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+--- Thread: Pain Management (/showthread.php?tid=351)
Pain Management - Cervical_Fusion - 05-15-2007 12:07 AM
Reveived a call from a pain managment center today. WC has approved me to go see them. First visit will be this friday 5-18-07.
My understanding is they are considering me for a spianl cord stimulator. I was told today that the visit on Friday will be a 2 hour visit. That pain managment center is in a hsopital. so i got calls today for pre registering .. did all that over the phone. My question is what can i expect on a first visit. Why a 2 hour visit. Anyone have any input on this.
RE: Pain Management - tweety00 - 05-15-2007 01:23 AM
Just a guess but I bet they will bedoing a full physical on whoknows many new xrays or mris depending on howold yours are...
just a guess from anewbie
RE: Pain Management - broken trashman - 05-15-2007 11:04 AM
Cervical_Fusion Wrote:Reveived a call from a pain managment center today. WC has approved me to go see them. First visit will be this friday 5-18-07.on another forum i read that the spinal stimulation is kinda a 50/50 shot so please when you go in ask all kinds of question about ask about the risk and also ask about the percentage of pepole this has actualy helped compared to the ones that still had the same amount of pain afterward make sure you are well informed of all the option you have i hope this helps you and good luck i hope you get good news
My understanding is they are considering me for a spianl cord stimulator. I was told today that the visit on Friday will be a 2 hour visit. That pain managment center is in a hsopital. so i got calls today for pre registering .. did all that over the phone. My question is what can i expect on a first visit. Why a 2 hour visit. Anyone have any input on this.
RE: Pain Management - red1030 - 05-15-2007 11:12 AM
Hi all...I believe PM will be doing a complete physical to identify all the areas of your body that are affected by your injury and so they will know exactly where the pain is located and its ratio in comparison to other parts of your body. I am just guessing here..but feel that they would have to start somewhere. Most likely according to where they identify your pain to be located then if they feel the spinal stimulation will help they will talk to you about it and what it involves. I agree with trashman...ask a lot of questions..write them down before you go. Search the computer to find out everything you can about them before you go. This will help you make a more informed decision if PM wants to go in that direction for treatment. Best of luck to you...and keep us updated on how this all works out. I would love to hear exactly what it was about.
RE: Pain Management - Spring - 05-15-2007 12:04 PM
HI Cervical Fusion...Happy to hear...you are getting to see a PM. I sure don't know what I would do with out mine. I just wanted you to know I do have a spinal cord stimulator. You say this is your first appointment...I can tell you just as all the others have said History and Physical. Make sure you take everything that will help the Dr to understand what you have been through and what hasn't helped your pain. I also had to go through a mental elavation(SP) to make sure I understood about having a device implanted in my body. Aslo to make sure I was mentally able to control the device. As you know all this could use up two hours easily. At this appopintment you and your Dr just may think that the stimulator isn't for you and move on to something else.
I would say do not let people scare you from trying the SCS. They do what is a trial stimulator first. It is something I tell everyone if you get the chance to try..and you have tried everything else to control your pain and you are at the end of your rope. Why wouldn't you atleast give the SCS a try. You will have the trial for a week or so..what ever you and your Dr decide. And if after a day of two..you want it out it can be removed. The removal takes less then a minute. Then in your mind you know you tried. You will never have to wonder "if it"
Now I am going to tell you I have had trouble with my stimulator. You would be having yours implanted in the same area my is. Cervical. The one part of your that moves the most.
I had my trial stimulator implanted and thought this is going to help me....I wa so happy. But after the first day I lost the stimulation because the leads moved. I had to hold my head a certain way to get it to work. But when it works it does help my pain. I did have the perm. stimulator put in. The Dr's told me that the perm stimulator was more secure. Well that wasn't in my case. Within a week of my perm. stimulator I lost stimulation...again the only way I get stimulation is to hold my head a certain way or lay down a certain way. I was so discouraged...I just wanted it taken out...but it helped my pain...specially the flare ups I can lay down and turn up the stimulator very high. It has been a year or so I still haven't done anything with my stimulator. My PM had me go see a spine surgeron that does SCS to get his opinion. The surgeron tells me there is ways to get the SCS alot more secure in the cervical area so there isn't the movement. So I am really thinking about having mine replaced. So please make sure that the Dr that is doing your surgery has done alot of them in the cervical area and ask how he plans to secure the leads.
I have now written a book. If you have any questions please just ask. I know it is a huge decision to make. I will be here to support you in any way I can. There are videos on the net. I also have a video I can send you. Just ask. And it is yours.
RE: Pain Management - Bad Boy Bad Boy - 05-15-2007 12:15 PM
Cervical, sorry Pain Management, is one of my pet P's. If you have a good to great one then fine. If not, I say I'm sorry again. I myself I don't like them, nor do I care for them. I had used what is called a Occupational Doctor. They just seem to know so very much more in refference to the body, and the person. mental, and so on. They find better ways to treat you, medicate you, and when it comes to refferals, they seem to send you to the best. I never had many hit's or misses.
What they will mostly do as others said. They really only know your file, not you in person. mental state and all, let it all out, the first time, don't delay, learn your Cervical Areas, and list your problems and pains on paper. List your current medication on paper. Draw your questions on paper when they pop into mind. Heck, there can be a million questions, which are the right ones that fit you though. List how your daily activity use to be, and list how it is now, you know what you use to do, compared to what you can't do now. List your pain levels thought out each day, from wake up to sleep time, how sleep is, and so on. All on paper, make copies, and when done give it to them.
RE: Pain Management - Spring - 05-15-2007 12:26 PM
Bad Boy...never heard of a occupational doctor can you tell me more. But I do live in a small city. Please tell us more. Maybe you just helped me. I do live about 170 miles to a lot bigger city. I am willing to drive. Would it be easier if I started a new post. Although this might help Cervical with what difference is. Thank you...you are just AWESOME
Bad Boy...Please also tell me what about Pm doctors you find to be a Pet P. As you know we all look up to your opinion.
RE: Pain Management - Still in Limbo - 05-15-2007 12:29 PM
Hi Cervical, and I hope you are well today! I can't add much only to tell you I have been in PM for going on two years now, and they have been Great! My Dr. and her personnel have been very caring and understanding, and they do the best to make me as pain-free as possible. I wish the same for you!!
Spring, you may have thought you wrote a book, but in my opinion it should be a Best Seller!! Very Very Good Post!!
RE: Pain Management - Bad Boy Bad Boy - 05-15-2007 12:29 PM
Spring, PM me and give city and State you would have to go to. I will try to find them for you.
RE: Pain Management - Spring - 05-15-2007 12:53 PM
Bad Boy Bad Boy Wrote:Spring, PM me and give city and State you would have to go to. I will try to find them for you.
OKay..Bad Boy..I got on the phone to one of the big hospitals in the big ole city. They do have these doctors. Three of these doctors are in the same office building as my new surgeon I am seeing.
I just find it so interesting that I have worked in healthcare for so many years and never have heard of them. Heard of Occupational Therapist. Thank you for the offer to help me. But I think I got it figured out.