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Question: I am a 66 year old woman who has suffered from chronic pain since I was 50. I have tried many medications, physical therapy etc. the ONLY thing that has worked is Fentanyl Transdermal patch ( 100 mcg every 3 days). I have a perfect record with the clinic I have gone to for 8 years. Now they are saying I can't have that due to CDC recommendations. I was walking, able to play with my grandchildren and have a fairly normal life. Now I have been bedridden for close to 2 1/2 months as they have been reducing my meds. I can hardly walk, am having constant headaches etc. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, some neuropathy and chronic sinusitis. I have had 2 sinus surgeries which did not help. I have never abused my medication or Dr. Shopped. But I need to find a pain specialist who will compassionately care for me and believe me when I tell them that is the only med I have found that works for me. Can you advise me??
Brief Answer:
An interesting situation.
Detailed Answer:
When I was re-upping my medicare and medical insurances I was presented with all the things a doctor could do (all doctors). Obviously, general surgery and joint replacement isn't something I'm going to do as a clinical pharmacologist, internal medicine doc.
BUT 1) there was this large list of procedures pain doctors COULD do most of which I hadn't even heard of and 2) there's an equally large number of non-narcotic drugs that I prescribe for chronic pain where there is a particular thing that is broken, and not just, pain.
So, on inflamed joints, There are a huge number of drugs someone with this SHOULD BE ON because they work on the disease (and also pain). They damp down the immune system more (chemotherapy like methotrexate and anti-lymphocyte antibody) or less (medicines against hormones of the immune system including steroids, anti-Interleukin antibody, and aspirin).
On nerves, ANY NERVE DAMPER is likely to work and they are very safe. This includes lidocaine, anti-epileptic drugs and mood stabilizers.
Then, reasonably you could say that you've found that narcotics just plain worked for you. Less reasonably is not exploring drugs that fix the underlying condition. Pain management people could do quite a lot of procedures. The ones areound here only do ones that pay a lot and are about never effective (injections). There is the availability of narcotics in the context of addiction manangement like methadone and buprenorphine. Frankly, buprenorphine might not be enough narcotic to equal what you have previously been on (relatively high dose...that's the problem).
An interesting situation.
Detailed Answer:
When I was re-upping my medicare and medical insurances I was presented with all the things a doctor could do (all doctors). Obviously, general surgery and joint replacement isn't something I'm going to do as a clinical pharmacologist, internal medicine doc.
BUT 1) there was this large list of procedures pain doctors COULD do most of which I hadn't even heard of and 2) there's an equally large number of non-narcotic drugs that I prescribe for chronic pain where there is a particular thing that is broken, and not just, pain.
So, on inflamed joints, There are a huge number of drugs someone with this SHOULD BE ON because they work on the disease (and also pain). They damp down the immune system more (chemotherapy like methotrexate and anti-lymphocyte antibody) or less (medicines against hormones of the immune system including steroids, anti-Interleukin antibody, and aspirin).
On nerves, ANY NERVE DAMPER is likely to work and they are very safe. This includes lidocaine, anti-epileptic drugs and mood stabilizers.
Then, reasonably you could say that you've found that narcotics just plain worked for you. Less reasonably is not exploring drugs that fix the underlying condition. Pain management people could do quite a lot of procedures. The ones areound here only do ones that pay a lot and are about never effective (injections). There is the availability of narcotics in the context of addiction manangement like methadone and buprenorphine. Frankly, buprenorphine might not be enough narcotic to equal what you have previously been on (relatively high dose...that's the problem).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do you know of any pain specialists in the Charlotte/ Rock Hill, SC area that do use
Methods like Fentanyl that has worked for me for so long. I had a life, which I do not have now. I don't want to live another 15 - 20 years in bed. Please help me.
Methods like Fentanyl that has worked for me for so long. I had a life, which I do not have now. I don't want to live another 15 - 20 years in bed. Please help me.
Brief Answer:
This isn't what we do.
Detailed Answer:
We are an information service and do not prescribe, diagnose, or refer to people we do not see. I cannot say anything about these particular pain managment people XXXXXXX Pain & Spine - Ashvin K XXXXXXX MD - Pain Management
3.4 (64) · Pain Control Clinic XXXXXXX NC · (704) 503-9338
Open until 5:00 PM
Website
Directions
Pain Specialists of the Carolinas (Presbyterian Anesthesia Associates)
5.0 (1) · Pain Management Physician XXXXXXX NC · (704) 980-6000
Open until 4:00 PM
Directions
Dr. XXXXXXX S. Taub, MD
4.3 (11) · Physiatrist XXXXXXX NC · (704) 442-9805
that are in the area that you mentioned. Simply that they seem to fit the criteria you are mentioning.
This isn't what we do.
Detailed Answer:
We are an information service and do not prescribe, diagnose, or refer to people we do not see. I cannot say anything about these particular pain managment people XXXXXXX Pain & Spine - Ashvin K XXXXXXX MD - Pain Management
3.4 (64) · Pain Control Clinic XXXXXXX NC · (704) 503-9338
Open until 5:00 PM
Website
Directions
Pain Specialists of the Carolinas (Presbyterian Anesthesia Associates)
5.0 (1) · Pain Management Physician XXXXXXX NC · (704) 980-6000
Open until 4:00 PM
Directions
Dr. XXXXXXX S. Taub, MD
4.3 (11) · Physiatrist XXXXXXX NC · (704) 442-9805
that are in the area that you mentioned. Simply that they seem to fit the criteria you are mentioning.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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