PAIN MANAGEMENT

cox1058

Hi all,

Has anyone had useful help after being referred to a pain management clinic? After 3 x telephone calls, the lady I've been speaking with did a relaxation technique with me (which I have done thousands of times in the past for an anxiety issue), and then wanted to refer me to a Psychologist…she's told me that not all conditions/pain responds to medication so I just have to learn to live with it. She said a Psychologist will teach me how to separate my thoughts from the pain, so I can get on with life without the pain…I just have no confidence in this at all. I have constant pain when I am awake in my shoulder, left arm and wrist/hand, my back, both hips, both knees, groin, lower stomach area…I can't believe that at 60 years old, I'm going to have to face the future with this amount of constant pain…

Trish9556

Hi @cox1058

I have had three referrals to the Pain Management Clinic. All they ever did was fill me up with pills that didn't work and had side effects I didn't like and didn't listen. I will refuse any more attempts.

As much use as a chocolate teapot….or as it's Christmas, as much use as a chocolate coin!

Trish

frogmorton

Hi @cox1058

I am so sorry you are struggling so much with pain it's just awful. I'm sorry I can't remember which type of arthritis you have it does sound to be very widespread.

Are any of the issues you have operable? (is that actually a word) l mean are there surgical options available to you it just seems as though you have a lot to contend with there and if even one issue could be helped it would be good.

Going back a few years probably pre-covid yes. We used to get fantastic reports from pain clinics, but I haven't heard much positive recently. I think I would have felt fobbed off and possibly a bit judged after that last telephone call. Have you not seen anyone face to face yet I wonder?

If not, and you went ahead with it, would the psychologist be the first actual person you met in real life? If that is the case I would do it because someone needs to see you and understand just how much pain you are in.

Sending some supportive, but useless ((()))

Toni x

cox1058

@frogmorton Hi Toni - thank you for your response, not useless virtual hugs at all :-) I appreciate I am a complex case as I have had anxiety issues for 30+ years. I work from home and don't have any friends really - my own doing due to having panic attacks etc - people get sick of listening to you and just tell you to pull yourself together! I'm also overweight, considerably. Because of my phobias of all things medical, operations would not be a consideration for me unless life-threatening I think. I was originally diagnosed by a first contact practitioner with osteo arthritis, though I believe there is something else going on because of the widespread pain. In terms of meds, whilst I am overweight, I don't see any signs of joint swelling so no medications given such as Naproxen, Etoricoxib etc have helped. I was put on Amitriptyline of which I take 70mg daily - this does nothing for the pain either but has helped me sleep a solid 6 or 7 hours now. Aside from that I am given co-codamol which I try to save for days when I have to venture outside the home. I am lucky to work from home, but any movement whatsoever is just so painful. I think hubby is sick of listening to me, and I just really feel that I can't see myself going on like this for much longer. Basically I think because of my age and weight issues, coupled with the anxiety, I feel I've been written off…they've never got to the bottom of my anxiety issues after 30+ years, so I feel like this is just something else I'm going to be left to get on with x