how do you find a pain clinic

[Bea]

I live in New Jersey.. I am lucky to have my urologist prescribe pain meds for me.. but I really would like to go to a pain specialsist but anyone I call has no idea about IC or pfd.. or any of the issues I have..

also is it worth going if my uro prescribes me pain meds..


thanks

[Claredale]

I live outside a very large city and we don't have pain mgmt clinics at all. I started out with a urologist when I first started down this path and he prescribed pain meds when I needed them. Then when my IC got to the point it was past his experience level he referred me to a pelvic pain specialist who also prescibed pain meds as well as referring me to a therapist to help me deal with my chronic pain. Now, I go to a uro/gyno and he prescribes all the meds I need to treat my symptoms including pain meds. He is very knowledgeable regarding IC. I would say if you have a uro that understands your need for pain meds, then you are lucky and probably don't need to seek out a pain mgmt office. But, then since I don't know what difference a pain mgmt office would do, I am certainly not the best person to ask.

Hugs, T83

[Bea]

oh just to mention my uro mentioned one person he know's but it is 90 min from my house.. and I can't deal with that type of drive...

[Bea]

thanks for your advice tracey.. I am with you.. I have no idea what a pain spec.. does other than pain meds.. lol that is one of my curiousity..

[leelee88]

Bea, If your URO is willing to treat your pain, I do not know why you would want to go to a pain clinic unless the pain meds he is giving you is not working. But if they are and hes will to continue to help you and treat your pain. I would just stick with one Dr. It is much easier that way.
Oh to to answer you question about pain clinic. They will give stronger pain meds as you need them. Also they monitor your meds and do urine test.

[IC SARAH-CPP]

I think it is VERY worth it to find a pain clinic unless your uro is very well versed in pain meds and is willing to try all the major long acting ones with you. I was seeing an ob/gyn for pain mgmt before my pain doc and thought things were going great but when I got to the pain clinic, I was able to try different long acting and short acting combos until I found the one i am on right now. The pain clinic just usually knows more about the meds and they are willing to prescribe different ones until you find what works for you.

You usually need a referral to pain mgmt from your uro or your GP. A lot of times it takes quite awhile to get in so you might ask about it right away. A lot of people are scared to ask their current docs for a referral but they are often relieved because they aren't comfortable managing severe chronic pain on a long term basis.

I dont usually like saying things like this but I just didn't do well on vicodin or percocet for long term pain mgmt. I got horrible "rebound headaches" and was very worried about my liver and my kidneys from being on so much tylenol. I was on the max dose of Norco for 4 months and was just so sick of it. When I switched to a long acting medication things got so much better for me. Ironically it was my doctor who insisted on the switch because she was worried about the long term effects of using so much Norco. I was scared b/c those meds get such a bad wrap but I talked things over with my husband and family and decided it was a better idea for me.

One thing I will warn you about is before you go to the pain clinic I would do what I call a "phone interview" because a lot of these pain clinic refuse to prescribe narcotics or even any other type of med! I was floored and shocked when I found that out but it is very true and quite common these days. They want to do procedures and bio feedback and things like that. What I wanted and found with my pain clinic is a doctor who uses ALL the therapies together. So he does narcotic therapy along with all the other stuff. Bio feedback helped me SOOOO much. You have to stick with it for a long time before you see results but it does help after a long time

I hope things work out for you, i know how hard it is to be stuck in this pain rut and feel like you aren't getting the relief you need from your current meds. Let us know what happens and if I can answer any other questions for you because I have been through ALL of it before!

Sarah

[Claredale]

Bea, my doctor also monitors me very well. I go every month. I don't know how often people have to go to a pain clinic, but I wouldn't want to drive 90 miles! My doctor is between my work and my house. I have really lucked out! He even kept me from going to long-acting meds, even though he would have let me, but I was against messing with my current meds if at all possible, by allowing me to try other meds that I heard about on here. I was so happy with my current pain med since it didn't effect me other than take away my bladder pain. I was able to work and do most everything I wanted to do until last summer, I was ready to have my bladder removed due to nerve pain. It felt as if I was peeing shards of glass and my bladder was on fire, but he was very good with me through that entire ordeal. I had done so well after my interstim which I had implanted 5years before (my pelvic pain specialist did the surgery), plus I didn't have that kind of pain constantly as I did last summer even prior to my implant. We tried several nerve meds with no help and the side effects were worse than then pain, but we finally got the right med and actually have now been able to decrease my pain meds.

T83