What do they do at Pain Management Clinics?

November 13th, 2009 | by Michael |
pain management
Dog Mama asked:


I have chronic back pain, and my regular doctor is sending me to one, since physical therapy isn’t working. (He doesn’t like to prescribe narcotic pain medication more than once). So what can I expect at the Pain Clinic?

TOBY

  1. 3 Responses to “What do they do at Pain Management Clinics?”

  2. By DeltaQueen on Nov 16, 2009 | Reply

    The very first thing that they do is ask you to take a Urine Test. If you are clean of any up prescribed or illegal drugs then they will start to work with you.
    They will have already read your chart that your doctor sent to refer you, but they will ask you lots of questions about your condition and they will work with you to determine the best medication regime to start you on. For instance if you work, or have daily responsibilities that would keep you from taking certain narcotics then they will find what is right for you during the day, or if you have any nerve damage with your back pain they will maybe try you on some medication that helps with the nerve. (sciatic, usually)

    Their primary objective is to determine how much medication you will be requiring to help you with quality of life. If you are on other medications they will make sure there isn’t any drug interaction. You usually see them 1 time a month, on those visits, you discuss how your meds are working for you and then they will decide if anything needs to change that would maybe work better.
    Pain Management Clinics are being used alot more now because there is such a problem with drug seeking patients out there that regular GP’s don’t like to get involved with long term pain patients. They are watched closely about the # of prescriptions they write and these Clinic employees and doctors are trained to detect deception and drug abuse. They are great for those who are truely in pain as well because of their extensive training.

    I am so grateful for my Pain Clinic, my quality of life has improved at least 50% since they have been working with me.
    Just be completely honest with them and thing will go well!!
    They do usually make you sign a contract with them though, stating that you don’t use illegal drugs and you won’t sell you medications. They reserve the right to give you a drug test at any visit, and at my clinic they say that they can call you in for a “pill count” at any time if they think you are abusing them.
    I don’t know if they really do that or not, they have never called me, but I still signed that they could if need be.

    Good Luck to You, I hope you get the relief that you are looking for!

  3. By Gina R on Nov 19, 2009 | Reply

    To become addicted to narcotic pain medicine. Pain management clinics are legalized “drug houses” and Pain mgmt MD’s are legalized “drug dealers.” Narcotic pain relief is wonderful, but the rate at which many Pain Mgmt MD’s increase dosage is stifling. I work at a County ER and see the devastating effects “Pain Mgmt” has had on so many lives. The MD’s get people physiologically/psychologically addicted to very high doses of very strong narcotics. When there is nothing stronger than general anesthesia, many MD’s cut them loose. Oftentimes these otherwise straight-arrow people end up in rehab with crack/heroin addicts. Not all Pain Management Clinics are bad, I’m just a little overexposed to the bad side of “Pain Management.” Do your research.

  4. By Masseur_at_Play on Nov 22, 2009 | Reply

    I’d let a massage therapist take a whack at it, such therapists are miricle workers when it comes to both backs and chronic pain.

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