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21 year old pain patient, phoenix, az

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Posted 8/21/2011 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have been a pain patient since I can remember. I have always had pain problems in my legs.

I was going to The Pain Center of Arizona but I was turned after a few years under their service because they could no longer help me/ accused me of not informing them of needing more medication.

Now, I am looking for a new place, but there are so many in Arizona and it's hard to find reviews that aren't either "This place is awesome!" or "this place sucks!!".

I have been looking at this place:
http://www.preferredpaincenter.com/

and:
http://www.azpaincenters.com/

But I need to find someone who has gone there and can tell me a real down to earth review of them. I need to know how bad they are, or how great they are, how well the doctors listen / don't listen. Stuff like that.

Thank you to anyone who can help
Posted 8/21/2011 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tim and welcome to Healing Well's chronic pain forum. You stated in your post that you have pain problems in both of your legs. Since you have been under medical care for this problem what is the diagnosis given as a result of this problem? Did you have some type of accident or trauma that caused this situation. You were really vague in your post.

It is terrible to see someone as young as you be dealing with pain as you have stated. However, pain has no age limit either. What I do see as a major hurdle and I think you already know this, because you are so young drs do not want to give a young person pain medication. I am not saying this is right, but it is a fact. Every young person that has come to this forum your age, all state they cannot find a dr that is willing to give them pain medication because they are young.

What the drs main concerns are if you start on pain medication now at a young age over time you may need stronger medications as time goes on and may run into a situation where there is no other medication available or the dosage required to help with the pain is just not possible.

You commented you had been with a clinic for a few years and they accused you of not telling them you needed more pain medication. I am assuming they dismissed you from their care. I am not understanding what you are talking about, would you mind giving us some better detailed info about this.

What type of treatment have you received to date concerning your legs? The more information that you can provide us with the better we are able to see if there is anything anyone here can do to help

Look forward to hearing back from you.
Posted 8/22/2011 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
I had unknown pain from the getgo of however far back I can remember. I want to say 5 or 6 years of age..

The issue as a younger child was that I was that, a younger child. They always thought I was faking for attention. But many times for weeks at a time I was not even able to put pressure on my legs because of the sharp pain in my hips, and no one knew why.

Skip years later to when im 13 and they did surgery on both feet. Something to do with the arches in my feet to raise them. Left side was successful and the right sides' implant came dislodged and was moving inside my foot. A year and a half later they took it out and said I had a broken heal and extensive nerve damage that I had been walking around on for a year. I went to a pain clinic after that (at 14) and they put me on Neurontin, Lyrica (i think), and eventually vicodin. I never took the vicodin because I hated the way it made me feel (stoned).

After that the pain just escalated. Vicodin 10/325, Oxycodone 10/325, etc..

I went to this other pain center a few years ago at 17 or so. After a while of Norco, oxycontin, etc, they put me on Hydromorphone. Which worked great for me. Less pain, very small headiness feeling, if any at all.

They were doing pain injections on me for a while which don't seem to be helping much I guess.

I ran out of medication a few times and I would contact them to let them know, but when I get there and there is nothing in my urine they act all surprised and say i never let them know. I know if I don't let them know they will get pissed at me, so I always did. But they say I didn't.

Yes, they dismissed me from their care. Just dropped me after getting 180 4mg Dilaudiid a month to straight nothing. I went through hell for a month and now I'm feeling better. But the pain is still very much there.

I had surgery to remove two tendons in my foot which brought me down for 6 months. They had to cut through a nerve, so that's what the running theory is. Post surgical pain / neuropathy I guess.

Post Edited (timlinton) : 8/22/2011 8:48:22 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/22/2011 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Tim, was it the PM clinic that rx'd the Dilaudid to you or another dr? I don't understand them dismissing you like that if they were the drs that rx'd the meds to you. I am going to assume they had you sign a Contract that spells out what they expect you to do as their patient as far as their rules go. Normally with PM drs if the patient is compliant with their treatment there are no problems. I will say this I am very surprised they rx'd Dilaudid to you considering your age.

One thing I will suggest as I really do not know about drs in AZ and I don't know if any our members live there either. Have you considered going to one of the teaching hospitals? Many times they are able help people that no one can or will. That may be an option for you. If you will look in CP101 above there is a list of teaching hospitals and see if there is one close you to.

I looked at the clinics you posted and the first one looks like he is a chiropractor and I don't see how chiropractic care would help you. The other is the typical PM clinic and they appear to not give pain medications, they are into injections and things of that nature. Many PM drs do not write scripts for pain meds, they do procedures and injections only.

Anyone can give name of a dr but that is not to say it will work for you, ok. Many times I have seen this happen. If this were me, I would call one of the bigger hospitals in my area and see if they have a referral service many of them do, tell them you medical situation and see if they can recommend someone, or else see about going to a teaching hospital. I just think you are going to be hitting a brick wall trying to get a dr to rx pain meds to you strictly because of you being so young.

Take care.
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