I'm not sure what my next step is as far as pain management. I have a rheumy who prescribes my rheumy drugs, and I've got a GP for infections and stuff, but my question is - who do I see for pain? I have been getting by on some prescriptions from ER visits and doc visits from when I first got diagnosed, but they are running out. I don't like to take narcotics too much, but sometimes they are a necessity just to get through the day. I didn't think it would become an issue, but now that I'm going on a year since my diagnosis and this condition doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast, I think I might need to consider long-term.
I've heard of pain management docs, but how do you go about getting in to see one? My rheumy and my GP are okay with what I take, but they just do not prescribe narcotics. I don't want to come across as a drug seeker or an addict - I really don't take much - but I'm sure you guys know where I'm coming from. I have three kids and a life - and some really painful joints!! But I've also heard horror stories about pain management docs stringing people out. My mom was a drug addict, and I surely don't want to go down that path. I want to be smart about it, but I don't want to be a martyr either!
Hi Mom in LA. It was my GP who got me in to see a pain specialist, although my RD was the first to prescribe narcotics at a low dose. They will not think you are a drug seeker, you are a mum in pain that needs to be able to take care of herself and her family, demand to see somebody, take control of your care, my pain control has been so much better since I saw my pain specialist, mind you I saw the (public system in Australia) specialist first and they were hopeless, now I have gone private, what a difference? He is treating all of my pain (spinal, fibromyalgic, RA, OA etc) instead of just RA like my RD. Good luck, Janie.
My Rhuemy prescribes narcotics. I find it very strange that yours does not. Especially if you ask for a script with say 30 pills and no refills to cover a 90 day time period, to just help out on your bad days. RA is very painful at times and pain really lowers the quality of our lives.
You will probably want to ask for that referral sooner rather than later. Pain management clinics tend to have long waiting periods. When I was referred to my dr, the wait was close to 4 months. Also, you will have to sign paperwork/pledges at any pain clinic. They are very strict and have rules/guidelines that you will have to follow.
My Primary Care Physician does my pain medication prescribing. All other doctors will not but, they are all in the same hospital, but only Primary is allowed to prescribe pain pills. Also, don't let anyone make you feel uncomfortable about asking for pain pills. I am fortunate that my Dr. allows for discussion about the pain pill options and even allows for me to be prescribed oxycodone hcl because I told him that I didn't want to be taking all of the acetaminophen in all of the pain pills. Oxycodone hcl has nothing but pure codone, thus not overloading my liver with all those mgs of acetaminophen, somewhere between 375 and 500 mgs per tablet times 8 tablets per day at one time in my ra journey and that's a lot of acetaminophen. Just something else for you to consider and talk to with your narcotic provider.