PM clinic

[bronco54501]

I have my first appointment with PM tomorow. I guess I am nervous on what they are going to do. As many know I am working full time and also going to pt 2 times a week for scar tissue and back/hip/leg pain.


Just what do I expect from the first visit? .............Bronco

[jayne]

my first visit was a whole lot of paperwork he reviewed my injuries and what my Docs have tried....I then had to sign a paper willing to do a drug test everytime I came in to make sure I was abusing the drugs..

[sparkey]

I think the first pain clinic I went to was the best. It was DMHC and they are very understanding of people and how to deal with people that live with pain everyday of thier lives. First they will go over how you feel and the history of how your injury began, and what has been done for you sofar. Every place is different. They should have your records before you go to your first visit.

I see you said you go to PT 2 x's a week. Some pain clinic's also have PT as a part of your treatment and if the PT you go to now is out of the way maybe this new pain clinic can set you up for PT if they have that to offer there within the place. It would make it more convienient for you to have everything done in one place. Also some pain clinics will also take care of your medication treatment. I know mine did in the begining and then when I was pretty much stable they told me to go to my primary care doctor to have him do the prescriptions.

The new pain clinic I go to now will be only my second visit. The first visit was not a pleasant one and then about a week ago was my second visit which went much better. This new pain clinic also ordered an MRI on my first visit which after 2 yrs. of being injured not once did I ever have one ordered. I just got a second opinion from this pain clinic doctor that I do have RSD on my hand/arm and will be having an injection in my neck on May 5th to hopefully get some relief.

I think you will be very pleased with the pm clinic as I feel they are so much more caring because that is the type of patients they deal with all day long. Please let us know what you think. Good luck.

[bronco54501]

Thanks for the speedy reply, I will let you's know what I think.

[UndercovrAngel]

Bronco,

I can't wait to get back to my pain clinic. I realize now, after 2 months without meds and treatments, how much good they were doing me.

Prior to my first visit, I was sent a large packet of papers that I needed to fill out and bring to the first visit. They had already been forwarded my record by my ortho that had been treating me, as well as my nuero. So were already aware of why I was there. I spent well over 2 hours in the office with the Dr. answering questions, being put through different tests and like Jayne, signing a contract with them. Though with mine, I only do the UA every 6 months, I also agreed not to go to any other Dr for pain meds, and if given something by another Dr, I was to notify them of said scrip within 24 hours of getting it.

I have undergone a number of lumbar blocks, med changes, mri's, emg/ncv's, pshycological testing to see if I was a good candidate for an SCS ( I was, but my body wasn't) and other diagnostic testing. My PM Dr tries to stay on top of everything that I have medically wrong, even if it doesn't pertain to his area of practice. It helps him to know so that something he might prescribe or try on me doesn't interfere or cause more damage.

I hope that you like the Dr that you are seeing tomorrow. A good PM Dr can make all the difference in what you might and might not be able to do later on down the road.

Angel ^j^

[bronco54501]

Well I went and had to fill out paper work, pain raiting and all stuff on where when why and how I hurt and did not have to sign nothing about drug testing. I think I like him so far, he was very friendly but professional at the same time. Since I have multi injuries he asked me to give him the worst pain and I said lower back/ SI joint. So he does some tests on me and measured movement and said I dont think it's your si instead thinks it L5 area. He gave a script for pt to give me tens unit and try it and scheduled for injection of hydrocortizone ( spelled?) Wants me to remain in pt for scar tissue and new treatments.
He was just amazed on my injuries and how well i have healed from it. He was upset that I was taking 2 celebrex along with the 6-10 tylenol aday to try to cope. I did not know tylenol was bad for the liver, but I'm no doctor.
I have had no dr ask me the questions like he did is this normal.
Like depression, hobbies, what I want to do or cant, sex life since injury. I mean you name it it was talked about and he wrote every thing down I said. Now that I bores you's I just wanted to let you's know. ..........................Thanks Bronco

[dgray]

bronco54501 Wrote:I have my first appointment with PM tomorow. I guess I am nervous on what they are going to do. As many know I am working full time and also going to pt 2 times a week for scar tissue and back/hip/leg pain.


Just what do I expect from the first visit? .............Bronco

I went to a PM for about a year. It was for headaches, which may be very different from lower back pain. It wasn't fun. I probably wouldn't do it again, but it did stop the headaches for a while. The idea behind my treatment, which may be very different from yours, was to block the nerve from my neck to my head so my head wouldn't 'get the signal' to hurt. The relief was great, but getting there was hard.

dgray

[UndercovrAngel]

bronco54501 Wrote:Well I went and had to fill out paper work, pain raiting and all stuff on where when why and how I hurt and did not have to sign nothing about drug testing. I think I like him so far, he was very friendly but professional at the same time. Since I have multi injuries he asked me to give him the worst pain and I said lower back/ SI joint. So he does some tests on me and measured movement and said I dont think it's your si instead thinks it L5 area. He gave a script for pt to give me tens unit and try it and scheduled for injection of hydrocortizone ( spelled?) Wants me to remain in pt for scar tissue and new treatments.
He was just amazed on my injuries and how well i have healed from it. He was upset that I was taking 2 celebrex along with the 6-10 tylenol aday to try to cope. I did not know tylenol was bad for the liver, but I'm no doctor.
I have had no dr ask me the questions like he did is this normal.
Like depression, hobbies, what I want to do or cant, sex life since injury. I mean you name it it was talked about and he wrote every thing down I said. Now that I bores you's I just wanted to let you's know. ..........................Thanks Bronco

Sounds like you have found yourself a very good PM Bronco.

Unless you physically search out the information on medications that you take, whether prescribed or OTC, one can't be aware of every side affect of everything. I am glad that he told you about the tylenol and how it can effect your liver.

Yes, his delving into subjects such as depression, hobbies, what you can and can't do, sex life etc., is very normal for a PM Dr. He wants to try and do his best to get you back to where you can enjoy your life again and not suffer so much. It is a big step forward when you are once again able to do something that you hadn't been able to do in some time because of your injury. That is one of the reasons I can state I think you have a good PM on your side now.. He is going to treat your body as a whole, not just the injury.

Angel ^j^

[sparkey]

I also agree he sounded like a good doctor asking all those questions. I think especially the sex part as I was never asked that and I wish I was. I have tried many times to always say I am having trouble with sex with all these drugs and not one would listen or just change the subject. I know there are meds out there that can help with that and wish one would offer some for it.

I am very surprised that he did not want to take you off the tylenol and give you some sort of pain med to subsitute them instead of kill your liver. If he gave you any narcotic of any sort is when he would of had you sign the form that you would not be seeking meds from any other doctors and you would be subject to a UA test at any time they asked you for one. This way they could check to see if you are taking them or selling them because the ones they give you get good street value money. Also there is other reasons I am sure, but that is one of the reasons too.

So glad you had a nice visit and hope that this doctor can help you. I have a Tens unit and I tell you I would be lost without it. Actually I went to go use my Tens unit last night and I misplaced my pads for it as I keep them all in one big envelope and I could not for the life of me find where I put them. I am going to search this house high and low today and find them. If not, I will call for some more today. The IC pays for the pads and batteries and the leads whenever you need them. You are entitled to so many per year. I cannot stress how much relief I get from this machine.

[bronco54501]

Thanks gang for all the input, I must say my original treating dr is going to be mad. He was totaly against getting the tens unit, says most people try it for a week and put it in the closet and dont use it after that. He also says I can only get up to 3 shots of cortizone and I wouldnt be able to get anymore. Is this true, I have never got 1 before. My father has but he was alergic to the cortizone and couldnt get anymore or he just didnt get anymore. They say this is to isolate where my pain is coming from, I would hate to use up 1 of the 3 times for diagn.