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New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Pain Management Clinic?
(Message started by: ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 24th, 2003, 5:01pm)

Title: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 24th, 2003, 5:01pm
Has anyone ever been to a Pain Management Clinic? What do they do there?  Are they any good?  Someone told me that they are the ones that supply cancer patients with weed, is that true?  Has anyone found this type of clinic to be helpful?

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by daveengland on Oct 24th, 2003, 5:22pm
my own answers a)yes  b)they f**k you up)  c)no they aren't any good!!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

seriously thought,i told them for a long time about the sympyoms of my headache, they told me it was"atypical facial pain",gave me BUPRENORPHINE injections and transdermal patches,antidepressants and wanted me to see a psychologist.

when i discovered what CH's were i asked the doctor ther
,he told me i didn't have them because if i did i wouldn't be working,and that they don't happen every day!!!!!!

IMHO they're shit,but good luck for you,

is this in USA or UK??

PFDAN's

dave [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 24th, 2003, 6:25pm
IF you have a choice, seek a specialist in treating headache. You are  much more likely to find success.

I would not go to ANY physician before closely questioning them about their experience treating cluster. There may be good docs treating migraine but that doesn't translate to cluster automatically. Don't be shy about asking before you commit to anyone.

If any doc you talk to is not using the kinds of meds listed in the meds section (left hand buttons) and/or discussed at, www.headachedrugs.com, then post your findings here and keep looking.

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Prense on Oct 24th, 2003, 6:28pm
Don't go after the pain...go after what is causing it.  I don't think pain management clinics use that tactic.  As Bob advised...a HA specialist would be far superior IMO.

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Unsolved on Oct 24th, 2003, 8:02pm
Pain management clinics can also perform nerve blocks like the Sphenopalatine block and the Occipital Nerve block (which worked for awhile ... for me ). They're not just about drugs.

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Karla on Oct 27th, 2003, 1:05pm
I have been going to a pain/headache clinic for 3 years now.  My neuro is very knowlegeable on cluster headaches and had some very good suggestions of some meds for me to try to prevent my headaches that my reg. neuro wasn't aware of.  When everything failed and I had run out of options I was put on methadone and have been pain free for a year.  That made me real tired and so I am now on the fentanol patch and have been pain free for the last month on it.  They are not just about drugs but can be very knowlegeable in the treatment of ha.  It just depends what type of pain clinic it is you are going to.  I would try it out.  It can't hurt you it can only help or leave you the same.  Good luck!    

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Prense on Oct 28th, 2003, 7:55pm

on 10/27/03 at 13:05:42, Karla wrote:
It can't hurt you it can only help or leave you the same.  


Medications can hurt you...depends on what it is and how much.

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Unsolved on Oct 28th, 2003, 9:00pm
gotta agree with Prense on that one. Pain clinics are to treat pain but can also CAUSE pain !
(flashback from when they gave me the sphenopalatine block)

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Prense on Oct 28th, 2003, 10:43pm
Well, I cannot badmouth a pain management clinic based on experience...but I have heard stories.  Stories make us experts right?   ;;D

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Hai on Oct 29th, 2003, 2:54am
I went to one prior to finding out my old doc was back in town (the one who ROXX!). For people with cluster headaches I see no reason how they will benefit you unless you want some Loratabs to help ease the sore head after an attack *shrug*.

However, let me make note that there is Pain Management / Headache clinics out there, now those might be the ticket. I dont care what anyone on this board says ...you dont need to see a Neuro to cure your clusters. Some doc's out there (like mine) specialize in migraine/clusters period and produce far better results.

Well thats my opinion, at least.

Larry

Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Jimmy_B on Oct 29th, 2003, 8:07am

on 10/24/03 at 17:01:47, ClstrHeadSupport wrote:
 Someone told me that they are the ones that supply cancer patients with weed, is that true?  Has anyone found this type of clinic to be helpful?


Pain Mgt. Clinics, like all medical practices, come in both good & bad. Most Pain Management clinics are run by Anesthesiologists or Physiatrists. They use an array of techniques to help one deal with (Not Cure), chronic pain. They also perform a multitude of different nerve blocks in order to interupt the pain sensation.

I don't think you'll find many (in the U.S, anyway) giving out weed. However, they are more versed in the proper dosage & titration of Pain medications & therefore are more apt to use opioid therapy if such therapy is indicated.

You may find a center that has good luck with dealing with Clusters, but like using Narcotics...would use them as a last resort.

First, see you primary care, then a competent Neurologist. Always ask how many Cluster patients they are currently treating & their success rate with cluster patients. Come to both armed with info from this site.

Good luck,

Jim


Title: Re: Pain Management Clinic?
Post by Prense on Oct 29th, 2003, 2:39pm

on 10/29/03 at 02:54:32, Hai wrote:
I dont care what anyone on this board says ...you dont need to see a Neuro to cure your clusters. Some doc's out there (like mine) specialize in migraine/clusters period and produce far better results.


You are correct...

However, a neuro is more apt to run/schedule tests to rule out other neurological disorders.  Neurologists also "should" be more up to date on treatments of neurological disorders.  GPs have to know a little about everything.

Take your car to Quick Lube to rebuild your engine...I don't think so.   ;;D



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