Doesn't Hurt to Ask - Interventional Pain Mgmt

[Melly]

Just wanted to share this as Ive noticed a number of posts here and there about Interventional Pain Clinics on this forum with the major issue with them seeming to be that they only do injections and procedures (and expensive ones at that) and not medications, which of course is not necessarily the right solution for someone needing to continue (or be placed on) medications.

This was something I had never even heard of until I ran across this particular place a few months back while searching for a new "real pain clinic".(Integrative might be the term, I'm thinking now, for when they prescribe medications as well as do injections and procedures??). So I was pretty shocked at my first appointment there this past October when they explained to me that they were "interventional" and don't actually prescribe medications.

In any event, because I'm lucky enough (unlike many people here I've been gathering from the posts I've been reading) that injections do help me a bit (although I can't imagine how they could ever be a replacement for medication for widespread or any kind of "traveling" pain anyway) I have kept going there while continuing to search for a new "real clinic" again.

But to get to my actual point here in this post, today at my appointment (with my RA building up again into a full fledged flare) I just asked him straight out, if even though this isn't their typical procedure, if there was a way he could possibly help me (or talk to my PCP or RD about helping me) with whatever solution he might recommend to get through this latest flare up. And guess what? He said yes! Looked back through my old pain clinic records and asked me if the Dilaudid was prescribed for me back then really made a big difference, how long my flares usually lasted at peak pain level and then wrote me a prescription to cover the next two weeks.

This might not seem that great since it's not a long term solution by any means. But I am thrilled. I really did not want to even ask, especially as it had been made clear to me at my first appointment that this is not part of their treatment program and I find it hard enough to have to ask for something where it is what they do.

But now I am so glad that I did. Not only because I wont necessarily just be confined to the bed for the next week or so, but more importantly, because it made me feel better again about Doctors having compassion and about my
ability these days to even try to advocate for myself anymore and to at least
ask to get my needs met. So for anyone else out there who might be in a situation similar to mine and/or also feeling hopeless about ever getting any help from anyone ever, I just wanted to share my small (but positive for a change) experience.
Regards,
Melly

Ps This probably didn't actually need to be a whole new thread but I wasn't sure where to put exactly so hope it's ok or that it can be moved if not...

[lucyloo]

I'm so glad that you are able to get some help. Your situation sounded like hell on earth and you need someone to listen to you. That's great that you were brave and asked.

[betsky]

@Melly
IVE LEARNED THAT THE ONLY PERSON IT HURTS (NOT TO ASK) IS OURSELVES.
I'M VERY PLEASED FOR YOUR SAKE RE.DILAUDID
IT MUST HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS TO THE DR. THAT YOUR
SITUATION, PAIN,IS THE REAL DEAL.
PERHAPS THE CLINIC SPECIFICALLY STATES NO SCRIPS IS TO AVOID THE HASSLES OF D.S.THE SPECIALISTS PROBABLY
PREFER TO DO THEIR JObs WITHOUT THAT.
IN SO SAYING TO GET TO THAT MEDICAL SPECIALTY, THEY MUST HAVE A D.O.A.NUMBER IF NOT A SCRIPT PAD.

[Melly]

@betsky, Hmmm... I hadn't thought of that, and probably wouldn't have because I am admitted still very undereducated from the medical/legal point of view - though working on it. I could tell that he definitely wouldn't ever want to take my scripts over as a whole though because he knows I'm still searching for a more integrative pain clinic and IS NOT trying to keep me there instead. I'm still happy, and not just because I'm currently back on a med that works well enough to keep me going somewhat through the flare I'm having right now, but mainly because it just felt SO good to be taken and treated seriously again, even if this is just a temporary or even one time thing. I guess it's helping with my confidence as much, if not more, as my pain level.
Regards, Melly

[chera]

@Melly my cousin goes to a pain doctor in Louisiana who's clinic is called Interventional Pain Management. They do prescribe pain meds. However, they also administer facet injections etc... I've noticed that alot of "interventional" pain clinics are headed up by neurologists rather than other types of doc's. Just thought that was kinda interesting