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Wow! Need to vent about treatment at pain management clinic!!

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    Wow! Need to vent about treatment at pain management clinic!!

    hey friends just need to vent!!! Not sure how many of my friends have to deal with pain management clinics for attempts to manage pain, but here is my frustration:

    Just called to move my appointment up because my long acting pain med seems to not be holding my pain and I'm having to use breakthrough med way too much. Understand that I just started to try this long acting med about six weeks ago, so this is all new to me.

    I get some triage person on the phone who starts to argue with me that my breakthrough med was just increased during my last visit. Yep, I know that....my point to her was that the long acting does not seem to be holding my pain therefore I am having to use more short acting med. the woman made me feel like a junky.

    Her tone of voice was like nails on a chalk board. I would like to meet her when I see my pa next week and look her in the eye and explain why I take all of this stuff in the first place!!

    One thing I learn (each time I run into people like this) is to be kind to all you encounter. Even the most cantankerous people could be going through something just awful in their lives, so kindness goes a long way

    Thanks for listening. As a retired mental health professional, I know one of my options right now is to try to divert my negative energy and thoughts, so will try the treadmill.

    My best to all on this site.....ilsa from Racine, wi

    #2
    I think this SOP for PM clinics. There also seems to be 'good cop-bad cop', my PM doc was the good cop, the primary RN the bad cop, aka Nurse Ratched.

    The PM Clinic contract that seems to now be standard does contradict with some of my MS sx's and needs. For instance, I'm spatial skills challanged from MS and it's not unusual for me to get lost trying to get to various appointments and locations. I've arrived late when this happened and been 'warned' even after explaining that I get lost, it's part of my MS, and why, but left feeling like I'm viewed as some irresponsible low-life.

    I don't know what to make of the recent PM Clinic trend, and their treatment of patients. It's does seem to be attracting doc's from other, less profitable fields. I'm curious if it's a field of speciality that attracts those not at the top in the medical field, to put it indelicately.

    Changing appointments was one item that could violate the contract, and calling for rx refills before authorized by the doc is enough to get a patient 'dismissed' from treatment. There were a few other contridctions with the contract that I can't remember at the moment.

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      #3
      It is my opinion that the pain clinics and contracts are because they automatically assume, long term pain management is for "junkies!" I was sick and tired of listening to people tell me how and when to take or not take my pain pills, all the while, laughing behind my back and saying they were "placebos!"

      Which is part of why I am Fed Up! I do not believe current pain management clinics are tuned in to specific patients in real need. And by and far, most are assumed to be junkies!

      Things happen and the contracts do not account for that.

      I quit pain management when, I was in the hospital getting 2mg of IV meds for having my femor, tibia and fibula sawed off for knee replacement. The pain clinic would come to my room and order my routine medications for pain and then: The ortho doc would discontinue that and place me on 2mg of Morphine per 8 hours via a IV pump.

      Fortunately, my primary has been the same for the past 15 years or so. He has auto-immune disease and has been considerate with my lateness or inability to arrive at appointments. He takes my issues seriously and discusse's it with me, better than the pain clinic docs. I was being pumped with epidural steroids for 17 years.

      At this point, I am convinced that "pain clinics" are money clinics and not compassionate clinics. The Gov't has established most of the guidelines for it, to reduce 'addiction.'

      Unfortunately, I am yet to meet one person that is addicted to pain! Or able to tolerate it 24/7.

      Long acting pain medication is the worst in killing people and the most difficult to stop taking. I've read that the opiates will cause pain. In much disbelief and anger of 'someone' just not understanding. I am now of the belief, we must challenge our pain and use alternative medication to take breaks from opiates or lower our doseage.

      Approaching 60, I felt, my opiate dosage was high for my age and decided to get off the benzo's, opiates and other meds. To find out what my body needs. It is most difficult to do.

      And I must admit, it angers me, the way I was treated, while on such a large dose of opiates. I've been off of them for years and just started to re-dose with them. My doctors, are NOW, listening to me. When I request alternative medications.

      My HMO is adamantly against the use of medicinal marijuana. That is what I used, to manage my pain, more effectively. And I even took a tolerance break from that, from December until This month. I fear insurance companies will never be "pro" mmj (mecdicinal marijuana), for fear, they will have to provide it, just like oxycodone.

      My pain isn't the same everyday, so my medicine, should not be, as well.

      To have the ability to control my pain without whining to the M.D. I need something, it is very satisfying, to have conquered the addiction! I feel, I have control of my pain. I wish this for all patients suffering with this demonic disease. Fed

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        #4
        So good to hear from others but so very sad and frustrated for all of you, re PM clinic treatments. The PA that I see seems to really enjoy her power, since she is the one that tells me she will not order meds early, regardless of the circumstances. As all of you are aware, our pain is not the same every day. Some days are so miserable you feel like you might not see tomorrow. Then other days we can feel great and need very little to control pain.

        When I started this long acting pain med a few weeks ago, it was the first time in a few years where I finally felt well, without pain getting in the way. But just like any new med ( where you are started at the very lowest dose, understandably so) the body begins to react, metabolize, whatever, and may not work as well so the break through meds come in to play.

        All of it is such a freaking mess but it's necessary to be able to live a somewhat enjoyable, active and pleasant life.

        I have a new appointment with my PA this Monday and asked for the MD to attend also ( since I haven't seen him for over a year!!!) I'm hoping he will have a better understanding of the unpredictable life of an MS patient. Wishing all much love , controlled symptoms so you can enjoy life, and peace in this tumultuous world we live in... Ilsa from Wisconsin ....oh and by the way........it's April 19th and damn it, it's snowing here right now

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          #5
          OMGNDS I'm not alone with this!!!

          Thank you guys so much for posting your experiences at the PM clinic!! I'm way too flippin fatigued at the moment to share my (not) lovely details, but I can say...IM SOOO WITH YOU IN HOW I WAS TREATED TOO!!!!

          I have to get a cervical epidural for the pain now, two herniated discs, bla bla and I've done everything humanly possible for it naturally, physically, from the drs, yadda and it's at this stage and I need it.

          But since the PM dr and PA have no clue nor empathy for MS symptoms, has anyone had this procedure?

          The PA and nurse seemed to be quite adamant about me not moving for the injection (duh) and I tried to explain that I don't have complete control over some of my nerves to due the MS.
          (Not that I need a tranquilizer, like they offered- ummm it's not anxiety in my head people!) I just don't know how to communicate to the dr or staff that I have hyper- something or other- in my nerves so will do my best to stay still but don't want to end up with a paralysis because the needle moved. Heck, I've recovered mostly from my MS paralysis thank The Lord, don't want a mistake that can easily be prevented by the physician simply understanding my condition.

          And my neurologist even called the PM to explain for me on everything- bless his heart.

          Any info would be great! (Don't want to switch PM drs! process has taken too long at this point...)

          Sorry so long. Thank you for your posts already, I feel better knowing I'm not the only one watching the twilight zone before my eyes at the PM. Yes, be kind in all things and I thank you for letting me vent here too .
          There is always a rainbow!

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