I made an appt. w/ my pain management doc

**Cindylou** · 07-31-2009, 03:15 PM

Well, while I am waiting to see the back doc and consult about a facet block, I broke down and made an appt. with my pain management doctor who I haven't seen since early March, about 5 months ago. I can get in to him this coming Tuesday, so I am very pleased with this efficient appt. I really need a new consult to see what he recommends, etc. I know SCS and/or some type of drug infusion surgery (it's escaping me what it's called) is the end of the road treatment, but I am just at my wits end.
I went out last night (made myself go) with the girls to Thursday night Ladie's night out in downtown Excelsior. It is held every summer on Thursday nights for the ladies, and they offer discounted drinks, like 2 for 1 glass of wine. It can be very fun. I drove my neighbor and me there. Well, naturally I was the first one that needed to call it a night, because of my pain levels, and so on the way home I found myself in another one of those "trying to explain the pain" scenarios to my neighbor. Her classic question: "......well, why are you still in pain?" I typically answer with something like, "well, that's the million dollar question now, isn't it?" Or, "if I knew why I was in pain, then I would probably know where the pain was, and the doctor could fix where the pain was and make it go away." She is probably one of my closest friends, and I can't even talk to her about it. It's sad, isn't it? I had met her and lived here 1 year before my bicycle accident, and so this is the only Cindy she has known....the Cindy who fell off her bike and has had all these surgeries, and the Cindy who still hurts. What's wrong with her, I know she is thinking. What's the point? She's not gonna get it. She will never know the Cindy that skiied black diamonds for years, played on 2 tennis leagues, swam, biked, etc. That Cindy is long gone.

So that is another reason, one of many, why I am so thankful for all you spiney's who get chronic pain. Thank-you. Period. End of story.

**Justin** · 08-01-2009, 09:47 AM

Hey CL,

I'm so bummed to read that you are still struggling. I do have a question for you. Did your SI joint fusion relieve a lot of your pain? I'm just curious because I thought you were doing really well there for awhile.

Good luck with your PM doc. I hate to see Spine Patients struggle with chronic pain. You've truly been through the ringer and have been through it all since your bike injury.

Please let me know if the community can help in any way. We are behind you 100%--we'll always be here for you.

**KBear** · 08-01-2009, 12:39 PM

CL- Sorry you are feeling crummy again. I definitely know what you mean, that people who only know the 'after' you. Seems like most of my friends only know the in pain version of me. It's like you know them, they know you; but they don't know the 'real' you.

**daveinaustin** · 08-01-2009, 05:08 PM

Like the others, I'm sorry to hear you're still going through this. You've been a fighter, so keep it up! However, I fully understand and share your frustration.

Try not to beat yourself up and try to continue to look forward (easier said that done).

Good luck with your pain management appt.

-Dave

**Fuzzy** · 08-01-2009, 07:09 PM

I totally feel with you as well. Yesterday someone looked in total disbelief at me when I told her that I used to dance in competitive ballroom dance competiitions. Wouldn't believe me. Well of cause you will never see a dancer today with a full beard anyway so that made it even more unbelievable but the truth it s.
My best friend who has known me since I was a teenager has seen me struggle and understands but still when I sit in his car he just does not seem to realize that driving any kind of rough road in his low riding sedan HURTS the seats are STIFF and that he needs to slow down or avoid those uneven patches in the road. He does not now how to create a smooth ride for someone who hurts. He want to try but does not know how. So Cindy, I am with you, I stopped going out frequently because it was simply no fun to just hurt and hurt and hurt and be a social butterfly is not easy as so many who don't have these problems just don't know (but some do).

**Cindylou** · 08-02-2009, 09:13 AM

Thanks all. In answer to your question Justin....I was initially feeling like I was getting relief. Of course I was still on pain meds too. You know when you first come out of surgery, (well, realistically, a few days later) you are really tuned in to whether your pre-surgery pain is still there or gone, or maybe different. It's all so clear to you. Well, then, in my case, I couldn't do much while my fusion was healing, and during that time I got stiffer and stiffer. It still seemed manageable, but when I finally tapered off the pain meds, I think the true colors of my pain began to surface again. Also, doesn't help that I am still waiting like another 3 weeks for an opening to start physical therapy. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but that's the best explanation I can come up with. I'll see the pain management doc on Tuesday and see what we take away from that consult.

**Justin** · 08-03-2009, 02:05 AM

Good luck on Tuesday, CL!

**Cindylou** · 08-03-2009, 07:55 AM

Thanks Justin. Question for you. In addition to the SCS, what is the name, if you know, of the other procedure similar to SCS where it is the drugs that are infused into the spinal canal? Is there a proper name for it?

Thanks,

Cindy

**Justin** · 08-03-2009, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by Cindylou

Thanks Justin. Question for you. In addition to the SCS, what is the name, if you know, of the other procedure similar to SCS where it is the drugs that are infused into the spinal canal? Is there a proper name for it?

Thanks,

Cindy

A "pain pump" (intrathecal drug delivery). Here's a good read with pretty pictures --> Pain Pump.

We should talk by phone soon... I gotta run now. Have a great day!

**Cindylou** · 08-04-2009, 12:30 PM

I had my appt. this morning with my pain management doctor, and had to get him up to snuff on what's happened since I saw him last 6 months ago. We did discuss the possibility of a pain pump but he said that he wanted to try and narrow down my pain generators first by trying some injections bilaterally into my facet joints. (well, this is the appt. I was going to have with my regular back doc on this Thursday, which I will probably cancel now) My pain doc is set up to try the procedure right then and there. So that's what we did, at the lowest levels first. Then I rested for 30 minutes afterwards for observation. I definitely felt like he was putting the needle (s) in right where the pain is felt. And especially along with the numbing medication I got some pretty darn good relief. Right now it feels like the numbing medication is already beginning to taper off, so I'm experiencing pain again. It was never 100% gone, but felt significantly better, so I am slowly coming to the conclusion that my facets may very well be pain generators. He only did the lowest levels too, and said next time he could do more. He also said if this proves to be beneficial that we should consider cauterizing them, which I believe is what you, Justin, discussed with me in a PM. If the cauterizing doesn't bring relief, then we should move on to consider a pain pump. He also wrote me out a script for pain medication but I am going to wait to fill it, so I can pay attention to what he did today. It was only for 15 pills, but I sure hate to get back on narcotics. On the other hand, I am miserable.

I am so grateful I was able to get in today and actually have a procedure done. I am praying and keeping my fingers crossed that this will give me some long term relief. I really do like my pain management doctor. He has a very gentle way about him and he is a very active listener. I always walk away feeling like somebody cares about my pain. So, that's it. I will keep you posted by and by. They will call me in a week for a progress report, and likely I will go in the following week for the cauterizing. I am feeling a sense of hope again.