What Should I Expect at My 1st Visit With a Pain Management Specialist?
Question by Queen V: What should I expect at my 1st visit with a pain management specialist?
[rewrite]I have my 1st appt with a pain management dr. this afternoon, and I’m a little nervous. I have chronic back pain and pain from endometriosis. I’ve been in pain for so long and have so many symptoms. I don’t know how to word everything and not leave anything out. I’ve been given the runaround so many times by other docs, I’m afraid I won’t be taken seriously. I’m in so much pain and haven’t been able to sleep because I can’t get comfortable. I feel desperate at this point. I don’t want to look like a druggie but I’m really hoping they can give me something to lessen my pain so I can get some sleep.
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Best answer:
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Answer by dunabow
Since your are being sent to a Pain management specialist you will be taken seriously. They will probably try pain pills first and then make suggestions for therapies. Don’t worry
Answer by SLEEVES
I also suffer from chronic back pain after injuring my back at work (herniated discs). Usually the first appt is discussing your current meds and deciding if other alternate meds should be first tried such as Pain patches eg. Norspan, even epilepsy medications which target the neurotransmitters sending these pain signals to the brain. Some of the procedures that they may discuss with you are facet joint blocks (facet joints being the bumpy part of the spine we can feel when running our hand down our back), epidurals which like the facet joints can be injected with a type of steroid as well as an anesthetic. After exploring these avenues if there is still no change you may have a disco-gram to see if the discs in the spine are the cause of pain. Hopefully you have enough of an improvement and can regain normality before getting to the stage of having a disco-gram. I am currently in the process of seeing a neurosurgeon discussing surgery options. Unfortunately as far as endometriosis I am unaware of the pain management treatments and suggestions they would provide, but fully understand your desperation for a resolution to your health issues. My fiance also has endometriosis which she has suffered with for over 20yrs from the age of 18. And according to her specialists one of the worst cases in Australia, and yet she still goes to work everyday…a truly amazing and inspiring woman. Please hang in there and I hope things go well as far as your pain management treatments. I think you should not feel that you are looked upon as a druggie, but someone who wants quality of life given back to her, but I really do understand that feeling I too felt the same way. Once again Good Luck, I hope things start to look up for you in the near future. 🙂
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Don’t be nervous. The first visit will likely be a consultation. When you arrive for the first time, it would be a good idea to arrive about 15 minutes early. You will have a ton of paperwork to fill out (they jokingly said they would treat the carpal tunnel that resulted from filling out all of the forms..lol) for the typical stuff, regarding privacy, symptoms, current medications, ect. In many states you will have to consent to drug testing as a condition of treatment. This is required so that people cannot abuse their prescribed medications or take illegal drugs.
If you have had any X-rays, MRI’s or other images done of your back, these will be reviewed. If not, you will likely have either an X-ray or an MRI ordered, so the doctor can reach a diagnosis and plan the best treatment for your problems. Pain management doctors perform many procedures (such as injections) to help patients with pain, allowing them to get off or reduce their dose of pain meds, muscle relaxers, ect. Depending on the doctor’s diagnosis, there are procedures that may allow you to get your life back, and be able to sleep and function without being on heavy medication. I am probally the world’s biggest wimp/baby when it comes to needles/medical procedures, but I did just fine. You will, too. 🙂
During the first appointment, the doctor will ask about your symptoms and what causes your pain and what makes it worse. If there any procedures that can help alleviate your symptoms, this will be discussed with you, and this will be scheduled.
I don’t know about the endometriosis, other than it can be very painful. Hopefully your pain management doctor can help you get back on your feet and back to normal. This is the goal, not to be drugged up to the point of becoming a zombie. I had the same fears/concerns that you currently have.
Good luck!