Pain Management Centers

[spacemountain]

Hi everyone, I've never posted on this board before, but I'm hoping you might be able to help me with a question. Here's a little background:

Back in April 09, I slipped on a wet floor and fell on my left knee, and that's what started all of the problems. The pain continued to get worse, so I saw an orthopedic surgeon. After trying lots of different medications, physical therapy, and a cortisone shot, none of which helped, we finally decided to do arthroscopic surgery in October. He removed the medial plica in my knee during the surgery, and I was supposed to get better. I went for 9 more weeks more physical therapy, and while my strength and range of motion were improving after the surgery, the pain did not get any better. I then started developing pain in my right knee as well. At first I thought it was overcompensation, but it got worse and the symptoms started to mirror those of my left knee. The pain in both knees has just continued to get worse and worse ever since, and I also have horrible burning pain as well in both knees. I had a lot of bloodwork done to rule out certain conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and lupus, and it all came back normal. My OS then sent me to a rehab physician. He tried Lyrica and then Cymbalta, both of which did not help and I had negative reactions too as well. Now the rehab physician has sent me to the Center for Pain Management in Chicago.

I am worried that this center will only teach me how to live with the pain. I am young, only in my 20's, and I still have a lot of hope of finding an actual diagnosis and getting rid of my pain for good. I'm not ready to just accept living with the pain. For anyone who has experience with pain management centers, do they actually help try to cure you, or do they just help you come to terms with chronic pain?

Thanks so much

 

[jmartinez1895]

They will try and find the cause and cure for your pain, but if you have a condition that is not treatable then they will help you deal with that. Have you tried seeing a chiropractor or maybe even an acupunterist. I belive everthign is worth a try if it will help with pain with out having to take a handful of pills every day.

 

[peemagg]

Has any of the Dr's said anything about Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)? If not you might want to google it and see if it fits what you are going through and maybe mention it to your DR's. It quite often gets misdiagnosed and is very misunderstood.

I see a pain clinic here in Michigan for issues I have with my foot. I get pain shots in rounds of 3's, with about 1 month between each. It sometimes helps, sometimes does not and it is not an immediate fix. It will take time. I have been battling with my pain since 2008 and only as of this past week have I had any relief at all.

I hope that they can help you and find the answer to the problem for you quickly. Living with the daily constant pain is no fun what so ever.

 

[spacemountain]

Thanks for the replies, sorry it took me so long to respond. I actually did go to a chiropractor for a couple weeks before the surgery, but it didn't help. I'll look more into RSD. I have read about it before, but I think one of the symptoms is changing colors of the skin, which I don't have, so I'm not sure if I could still have it or not. I'm going to see a rheumatologist tomorrow, as my OS recommended, so I guess I'll see what she says and hopefully she'll have a different perspective that can see something new.

 

[SueM in MN]

I am worried that this center will only teach me how to live with the pain.

The hospital I work at used to have an outpatient pain center housed in our hospital. It has since moved to another location within our system and one of my friends is a patient at the Pain Center.

They should be looking at both how to get ride of the pain for good, if possible, and how to live with/treat/control the pain that can't be eliminated

 

[deerhart]

another function of a pain management center is to have a centralized doc who is prescribing ALL your pain medication/techniques instead of having it done by several different doctors. Think of it also as sort of a caseworker for your pain