Blinded pain tests - to Debs and

[Guest guest]

Hi Debs,

Never in my experiences have I ever heard of this type of treatment in

any US pain management clinics. This isn't at all what I've

experienced, and I'm so sorry, Debs, that you're having to go through

all of this just to validate your pain and find the right treatment.

, you asked if this was what you could expect when you went to a

pain management session, and I wanted to explain how, to the best of

my knowledge, it's done here.

When I went to my first pain management clinic appointment, the doctor

did try several different drug regimens on me before we settled on the

correct one, but it wasn't done the way Debs describes.

First I had to fill out an extensive questionnaire that asked me all

about my pain, where it was, how it felt, duration that it lasted,

etc. We made a list of all the medications I'd taken, and what

dosages, and my reactions to each. The doctor also gave me a very

thorough physical examination, and talked to me about any other pains

in any other parts of my body that I experienced. It was the result

of these questions that he felt I should be tested for my finger,

wrist and elbow pains, which were totally unrelated to the pancreas

pain. After doing two nerve conduction studies, it was found that my

finger and hand pain was caused by Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which I

have in both hands.

As for the pancreas pain, the doctor started me on one drug, which I

took for one month and then had to report back with results of how it

worked. The first was Oxycontin, 20 mgs., twice a day, with Oxycontin

IR for breakthrough. This medication did NOT work that well for me.

The next month we continued with that combination at an increased

dosage, it still did not work well for me.

The third month I was put on Morphine, still no help.

The next month the doctor put me back on a duragesic patch, which I

had worn before, effectively, until my last acute attack. After that

attack, the 50 mg. duragesic hadn't been enough to control my pain,

and as a result, I was taking 60-70 mgs. of Percocet every day to

cover it. This time he increased the patch to 75 mgs. and gave me

Oxycontin IR for breakthrough. The breakhrough meds didn't work when

I needed them. So then the doctor put me on the 75 mg. Duragesic,

another non-narcotic med Neurontin, 1,200 mgs. per day, and

substituted Oxycodone for my breakthrough meds. This combination was

the most effective.

Since that time I've increased my dosage of Neurontin, which has

enabled me to DECREASE my dosage of both the Duragesic and the

Oxycodone. I'm taking half the amount of Oxycodone as I was before,

and have dropped 25 mgs. off the Duragesic and increased it's wearing

time from 48 hrs. to 72 hrs.

The reason I've told you this long story is to explain to you, ,

that this type of testing is what seems to be the norm here in the

U.S. I've never heard of anything like the experiences that Debs is

going through being done here. It seems like a very confusing type of

testing for the patient, and I'm so glad that I don't have to go

through anything like it.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

Southeastern Reg. Rep., PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.

wrote:

>From what you have posted will I now have an idea of what to expect

when invited to a pain management session?