I can only speak for myself on this. For the last 1-3/4 years, I have been
seeing doctors at the University of Pennsylvania Pain Clinic in Phildelphia.
This came about because my primary care doctor wanted someone more experienced
than himself to handle the pain part of my disease. To be truthful, it was
one of the best things he could have done for me. The doctors at the Pain
Clinic are wonderful. Talking to a doctor (primary care doctor) who does not
really understand chronic pain and is hesitant about prescribing strong pain
pills made me feel like a child again begging my parents for the keys to the
car. I wasn't sure what to ask for and he wasn't sure what to give. Needless
to say, it was uncomfortable for both of us.
When I first met the doctors at the pain clinic, I knew I would be all right.
I go once a month and am there approximately two hours. The first part of the
apppointment is spent with the interns/residents. They do a lot of listening
and ask lots of questions. This dialog is then given to the anesthesiologist
(? on spelling) for review. The anesthesiologist then comes in for a Q&A
session. Regularly, they examine me for new problems or just to check on my
condition. I never feel hurried or misunderstood. Also, they are very much
aware of the need for support groups, and believe in seeing a pshchologist or
psychiatrist if they need is there.
I presently have three diseases--TM, systemic lupus, and osteoporosis; and I
can't forget the daily headache, which can be just a headache, a tension
headache, or a full blown migraine. There were many times when I first
started with the clinic that I wanted to stop because of the distance. This
passed after the first six months when I began to realize they were the first
people who really understood my problems/pain. This in itself puts them at
the top of my list for sainthood.
I would recommend very strongly your giving the pain clinic a few months to a
year for them to work out a program to treat your pain. As for myself, I took
almost every antidepressant there is till I found one I could tolerate. Then
I was on several anticonvulsive meds. Then I tried, from the bottom of the
pain chart, every type of pain medication available--at least it seemed that
way. There were weeks of being miserable, crying, sleepy, absolutely no pain
relief. Then all of a sudden I started to adjust to some of the meds and had
some relief. It takes "time and patience". Where I am today took over a
year to get to. This would have never happened if I would have quit after the
first three to four months (when I wanted to quit). If you get a doctor you
aren't communicating with, change to another doctor within the department.
This is not uncommon--the secretaries/receptionist told me people do it quite
regularly. Changing is better than quitting--if this is possible.
Good luck to you.
PatS.