many patients a day.
For a Dr. to be "desperate" to stay open and need the cash from pain patients...is just the biggest RED flag I can think of!
I urge people to NOT email this person nor think of seeing a Dr. like this.
I've had different experiences with different pain management providers. I felt the first were too eager to put me on high doses of narcotics. To be fair, I underwent 9 surgeries & countless procedures & my pain was difficult to treat. I also should have done my own research. I was over medicated & it really wasn't helping the pain. I tapered myself off Fentanyl & then switched to my primary care. I was referred to the psyiatrist by my primary when my BP kept getting higher because my pain was not under good control. Between the primary care & the psyiatrist, they convinced me that right now I need to go on some medications because they couldn't get my BP under control even with 2 BP medications. I've been on them (& on nortriptyline, which has helped with my rsd pain.) I'm starting my taper & hope to be off everything soon. My pain is much worse in winter so the hope is I will be off everything for the summer & will see how things go next winter. (I should mention that I have dependence & not addiction ... though through my research & in my work & personal life, I'm very aware of how easily one can go from dependence to addiction.)
It was never suggested to try suboxone, & unless you expressed interest in it, I wouldn't think any pain management physician would suggest it.
It was never suggested to try suboxone, & unless you expressed interest in it, I wouldn't think any pain management physician would suggest it.
Everyone is right, pain management is there for scripts. The more they write the more money they make. They arent watched as much as other dr's cause they are suppose to be able to write scripts. Be careful. I was told oxycontin wasnot addictive and I would be on them for life, UNTIL, I took myself off of them. They are huge money making business. They do have other means of pain management, but, they always get their scripts in as well. Extremely addictive. Once your a patient of theirs, u can go every month for a script. Its too easy. If you really want to get off,, dont go there. xoxoxo GOD Bless
Thanks for the response drummer. That's starting to sound more like a science project ;) I don't know the nature of your pain... but if it's not controllable without taking something, then you gotta choose between quality of life, or taking substances that you are sick of, right? Not an easy decision. Wish you the best in coping with whatever direction you choose!
Pain Mgt is not that bad. At least mine is okay. I'm not to thrilled thsy now want to implant a nerostimulator in me, and wont go for that, so maybe it's time I just learn to live with the pain and stop the meds all together. Maybe a plan for all right there?? I got zero responses on my post so there ya go!
Thanks for the insight guys. Yah, I really don't want "Pain Management Clinic" on my record, as it could make it more difficult to get insurance coverage down the road. I just had an aggressive knee surgery, so I'm not sure I qualify for chronic pain. Just trying to taper off my meds which I've been on for way too long. Do I have a dependency? Of course. But I was heading in the right direction. My primary doc has me schedule another session with him next week. Maybe I need to really explain my situation better to him. In the mean time, I booked a session with a therapist - I think he was worried about my depression and wanted to wash his hands of it. Who knows! I'll continue my taper, albeit, at a faster pace probably now and just be prepare to go Cold Turkey even if that means I miss my Physical Therapy for a week. Because, really, I don't want a clinic pushing Subs on me - I'm too close to getting off a much less potent pill. Thanks again guys! For some reason my last post was deleted - or didn't go through. Perhaps I said something offensive... so weird.
Be very careful at those places. My experience has not been good. I think they more try to get people on the stronger meds so they are dependent and can't leave. But that's jmo. Just do your research before you let them put you on something. I learned the hard way by trusting them. The place I went to is in a lot of trouble right now due to the doctor giving to strong of pain meds and to many together to keep them coming. Being greedy wanting that monthly visit fee and he killed people not 1 or 2 either. The count is now I'm the 20's and climbing as more investigating us being done.
I would tell the you are an addict as soon as you get there and want off.
Sorry the doc treated you that way.They can be that way with patients.I know.
Sorry the doc treated you that way.They can be that way with patients.I know.
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