Pain Management Centers

I have an appointment on the 18th to visit the one at the local hospital. What should I expect from them overall, and in a first visit? I don't have insurance or a job right now so I am mostly sticking to medications for treatment, and heat. I had another run-in with a BAD doctor on tuesday, and am really scared that these docs won't want to work with me either, or will dismiss fibro out of hand, or not know what to do with me because of the WLS complicating things...

From my experience the pain docs are a whole different breed from the regular docs that may not uinderstand the effects of fibro. I imagine their first step will be to make sure that is the correct diagnosis and then see what you are doing now and make suggestions from there. If it is associated with the hospital it should be a good group so just be hopeful that this is a good beginning to some treatment!

?? Has anyone reading this made their own appointment to a pain center???  Or do you have to have a referral???    The 5/500 Vicodin my PCP has been reluctantly giving me isn't helping anymore,  if it does help its only for an hour and a half,  and I'm only allowed one every 4 hours.

Thanks,
Patti  in  NC

I didn't have a referral... just get your medical records and make an appointment.... as long as you have a PPO and not HMO you will be fine.

Hi Patti,
I use the Duragesic Fentanyl 25mcg pain patch and Norco as a break though med so I don't really have to worry about malabsorption.  I experienced the same thing myself with my Vicodin when I was on it before the clinic.  I had a doctor that didn't want to give me narcotics.  He had me taking one tablet every 12 hrs.  What a joke.  But the patch really works great.  You put one on every 72 hrs and then use a break through med for any additional pain the patch isn't getting.  I use the Norco for my neck pain.  Hope this helps,
Kristy

I have been going to a pain management Dr. for about 6 months now and they are really good to work with. One of the first things he said to me is that he had just started working with fibromyalgia patients and if I saw of any new treatment that worked/ any new meds that worked to let him know. Lately the have been giving me trigger point injections along with Roxicet along with Methedone all together with Cymbalta from my regular Dr, the pain is kept at a level that I can actually do things that make me feel that I just might be contributing to society again. LOL
I was referred to them from my Dr. that did back surgery on me 2 yrs ago and I had to explain to them it was because my regular Dr. had referred me to a pain Dr. that was not a preferred provider with my insurance carrier, so am being treated for Fibro
I had WLS on 10/10/08 and am starting to be able to take the meds when I eat something so that they will stay in my pouch long enough to get the effects that they are meant to do. I do need to take 'more than normal people' because they are not all injested normally and I do not get the full dosage that I take. But trial and error is the way it always goes. I was a little cautious when they put me on methadone (normally used to get 'junkies' off drugs) but they are given for their long term effects and believe me they do work!!
Good luck with your pain clinic I am sure they will give you relief, if they don't let me know I will give you the name of mine.. how far are you from Reno

Hugs,
Sandy

I finally got some relief.  My pcp referred me to pain management clinic.  I have Kaiser.  They sent me some papers to fill out.  Questionairre to find out about my pain issues etc. So the first appointment was an introduction as to what the program is about.  It is about "Skills & Pills".  We were scheduled an appt with the pain management doctor at that time and also a psychcologist (some people really need to talk because of depression).  The program requires you to attend 8 meeting for 1.5 hrs (one meeting per week).  The pain management doctor will talk to you about your pain, what you have tried to manage your pain, like meds or physical therapy.  I told the doctor what I wanted to try since I have tried almost everything that wasn't mind altering.  The class is great, because it teaches you how to control your pain.  Such as not over doing it when cleaning house.  Like a set a minute timer to remind you to rest.  They have you try breathing exercises to reduce stress, stress contributes to more pain.  It is a management class, not a control class.  So it helps you to manage it as best as you can with the "Skills & Pills".  I don't know about other classes, this is my first one.  They understand that our pain is real.  Our pcp's don't want to administer those types of meds.  They should be very understanding.  I was then given for my pain:  A duragesic fentanyl 25 mcg pain patch (every 72 hrs) and Norco for a break through med, I also take Cymbalta 30mg once a day (I like that for the depression I was starting to get because I couldn't do anything).  I can actually say I feel a lot better.  I can do things now that I haven't been able to do for a very long time.  I am new to the Fibro website but not new the OH.  I had the RNY '06 and lost 90 lbs.  I like the pain patch because I don't have to worry about malabsorption of meds.  Best wishes to you,
Kristy