OK I was thinking (after a talk with my doctor) that pain management might be good for me. Well I thought that since she refuses to move off of the Vicodin 7.5 she has been giving me for 3 years. She said anything stronger..pain management. I need what is best for me , not worry what she thinks I am doing. The whole pain med problem is huge with the doctors. I dont abuse, I might take an extra one or 2 a day but I know that she is strict and will not give me a break on the next refill if this happens.
All that I know is I hurt ALOT she says it Fibro and my Ra is under control. I did read the other post about RA being controlled by Doc standards and the woman was still definetly in pain.
So if you all could give me you interpretation of what pain management has done for you I would appeciate it. I also contacted an accupunsurist for a possible appointment
Here are a couple or articles that may help:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/default.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/pain_management/article.htm
It is difficult for me to put the benefits of pain management into words...however, having adequate pain control has, as I have said before, given me my life back.
This is what I wrote a few months ago about reaching a level of adequate pain control:"My thinking is clearer, my emotions less volatile, I have a general feeling of well-being (without euphoria), and a sense of my body that apparently has been unconsciously dimmed for years as a way of avoiding pain. The neuro-psychologist has told me that I was "an expert" in "concealing" both the sensory and reactive dimensions of the pain I was living with. I have conditioned myself not to recognize pain so I do not have to confront it."
Further, as Jas and rocckyd pointed out in another topic related to pain management, pain pills/opiates are just one means of gaining control over chronic pain. I have found great comfort and understanding through psycho-therapy, occupation therapy, and physical therapy.
Best wishes, Shug
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Its hard to explain but I think anyone who reads this will know what I am talking about. The periods of time I experience little pain are the times I almost feel I have gotten my life back, I want to do things etc. I just wish that happened more frequently...I know I and my family who has to live with me would be very happy!
Extrum, I know what you mean... My Rheumy tells me my labs look great and my RA seems to be under control. Which is great, except for the near constant pain I am in. It's not a matter of whether I'll have pain but how much? and where?... So, at my last appointment, it finally came up that maybe a Pain Manager may be my next step... I am not sure why that hadn't been brought up before...