What to do about Integrated Pain Management?

[Guest guest]

How helpful is a pain dr without a diagnosis? I got the papers from the

Integrated Pain Management clinic today. I have this huge set of papers to fill

out. When he said he was referring us to the pain dr, I pretty much was too

confused and baffled to even hear exactly what he was saying. I thought we would

go to the rheumy and he would say that either she had reactive and wait it out.

Or it was turning into JIA, and we would have to wait until this that or the

other to decide on treatment.

Instead, he thinks the pain is totally unrelated to what she was already

diagnosed with, which is the strep. How likely is that? I probably need to call

them and let them know that she hasn't had the redness and heat since we stopped

the Aleve. I am sure it was an allergic reaction. He said it pointed to neuro

pain.

My RN sister said that he referred us there because he doesn't believe it is

arthritis, and the pain dr can diagnose. I was unaware of that. I figured it was

a little premature to call in the pain dr when we have no diagnosis.

I really can't afford to play around. This does not reflect on my love for my

daughter, or my care for her at all. I just can't afford to play around. I know

that many people have to jump through so many hoops to get the right diagnosis

and treatment. But, I thought this was pretty straight forward; we have two

choices.

How likely is it that the rheumy is wrong, and we will find this out later, that

it was either reactive or JIA? I would guess with our family history, her

previous diagnosis of the strep, the prevalence of JRA, and uhhh, her symptoms,

that the logical answers are the choices I just mentioned. I work better with

stats and numbers, can you tell?

So, what do I do about the pain dr? I can't afford the copays, unless it will be

definitely help her. I can get our dr to do the MRI if this cont, so I think I

should wait until we get those results. If the arthritis shows up, I would guess

the rheumy is all we need. (although he may be offended by a different dr

finding it and proving him wrong, and I fear he wouldn't treat her as well.) If

nothing shows, and it still cont, then the pain dr would be a good choice. But,

how can a child have such debilitating pain and " nothing be wrong " with her? Are

there other things we can do at home for pain? If this isn't arthritis, she can

lay around if she is hurting, until she feels better. It seems to make some

difference if she moves around in the morning, unless it is too severe, then she

has to rest, or rest after she gets tired. She rests, and she can get back up to

move around, and rest again.

Any insight would be great. Kymberli