Re: First Trip to Pain Specialist Approaching

January 28, 2007

HI ,

My daughter was referred to a pain management specialist when the

rheumatologist and PCP didn't know what else to do for her. She has

scleroderma and was 26 at the time. We went through 13 pain management

doctors/visits/phone calls before we found one that would actually

accept her as a patient. All the others said they didn't know what to do

for the type of pain she was experiencing. (She was having severe pain

in her skin and also severe pain in her neck and head.)

The doctor she went to wasn't bad, but his associate was much better.

They had her complete a pain survey, writing down where the pain was and

how severe. They prescribed meds and also PT. Pain management doctors

tend to be very cautious about prescribing drugs, though, because they

don't want to get people hooked on anything or feed someone's

established drug habit. She had to go back every month to get a new

prescription because they wouldn't provide refills on the narcotics.

She saw the nurse practitioner during many of those visits.

As far as it being normal to continue to have severe pain, the answer

would be that it depends on the type of pain and the type of drugs they

are giving you. My daughter frequently had very severe pain, even when

she was taking the narcotics. Thankfully she eventually found pain

relief in a combination of PT, meds, diet, relaxation exercises, and,

probably most importantly, a reduction in the progress of her

scleroderma. She is now doing very well and doesn't take any pain meds

at all.

I sympathize with what you're going through, , and hope the doctor

can provide you some relief. It usually takes some time to find the

combination of therapies that will work for someone, so unfortunately,

you may not experience relief immediately. Just know that others have

gone through it, as well, and they understand what you're going through.

Hang in there and keep me posted.

Take care,

- In <mailto: > ,

" " <faith_4_me_2@...> wrote:

>My

> questions are:

> 1. What am I to expect from the pain specialist? How is he going to

> help me where the primary care and rheumie couldn't?

> 2. Is it normal to have pain still after being on high doses of pain

> meds, anti-inflams & vicadin?

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