Pain Management Clinic

cox1058
cox1058 Member Posts: 34
in Living with arthritis

Has anyone been referred to a Pain Management Clinic please? I'm just wondering what to expect. I was told I have osteoarthritis in hips, knees, left shoulder, arm and hand, along with long-term back problems. No medication has helped at all and they won't give me anything like Tramadol. I need to lose loads of weight so surgery isn't an option but exercise isn't possible either as most days I struggle to walk let alone do exercise. I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place and at 59 I just feel I can't go on with this level of pain much longer.

Comments

  • SoniaR
    SoniaR Member Posts: 68

    I feel your pain (literally!). I was referred to a pain clinic as they won’t do knee replacements as I’m overweight. I was offered a nerve block, but unfortunately it didn’t work. Doctor said it only works for 50% of people. I’ve had steroid injections which only last 3 weeks at the most and had an arthroscopy, where they suck out the debris, but no improvement after that. I’m in that place too - they won’t do surgery and even try to get me to reduce my pain meds - what planet do these doctors live on? . I’m now seeing a nutritionist and I’ve lost 10 lbs but still loads more to go. The criteria in my NHS trust is 35 bmi or below. However, I called my local private hospital and they will consider anyone up to a bmi of 40 which I am. At £16,000 per knee it’s a lot of money but a good friend has offered to pay for one, and I will do Equity Release to pay for the other. I will shortly be seeing the consultant to discuss. It’s such a cruel world sometimes and it is such discrimination. My NHS Consultant told me it’s just a cost cutting exercise to get people off the lists and he said he would do my op tomorrow if he was allowed. That says it all.

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 746

    I have been referred to a pain clinic three times and they were as as much use as a chocolate tea pot.

    They just wanted to drug me up with one appointment and no real help or advice.

    Trish Xx

  • Airwave!
    Airwave! Member Posts: 2,471

    Yes, I have been to the clinic and they referred me to their weeks long course, excellent. As far as I know they’re still trying to get all the doctors through it as well. As for exercise it’s different for everyone, from sitting in their wheelchair and raising their arms to using weights in the gym an£ everything in between. You should only do what you can without strain, nothing more otherwise you’re in to ‘boom and bust’ every time you exercise or try to do more.

    As for diets, let’s be practical and say the only one that works is eat less and less refined foods.

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