I have used pain management before. They didn't seem to care whether they were helping or not. they just handed out pain meds and tried to get as much revenue out of the insurance company for every visit. Just my experience.

I used a pain management clinic, mostly for my OA ( bad spinal stenosis), but also for my RA.

The Dr did an MRI to see what was what. I had some nerve ablations that helped some) for my stenosis).

I was initially prescribed tramadol for the , but it really was no help. Then we tried a muscle relaxant and that seemed to help the best.

Now I get the muscle relaxant prescription from my rheumy. I only take it when I really need it and only at night as it does make me a bit loopy!

My first rheumy dispensed Vicodin like I was candy. The problem became that I soon developed a tolerance. My current rheumy will only prescribe Tramadol which actually works better for my joint pain than the Vicodin and I seem to have less tolerance issues with it. It is a pretty mild pain killer and may work for you. Maybe you can ask for some or get some from your GP. That being said you can always try a pain management doctor but they don't all dish out narcotics. Some just do injections. Read the reviews before you go but try the weaker stuff first. Vicodin and Percocet are much harder to get off of if and when that day comes.

I have a pain management doctor. He prescribed indomethacin and baclofen, which has helped considerably. He also seems to have a better handle on seronegative spondyloarthropathies than the rheumatoligists I've seen so far.

The downside is that now I feel like some of my doctors are suspicious of me. Never mind that I did NOT seek out pain management and I turned down opiates. I was referred by my rheumatologist to my orthopedist who referred me to pain management for my back. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. But having the right NSAID and muscle relaxer has made a huge difference in my quality of life, especially since I'm between rheumatologists and not receiving any other treatment right now.

I have a PM doc. He was the one that noticed the swelling & referred me to a Rheumy.
My spines a mess so for me they have been & are my saving grace.
They do several procedures a year to keep this messed up body going. Without it I would have no qaulity. He does treat a lot of RA & other CP induced conditions. He is the only doc outside of the Rheumotogist that knows anything about Sjogrens.
There's a lot of negativity on PMs but they exist for a reason. They have that additional training & understanding on the body & chronic pain.
Like any other doctor it's weeding through the bad ones.
I've built a solid relationship over the years with mine. He knows I'll withstand a lot of pain without complaint. If I do have a problem he takes me very serious. No pushing it aside.
There are treatments outside of pills we may not be aware of.
It's finding that doctor whom we can place our trust in that will take our concerns seriously.
With all the changes in medical patients are cheated enough.
Also experianced the same as Etain. With me it was 3 doctors recommending PM. Times have changed & judgements are clouded.
To believe no suffering exists by any doctor is ignorance. If a patient is suffering then they deserve the proper care.....pretty cut & dry.
You know a consult wouldn't hurt. I guess it's asking yourself what you have to loose.
Wishing you the best.
Sammy

How is it you think the rheumatologist group isn't taking care of you?

Here's the deal: you need DMARDS to control RA. A pain management doctor isn't going to prescribe them.

You should address with the rheumatologist what it is that you find lacking and see if you can't come to a better understanding.

For some reason, with this clinic, if my DMARD quits working, I am not allowed to come in before my regularly scheduled appointment. The doctors are always booked. So right now I am suffering because Xeljanz stopped working and I can't get in until July 15.

Have not read other replies but ...pain management is not the right treatment for RA. No pain med will stop the PROGRESSION of he disease you risk becoming permananelty CRIPPLED and DEFORMED!!

What is the problem with the rheumatology group you are seeing? How long have you been seeing them? What have they done for you so far? If you are in a great deal of pain, tell them. They can prescribed pain medication or prednisone until something better - such as methotrexate or a biologic (Humira, Enbrel, Orencia, Remicade, Zeljanz, Simponi, etc.) kick is and takes effect. Most of these drugs take about 6 weeks to take effect. But they can give you something in the meantime.

Call and tell them how much pain you are in; ask if there's anything they can do for you before the 15th. They should offer to call in a Prednisone prescription.

I finally got a scrip for prednisone today. I have been on Humira, Xeljanz, Cinzia, and Methotrexate. All have stopped working after awhile. When I get to the office on July 15, I will request Orencia. Warriogal, I know I need biologics but when I can't get in to see these Rhemys for such long periods of time, I need someone who will prescribe something, anything! That's why I was asking about the pain management clinics.

I'm so worried about my muscles right now. I popped a muscle yesterday. I went to the Chiro and he said I tore the muscle near my right hip. I'm in bed now with ice. I had no idea that RA attacks the muscles.

"For some reason, with this clinic, if my DMARD quits working, I am not allowed to come in before my regularly scheduled appointment. The doctors are always booked. So right now I am suffering because Xeljanz stopped working and I can't get in until July 15. "

Are you kidding me? Are you sure it's just that they don't have an opening until then? Can you get on a waiting list?

I've never heard of not being allowed to come in before your next appointment. If that's really so, I'd fire that practice and find a new rheumatologist, even if it means you have to drive a couple hours.

not sure what you want from pain management, or what your words "not taking care of me" mean. are you referring to pain meds specifically or overall level of care?

In my particular area, pain management is solely: physical therapy prescriptions, cortisone injections, guided deep needle injections of steroids under fluorscope, period.

I have used two pain management clinics associated with my care and the first one had poster sized (huge) warnings in the waiting room about narcotic addictions and that narcotics would NOT be dispensed. if you want to become an immediate and permanent addict of steroid injections (they don't even count how many they do in my body per year or how much) then THAT is no problem....

my pain management clinic does NOT dispense any meds.

any request for meds is kicked back to the rheumatologist.

they perform: needle sticks and write physical therapy scripts. I have a new PT script. Now I am in the heated hospital pool with the PT.

My rheumatologist dispenses: all nsaids, some muscle relaxants and gabapentin (neurontin) in a baby dose. neurontin does not work for me. and emergency prednisone tapers which I tend to turn down since I personally have to take too much pred for pneumonias. I will not use it as every day treatment.

We have a chronic disease til death so i guess I am OK with my rheumatologist's decisions. I really like her standard of care otherwise and do not want to leave the practice just because she does not dispense narcotics.

It makes emergency pain medication troublesome for me. I try to stay ahead of the pain, when it is awful, with the combo of nsaid and muscle relaxant.

I stay on my mtx and biologic crap also. I find I have to work harder at finding a med mix that works if I don't have access to pain killers.

I think my rheumatology office takes care of me they just have their own standard of care which is no narcotic dispensing.

i HAVE had narcotics for my neck fusion and my wrist tendon surgery. those were dispensed for a 2 week duration each. the surgeons were reasonable thank goddess.

depotblue

Hi fed-up, we all go through that fed-up feeling. I'm going to see a rheumy tmrw to confirm RA. I have a lot of symptoms that I previously thought were CFS and fibromyalgia. I have gone to see many doctors in search of someone, anyone, who will "treat" FM; none do. Somehow I found a pain clinic and have been going there for a few years. It's not the best deal in the world but it beats not having SOMETHING for my pain. All they will give me is tramadol. My pain has steadily gotten worse; I dare not ask for a higher dosage of tramadol so I've been adding tylenol and now I am taking arthritis tylenol (along with the tramadol). Hence, my visit to the rheumy tmrw.
All that being said, I would give the pain clinic an 8 simply because it's not perfect but it sure is better than nothing. I don't have problems with tramadol except now it doesn't seem to be working. I don't think I've developed a tolerance, I think my pain is getting worse. It used to help but now it takes the edge off and when I add the tylenol, that works for me. I cannot take ibuprofen because I have an IBD. I also have diabetes. I know it's all related but now I think it stems from RA. Hope that helps!
Oh yeah, when I get an IBD flare, my GI prescribes prednisone. I was on top of the world on prednisone. But it's dangerous to take that long term, of course!