How to find pain doc?

[Sheila6830]

I live in Texas and need to know how to find a doctor who will manage my IC pain. My uro doesn't like to give Tramadol. I can't take any of the SSRIs or other antidepressants (they make my bladder worse). I've tried other drugs like lyrica and neurontin, elavil, etc. and none of them help.

The only meds that seem to help are tramadol, lidocain ointment and atarax.

Most pain docs deal with back pain. How do I find a pain management doc that can treat my ic pain? During my really bad flares, tramadol and lidocaine are the only things that get me through the day.

Is there a website listing IC pain management docs?

Help me, please!

Thank you all

[amaranthe]

Sorry I cant help since I dont live in TX. Also, as far as I know, there is no IC site with Pain Drs. listed who treat IC patients like there is for Uros/Gynos who treat IC. But, hopefully someone will come along with a recommedation. What part of TX are you near? Have you asked your Uro for a recommedation yet? That would be where I'd start, (after all, most pain Drs. wont take you without a referral from your treating Dr. anyway.) If they are willing to refer you but dont have anyone to recommend, try asking your PCP and Gyno. (Also, if your Uro wont refer you, try asking one of the others for a referral.) If your Dr is willing to refer you to one but just doesnt know where to refer you, (and you dont get any recommendations from other ICers here), then you might try what I did....I just put "Pain Drs near My City, My State" in a search engine. Then, I called almost all of them and asked each the following:

1) Do you have a multi-disciplinary approach to pain? Are pain meds part of that? (Some pain Drs. dont r/x pain meds. They just do nerve blocks and stuff, so make sure you ask!)

2) Do you take my Insurance? (Although I dont I have Medicaid, I have noticed that this is a particular problem for Medicaid patients, since so few Drs. will take it, and so far, I havent talked to anyone on Medicaid who has found a pain Dr. that takes Medicaid.) Some Medicare patients have also mentioned this problem, (though not to the same extreme as Medicaid patients.) Fortunately I am insured thru my DH's work and also have Medicare, so I have been very fortuante in this matter.

3) When is the first available appt? (Some were booked up even 6 mo ahead for new patients!!!)

4) Do you have any experiance treating IC patients? (Most didnt, and the one I ended up with didnt either, but obviously if I had found someone who had several and was experianced and knowledgable about this, that would have been optimal.)

5) Do your require a referral? (They all did.)

I still had to wait 2 months to get in, and it is pretty far away. (I drive 5 hours round-trip once a month to see him!) But, it is still well worth it!

One last thing, just b/c you get the appointment, doesnt mean they are going to accept you as a patient! Usually during the 1st visit, you tell them about things and then, they will tell you if they think they can help you or not, and if so, how they plan to proceed, (which is sometimes with a "trial" of nerve blocks first, or neuropathic meds, etc.) But, if they DO accept you and want to go this route first, try to keep your mind open, after all, you never know what might turn out to be your miracle! (Then, if those thngs dont work out, that's when they will usually let you try the pain meds.) Just wanted to warn ya so you wouldnt be surprised or get angry thinking that you are going to be left to suffer by them too!) It has been my experiance (and echoed by numerous others here), that our Pain Drs. have become as indispensable as our Uros, (often even more so!) I cant tell you what a relief it is to go to the Dr. and not have to feel like a drug addict/drug seeker or to have to beg for pain relief. It is such a relief just knowing that when I go, they are going to talk to me and then hand me my scipts without any of that drama all those other Drs put me and so many others here through!

So, hang in there! I think you are going to be thrilled too once you finally get into see the PM Dr and finally get treatment for this horrific pain! You are going to be a new woman! I cant wait to read your 1st post after you've finally gotten your pain treated and under control!

Keep us posted on your appt!

Sending hugs,
Amaranthe

[Montie]

Hi Shiela - I also live in Texas and my uro refered me to a pain doctor who treats all her IC patients. Do you think you uro could refer you to one? Most of the time you have to have a referal for insurance to cover it.

Montie

[SharonA]

You might be able to find someone in a support group to suggest a pain management clinic. I am giving you the link to the Texas Professional Listings that are available here on the ICN. If you find a support group in your area, you can call the contact number and ask if the person knows of a pain clinic near you.

http://www.ic-network.com/md/listings/Texas.html

[JenAZ07]

I think word of mouth is the best way to find a good pain dr.

I was referred to a pain dr by the GI doctor I saw in my quest to figure out what was wrong with me. The first PM dr I saw was very helpful -- he suspected I had IC and referred me to my current uro/gyn (which I am very thankful for). But after I initially met with the dr (the helpful one)......everytime thereafter I was forced to see his physician's assistant who was horrible. The assistant refused to talk to me about my pain, refused to up my script even though I was in so much pain I could barely walk, refused to talk to the dr about alternative ways to help me (i.e. nerve blocks, nerve ablation....I brought these up to them), etc. Nope....he refused and accussed me of not taking my meds...so he said he would never up them. I even wrote the dr a letter discussing my dis-taste for his assistant and begging him to help me.....only to be ignored. Then I met a girl who was also in pain management and thought my PM dr was being ridiculous. I called and asked what I had to do to switch and waited 3 months to get in with her dr and it was well worth the wait. I have an awesome PM dr now.

I agree with people above....you need to almost interview the place before you make your appt. If you jump around clinics it will look bad so you want to try to find the right one and stick with it. Ask them if they treat IC, or ask them if they have ever had a patient with IC (you might also ask if they have patients with arthritis, fibro, etc.). If they only (or primarily) treat back pain....they may not have the skill or knowledge to know how to address IC pain. You also need to know if they rx pain meds....because yes....some won't. Although you are asking for Tramadol....which isn't even a narcotic. I would think your uro or pcp would be willing to give that to you. Have you asked one of them already?

YOu could try attending one of the support groups to see who they use for PM.....and ask questions about why they like their dr....why they don't, etc. I bet you will find a great dr that way.

Good luck!!! I hope you get some relief soon.