What a pain management Dr has to say:

[Guest guest]

HI everyone.........

I went to my pain mangaement Dr. yesterday. While I was there getting

my meds straightened around. And getting a med to help me sleep..that

worked by the way..8 hours ininterrupted last night!!!!

yea!!.............

I asked him why most of the people in my group couldn't get pain meds

from either their Rheumatologist or primary Dr? His response was that

most Dr's are afraid to presribe narcotic meds for you because you

will be on them long term...and that you will probably take more pain

meds than the usual JOE with a sore toe...which means a red flag will

go up somewhere 'big brother' can see it, and they will be questioned

and called on to validate why he is giviing you those meds for so

long. And even though you do indeed have a legitamate reason for

taking pain meds long term, it is easier for the DR.(did you get

that? easier for the DR) to not write you an Rx that he may later

have to explain and justify!!!

His advice to you all was this. Most big cities have a pain clinic.

You would have to do some homework, and may have to do a little

driving to

get to one. But, with your medical diagnoses (RA/Fibro/Lupis etc) he

thinks that the MAJORITY of you CAN get pain meds. If you go to a

pain clinic. YEA!!!! You may have to get a referral from your primary

care md...don't even ask your Rhuemmy. Ask your PCP for a referral

and if he won't give you one call your insurance company and see if

you need one or if they will refer you. And get copies of all your

tests and diagoses and go to the pain clinic..(tell your rhuemmy that

you are starting a file so that you can keep track of your labs and

which meds you have tried etc).Get those records.The only thing you

have to lose is a ittle bit of time, and all your PAIN!!!!!

I have to drive into phoenix (80 miles each way) once a month to see

my pain DR. and get my meds. And once every 6 months I have to pee in

a cup.To me it is worth every minute to get the meds so that I can

get out of bed and dress myself!!!! SO now all of you have an option!!

I hope you try it, because it would ease your pain and give you more

quality (pain free) time to give your families!

[Guest guest]

I've had 2 bad experiences with Pain Management Clinics, and yesterday was

referred to another. I'm already taking MS Contin prescribed by my Rheummy.

It does help a lot, but not exactly enough to be called " pain free " . There's

also the hassle of getting the prescription filled. I live more than 30

miles from my Rheumy and have had to drive there every month, at the right

time, to get the script. Then, I have to drive 14 miles in the other

direction to my pharmacy to get it filled. That's a total of about 93 miles

if all goes well. My truck doesn't get good mileage but is my only choice at

present, and costs me about $23 just in fuel alone, and that's every month!

I finally got the Rheumy to mail the script to the pharmacy, so now I only

have to drive 26 miles round trip on that exact day to get the pills. I was

there one Friday and the script was filled and on the shelf waiting for me,

but I couldn't get it then. I had to wait until Monday because " Friday was

too early according to Federal Law " . I've found no way to make it easier on

me but it'll be a regular ritual for me, it looks like, and I can't find

another med that might work as well without the hassle. He did give me a

script for Ultram, Whoopee!!!

Dennis in Eastexas

You'll NEVER get rid of ALL the pain!

[ ] What a pain management Dr has to say:

> HI everyone.........

> I went to my pain mangaement Dr. yesterday. While I was there getting

> my meds straightened around. And getting a med to help me sleep..that

> worked by the way..8 hours ininterrupted last night!!!!

> yea!!.............

>

> I asked him why most of the people in my group couldn't get pain meds

> from either their Rheumatologist or primary Dr? His response was that

> most Dr's are afraid to presribe narcotic meds for you because you

> will be on them long term...and that you will probably take more pain

> meds than the usual JOE with a sore toe...which means a red flag will

> go up somewhere 'big brother' can see it, and they will be questioned

> and called on to validate why he is giviing you those meds for so

> long. And even though you do indeed have a legitamate reason for

> taking pain meds long term, it is easier for the DR.(did you get

> that? easier for the DR) to not write you an Rx that he may later

> have to explain and justify!!!

>

> His advice to you all was this. Most big cities have a pain clinic.

> You would have to do some homework, and may have to do a little

> driving to

> get to one. But, with your medical diagnoses (RA/Fibro/Lupis etc) he

> thinks that the MAJORITY of you CAN get pain meds. If you go to a

> pain clinic. YEA!!!! You may have to get a referral from your primary

> care md...don't even ask your Rhuemmy. Ask your PCP for a referral

> and if he won't give you one call your insurance company and see if

> you need one or if they will refer you. And get copies of all your

> tests and diagoses and go to the pain clinic..(tell your rhuemmy that

> you are starting a file so that you can keep track of your labs and

> which meds you have tried etc).Get those records.The only thing you

> have to lose is a ittle bit of time, and all your PAIN!!!!!

>

> I have to drive into phoenix (80 miles each way) once a month to see

> my pain DR. and get my meds. And once every 6 months I have to pee in

> a cup.To me it is worth every minute to get the meds so that I can

> get out of bed and dress myself!!!! SO now all of you have an option!!

> I hope you try it, because it would ease your pain and give you more

> quality (pain free) time to give your families!