Re: Pain Management Question
From: Cheryl Cole (CCRYDER752@AOL.COM)
Sat Jan 12 13:13:02 2002
At Sat, 12 Jan 2002, Katrina wrote:
>
>Hello Everyone,
>
>I am recovering from my December surgery (lucky #13) and since the Drs
>have decided no more surgery they are sending me to a pain management
>specialist. I have never been to one and was wondering if anyone has
>any information on what to expect and what to look for.
>
>--
>Thanks! Katrina
>
Dear Katrina, I have been going to a pain specialist for about 18
months.
They try all different families of medications to try to relieve your
pain.
It is frustrating because sometimes it takes a long time to come up with
the right combination of meds to work. My PS (pain specialist) tried
tranqulizers and meds for epileptic seizures. They are also used to
relieve pain. None of these meds were working for me and I kept asking
him to prescribe oxycontin. He kept stalling and giving me excuses. He
put me on a duragisic patch which gave me bad side effects. When I told
him he just blew it off. He was writing a new script for the patch,
when
I told him I didn't want it; I wanted to try the oxycontin instead!
Well, he just had a regular temper tantrum. Ripped up the script and
wrote
one for oxycontin. Told me since I was so unhappy with him, I should
seek a 2nd opinion. On January 7th, I did see another pain specialist.
I was happy with him and will continue to see him, I think. The first
Dr. has apoligized for his trantrum and chalks it up to the stress he is
under. I told him "After coming to you for so long, in so much pain,
and
no progress I was a bit stressed myself! The new pain doctor is keeping
me on oxycontin with lortab for break-thru pain. He has also suggested
a physical therapy program which I will be starting on Monday. They
require you to be honest with them and see them one time per month,
especially if you receive narcotic meds. I belive this is a law. Just
be open and honest with them. If they don't help you or you don't like
them, find another one. Just like a regular Dr. Good Luck to you,
Katrina.
Stay as far away from the surgical suite as you can. In most cases it
will
only make things worse. History proves it. Just read the quilt! Love,
Cheryl
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