Pain Management Doctors

[snapteach]

Does anyone know a pain management doctor in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa, Alabama?  I have had 2 cervical disk surgeries and am in constant pain.  My primary care has refused to do any pain management with me and my anestheologist only does injections and other procedures to help with the pain.  He does not do pain management medication.  I would appreciate any names and comments you could tell me.

[rnfeelgood]

Thank you for the heads up. Did not even notice the hourglass till you told me.
Thanks again,
Cindy

[shinty]

Sandee1818 posted this over 5 years ago. I seriously doubt she's monitoring this post, and is not going to answer you. I used to do the same thing all the time (respond to old posts), but have learned a trick. Don't respond to posts with an hourglass next to the person's name who first posted. The hourglass represents an older post. I hope you find this info. helpful.
            shinty

[rnfeelgood]

Sandee, do you have to be referred to him? Does he believe his patients? I have terrible back pain from arthritis and degenerative disc disease. My regular doctor does not feel comfortable giving me long term pain medication.
Thanks.
Cindy

[snapteach]

Thank you for the information.  Can you tell me anything else about Dr. Xavier?  I searched on the internet and only found out that she is an anestheologist.  I would appreciate it.  I love the doctor I use now, he just doesn't do long term anything and wants me totally off pain meds.  Hurting the way I do, I just don't know if that is possible.  He is teaching me autogenics and relaxation tecniques but they only work so much.
I have a friend that lived in Mobile and had a wonderful doctor down there.  I will try to get this name and other info for you.  I know he is great for pain and has done her daughter and her a lof of good.  

[binkswife69]

Looking to see if anyone had some good ideas.  I just popped over on this site and saw your post. I have Multiple Sclerosis and deal with several types of pain. I recently had to move from Birmingham to Mobile.  When I was in Birmingham I had a great pain specialist  at UAB Kirkland Clinic.  Her name is Dr. Xavier.  
She is also about the only one that does the IV lidocaine treatment.  After a year I had to stop because of the side effects but I know quite a few that have remained on it.  
John the nurse that did my IV's he is the coolest guy and can do an IV like no one else.
I am by no means recommending this to anyone.  It is a bit controversial and has some nasty side effects.  I did it because I wanted another option other than narcotics.
Dr. Xavier was very helpful to me.  If one med did not work we went to another or did a combo.  
The whole staff there was very caring and never made me feel awkward about being on pain meds as other doctors did.  I recommend her highly. Good luck on your search.  
By the way does anyone know a good pain doctor in Mobile. :-)
I hope the ones I am seeing in Feb. are good.
Hope you find a good one.  It makes a big difference.

[snapteach]

I don't know a lot of medical jargon for this technique but if you will Google Southern Pain Specialists in Birmingham, AL Dr. Varley, his website tells more about it.  Basically, the way I understand it, he went into my neck using fluroscopy and cauterized the nerve endings using radio frequency.  It is very painful after having it done for no more than a month.  They told me to think of it like a severe burn inside the neck that has to heal.  After it did heal, it is WONDERFUL!!  He says it should last up to 9 months and sometimes a person never has to have it done again.  I have read different things about this procedure and the good that it does, but for me it is the greatest thing ever.  I will be thinking of you.  Let us know how you are.

[Zeffect]

Greetings Snapteach. I just read what you wrote about the radio frequency technique that cauterizes the nerve endings for your neck pain.
Is there a specific name for this technique?
I have 3 herniated disks in my neck, and 14 herniations down the rest of my spine, and I have not found a physician/pain clinic in Florida that does anything more than mild modalities (heat, massage), or pain medications. I would love results for my neck pain alone. I have to use a neck pillow at all times to hold up my neck because of the pain (mostly left-sided).
Any info you can provide on this procedure would be greatly appreciated.

[sandee1818]

Dr mangeri, He is very good in tuscaloosa he has pain clinic

[snapteach]

Thank you for your answer.  Since I posted this question, I found Dr. Varley in Birmingham,  and as you stated, he is WONDERFUL!  He has completely eliminated my neck pain using the radio frequency technique to cauterize the nerve endings so that the pain signals do not reach my brain.  He is now working on my lower back and I just know he will be successful with it also.  He is an answer to many of my prayers.  Right now, I do not need more pain medicine than I am having back procedures for, but I do have a concern about the fact that he does not do long term pain medicine management.  The psychiatrist who works with him teaches pain techniques without medication and these techniques actually work unless the pain is too great.  Still, I don't know who to see if this doesn't work.  I hope I never need a pain medicine doctor, but if I do I would like to know a good name. Thank you again!

[nonna216]

There is a Dr Cosgrovw at 301 18th street So. B'ham Al.  He is someone who does the Spinal cord stimulation therpy that I have heard so much about.  My mom had very bad back pain. She found a great doctor, Dr Varley on 280 (205-995-9967) he is great. He put in the pain pump and she was much better.  However I have heard since then that the stimulator is better.  I wish she had been able to try that.  She passed away 2 1/2 years ago and they did not have that then.

Good luck I hope this will help you.

[painpaingoaway77]

Hi...I have been searching for a compassionate PM doc, and I came upon this website:  http://www.med-help.net/Fibromyalgia-Doctors.html

There are a couple listed in the Birmingham area.  Hope this helps!
God bless,
A