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Posted 3/29/2008 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
My dr. wants me to see a pain management dr. for the arthritis pain in my upper back, has anyone been to one, did they help you and do you have any advice for me?  I have RA and Lupus both.  Thanks for any advice,  Linda
Posted 3/29/2008 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Linda, I haven't been to a PM specialist but people will be along who have. Also the chronic pain forum has lots of post about pain management doctors. It is the week end and this forum can get real slow so I wanted to offer what I could.
Sj
Posted 3/29/2008 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Linda.. welcome to the arthritis forum.. Sj is right.. there are quite a few people on here that have been to a pain management doc.. I wish I could go to one! What meds are you on right now for the RA and Lupus? Do you already have an appt lined up?
Posted 3/29/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
No I haven't let the dr. make the appt. yet because I wasn't sure if he could help me. I have tried lortab and I tried utram but still hurt if I use my arms for anything. I take plaquenil for my lupus and it help some. Linda
Posted 3/29/2008 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Do you see a rheumy at all? Or is your Primary the one that treats your Lupus?
Posted 3/30/2008 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I see a rheumy also but he leaves the pain meds up to my pcd.
Posted 3/30/2008 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
My rheumy said he couldn't give me pain meds. so I had to see my pc doctor for lortab.
Posted 4/9/2008 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Linda... I dont know what kind of pain you have...but i had lower and upper back pain for yrs and a few months the pain got so bad my PM dr loaded me up on morphine and all the other stuff...nothing was working..i was calling 911 i hurt so bad...i wanted to die......well I ask my brother for help..he is into juicing...well i was at my ends of options...so i tired it...and it worked for me..it took 3 weeks to get the pain down were i could sleep at nightand another 3 weeks to get the pain almost all gone...i havnt taken any meds for pain...only for a week after i started juicing..i would take 4 carrots,cucumber,beet and apple..everytime it hurt really bad..sometime 4 to 6 in a day..now its once or twice  and sometimes i skip a day now that im pain free....I got my juicer at wal mart for 60.00 bucks...cheaper then all the dr's and meds i was taking by far....well let me know if this helps...good luck...james
Posted 4/16/2008 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have been seeing pain management for my Sacroiliitis for a few months. I had developed an allergy to anti-inflammatory meds, so I have to take Oxycodone now. It makes be feel terrible, but it does help the pain. I have received 2 seperate SI injections from my pain mngt physician. The 1st ones worked a miracles. the 2nd set didn't help at all. Tomorrow I begin my 1st of 3 series of injections in my back. They will put me to sleep 3 times over the next 6 weeks. He swears it immensely helps pain from the back to the toes. It's supposed to last 6-8 months. I would definitely recommend making an appointment with a pain specialist. Pain is all they deal with. He also seemed to have more compassion than my Rheumatologist, and he gave me alternative options that she had never mentioned.

~Kate

Posted 4/18/2008 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks James and Kate for your advice, the juice would be healthy so I may get a juicer and see if it helps with my pain. I still haven't called the pain management dr. because I am starting with a new Rheumatologist soon so I will wait to see what she thinks. Linda
Posted 4/18/2008 4:34 AM (GMT 0)

Hi and welcome,

I have most of the same conditions as you and have just my 2nd appointment with a pain management doctor.  It's such acrazy process.  I see a rheumy and he rx some of my meds, my PCP prescribes some and then my oncologist (DCIS) also RX some.

As for the PM doctor, he told me with RA there is only about a 50% chance the meds will work, but I'm trying the steroid injections in the lumbar spine and then in the Cervical Spine area I believe.  The way I look at it, I have nothing to lose.  The pain gets so bad I can't stand it.  From what the PM MD said it's caused by the RA.  The inflammation in that area is compressing on nerves. 

See what your rheumy says but wouldn't be nice to find someone who could treat all aspects of this disease.

Stay well,

Raven

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