Managing Pain - Pain Clinic? | Arthritis Information

 

I have not been on here much in the last week and I hope you are all doing well. At my appointment a couple weeks ago it was decided to taper on the prednisone since my labwork was all good and I have been able to start exercising some. The trouble is that my pain level is such that I can manage to get through the day only if everything goes perfect. That is, if I get lots of sleep, can get out of bed and exercise a little, have a low-stress day at work and do basically nothing in the evening. Then I have to rest a lot on the weekend which is usually impossible. One thing off throws everything off. My pain level keeps increasing and I can't sleep and then struggle to get up and exercise and then I am tired all day and not able to handle stress. Come home grouchy go to bed and start over. I think my pain is probably mild compared to what most of you deal with - I feel guilty complaining about it. It is just so widespread and so blasted relentless. Every night I have dreams about being stung by bees, being in accidents, even that someone is cutting off my fingers one joint at a time.

HI Laker, I am sorry you are having so much pain.  It is normal for us unfortunately.  I have been to a pain management clinic.  I had to stay in for 2 weeks, they took all my meds away and I had to suffer, if I kept bothering the nurses, all they could give me was an anti-psychotic drug which did nothing.  I understand that they were only trying to help me, but I am afraid, drinking a glass of warm milk, meditation and thinking good thoughts can only do so much for pain, so I was not impressed at all.  Sorry to be so negative, I fould the classes interesting but I am afraid I knew practically all of the info given as I find we need to research to understand our disease and that is what I have always done.

If you do go, I hope you get something better than I did out of it.  I am actually going to a private anaesthetist who specialises in pain management on the 1st of May, I will update you then on if it was any better.  Cheers and good luck, from Janie.     I go to a pain management clinic. I have seen the dr. twice and I go back next Wed. I love him. My RD sent me since I have been having a hard time. He calls me "opiate resistant" since I really hate to take them. It's just me and a toddler so I am afraid of anything that alters judgement. Anyway-my pain dr. has been wonderful. I had the nerve block done last week which did help for a while. He told me it won't be a quick fix but we will find something that works.

Jane--it sounds like you were at something different. Sorry you had such a bad experience. The pain clinics I know and that I have known others to go to are just like a regular dr.'s office. You go for your appointment. Most pain docs are Anesthesologists and Psychiatrists combined.. They will use meds and other methods. They will make you sign a contract regarding pain meds. Basically, only they will be allowed to prescribe them. Very strict there.If you are dreaming you are being stung by bees thats one thing if it really feels you are being stung by bees get your potasium checked. I would wake up and jump straight out of the bed because it hurt and thats what it felt like being stung by bees. And sure enough my potasium was low.
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