I've be seeing a pain management dr. for 4 years. The whole office staff is wonderful. The dr listens and spends more than 5 minutes with me. Without the pain meds I would not be able to function. They help me have days. My pain never goes away but makes living with RA and fibro livable. Some days I do have break out pain where nothing helps but with pain management it helps me get thru the day.

I go to a pain specialist (not a clinic which basically are just pill pushers). I see my pain specialist every month. He takes a thorough evaluation of my experience from the past month and the effectiveness of my pain med. Pain specialists don't always recommend pain meds by mouth and sometimes they recommend physical therapy, aqua therapy, Tai Chi, Yoga, meditation, etc. . They also do treatments, like injections, implants, TENS units. Tens unit work with some people that have localized pain in one area that is severe. The unit gives an impulse to the area and confuses the brains impulse that is telling the brain you have pain. The impulse it gives you cannot feel. It's internal. You wear the unit and a patch with a wire attached. You can walk around with it or use it at home for several minutes for relief. A pain specialist is an internest. He/she reads MRI's and can recommend treatments based on your clinical symptoms, lifestyle, labs and pain location and severity. You can interview a pain specialist and see how the office functions. You will want a professional that takes time with you, has a nurse specialist that listens carefully to your complaints of pain, etc. and notes it in your chart. The doctor should read the report and ask you more questions. He/she will recommend treatments based on your evaluation and give you a treatment plan. The treatment plan should have short and long term goals. If you don't like the pain specialist you are seeing shop around for another one. I have been very happy with mine for 5 years. Good luck! :)

I also go to a pain specialist and have gone there for the past four years. Everyone in the office is respectful and helpful. I never feel like it's a 10 minute follow up and see you next month. The nurse practitioner I see alternating with the MD and she always takes the time to thoroughly go through any problems or complaints I have since my last visit. A treatment plan is always put in place and my next appointment is made based on my plan. I have gotten injections, most have helped although not long term, and I am now getting ablation done for my neck as I have bulging disks in my neck and low back. So far, it has helped with the constant pain. I also am on pain patches which have been a godsend for my pain. I am thankful for my pain specialist, it works for me.

I'm very satisfied with my pain management Dr & his nurse practitioner! I have been in their care for over a year & they are very caring & concerned, unlike most Dr who make me feel like I'm a drug addict seeking out drugs! They have done their research on RA & know how it affects the body, so they can help treat it! They also offer injections in different parts of the back if you have problems with your back! Thanks! Hope this helps. I can't say this is the case for all pain management Dr's because I have heard horror stories from other people like us! Hugs

Personally I think it a waste of time they ask same question and don't even listen if u have things going on they say oh well will see ya in a month. But I know it just something we have to deal with lol