pain clinic??

Wobbly

Hi all,
Hope everyone is coping??

I have now been refered to the pain management clinic has anyone been to a clinic like this and what can i expect?? I have osteo neck spine hips and feet.

Many thanks
Wobbly xx

TheLordFlasheart

Hi wobbly,

First of all im not coping right now, my knee is been really active and keeping me awake...

As for your question about the pain clinic, I can help you there as I was referred myself and went there last month. The first thing they do is give you a questionnaire to determine how badly the pain is affecting you ( ie 1 not so much, to 10) in terms of pain levels and quality of life - my answers were all 7-8, so REALLY bad for me.

After that you speak to a pain consultant who will discuss with you how the pain is affecting you, and suggest treatment options (everything from physio to surgery).

After my discussion, I have been given morphine patches to use, and these do help lessen the pain to a more managble state, but surgery was also mentioned, specifically arthroscopy, which after a long thought and talking with family, have decided to go for when I go to my next pain clininc review.

Hope this helped, and best wishes

Alastair

GraceB

Hi, when I went to pain clinic (this was some years ago) they went through my pain, what caused it, made it worse, eased it, etc. They then discussed medication and made suggestions re this. They loaned me a TENS machine and showed me how to use this. I had to use this on a trial basis and then it was reviewed when I returned to pain clinic I think about 3 months after.

My GP at the time dismissed the medication instructions out of hand (!) as the pain specialist said I should have Coproxamol but that had just been "red flagged" by my surgery and withdrawn from general use. So I was put on Dihydrocoedine (apologies but I'm sure I've spelt that wrong). I subsequently ended up on Tramadol and Paracetamol and am still on that now. I take 100mg slow release Tramadol twice a day, up to 8 paracetamol a day. I also have some 50mg quick release Tramadol which I can (and do at times!) take for breakthrough pain - always ensuring I take as little as I can manage with and never more than the 400mg maximum in 24 hours.

When I returned to pain clinic the TENS machine had been such a success I'd already purchased my own, so the NHS loan one was boxed and I returned it. After a couple of years using the TENS machine it no longer worked for me (I was using it then just on my right knee).

I'd suggest you write down before your appointment what makes your pain worse/better/does it wake you at night/what medication you've tried, etc. That way you'll go in prepared. If you can, take someone with you as two heads remember better than one.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

GraceB

dreamdaisy

I went to one thirteen years after my troubles began; by then I was coping and managing my pain and they had nothing extra to suggest. (I didn't know they existed, no-one suggested it because they thought others had). I knew from much experience that TENs and hydrotherapy wasn't effective for me, I'd done the morphine and oromorph stuff and was concerned about the future lack of pain relief options that would lead to (including piling more meds into the mix) and they agreed that my distraction activities were working for me (and they still are).

Many find them a great help and I hope this is the case for you. DD

Slosh

I'm interested in this as I've been referred and I'm waiting for a date

Wobbly

Thank you so much for you replies.

Sorry to hear things are bad for you at the moment Alistair hope you get some relief from the arthroscopy. If not will you go for a replacement?? Difficult to know what to do isnt it. My husband needs a new knee but also needs to continue working so he darent have a new knee just yet. It's about the only thing he's too young for ha ha.
My appt has come through very quickly i was only refered 13th april my appt is 18th may so not too long to wait. The pain clinic is actually at our gp surgery - i thought it would be at the hospital. Right now i would just be grateful for some sleep the amitriptyline was great for sleep gabapentin not sleep inducing for me nor is the codeine. Pain is great at keeping you awake or waking you in agony for the slightest move. Pain is such a nasty bitch!!!

Hopefully i will get some good results from what they suggest at the clinic we are away for a few days and it would be good to feel a little better while we're away.
I'm thinking of getting a mobility scooter after advice / query from the physio who did my blue badge assesment but they're soooooo expensive.
What are your distraction activities?? I haven't had morphine or orromorph. I have a tens machine will get hubby to pop it on my back and give it a go.

I'll keep you posted

Many thanks
Take care
Wobbly xx

dreamdaisy

I bought a mobility scooter last September, it was the next logical step after the crutches, rollator and wheelchair. I must use it soon, it's been garaged all winter. :roll: I had to get a large one a) for comfort and b) because we have a long gravelled drive and smaller models could not cope with that. Do you receive higher rate mobility of DLA or PIP? If so that can be used to fund a scooter.

My distraction activities include reading, doing jigsaw and written puzzles, watching telly and I have recently renewed an interest in knitting and I am trying to teach myself to crochet properly. All of these can put a strain on my neck but if I feel tension creeping in I stop for a while, get up and move around. I also think up bizarre alphabet lists - that helps me get back to sleep. DD

Wobbly

Thank you for all your replies.
I will write everything down before i go to the clinic hopin my hubby can come with me depends on his work. I'm expecting so much from this pain clinic - probably expecting too much - like a miracle ha ha. Nevermind just some relief from the pain so i can sleep will be amazing.
I am thinking of getting a mobility scooter i am just a bit vain and think at 47 im too young for this however im on 2 walking sticks. I am on low rate care pip. I'm just in the process of filling in the form for a re-evaluation as things are alot worse now than when i got the original award. I must be mad coz that took 18 months to get thro and i didn't have to appeal. I have recently dropped my hours at work drastically too as i just cant cope.

Thanks again for all your tips and advice

Wobbly xx

dreamdaisy

Arthritis has no time for vanity, it's all about making the best of what we have and aids help us to do just that. I've been on crutches since 2002 and, as the disease has progressed, so has my arsenal of anti-arthritis weaponry. It can be an isolating condition but for me the rollator, the wheelchair and Boudicca (my scooter) enable me to do more, enjoy more and stay in touch with people. They do not reduce the pain but at least I hurt in comfort.

I can't recall who I said this to (if it was you I apologise) but, if I have a choice of two events on the same day I choose the one I prefer then spend the days leading up to it preparing by resting more and using my limited energies more carefully. Arthritis is a forceful condition, it forces adaptation, choices and solutions to difficulties and the aids are a solution. By not using them I further damage my joints which isn't the wisest move. DD

Wobbly

Hey DD you make alot of sense im always trying to carry on with everything and trying to brush it under the carpet - its only arthritis and i think i now need to stop doin that and actually take on board that i have a degenerative disease and i need to look after myself better and start refusing the stuff that i just dont wanna do n if I'm tired i need to take that rest and others are gonna just have to accept it or naff off.
I think I'm not fully accepting my situation yet and i don't know when i will. My head says yes my body says nooooo way but still i try n push on n then i fail n then i feel bad n beat myself up coz i failed again.

Wobbly xx

Slosh

One thing I have learnt since joining the forum is to always take note of the good advice DD gives

dreamdaisy

Oh boy. :oops: Thank you both for your kind words, they are entirely undeserved but much appreciated. DD

Slosh

DD, sorry but for once I HAVE to disagree with you. You really do deserve them.