pain Clinics FMS/ME/CFS

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have just had my report back from the pain clinic and it states I

suffer for Fibromyalgia (diagnosed 5 years ago) and also tht I have

Psycho-social issues (i also have CFS/ME diagnosed earlier this year)

that may be helped by going to the pain mangement clinc and having CBT.

I had no medical examination just a 20 min chat about the problems I

have.

Has anyone else had experiecne of this?

Also why has he used the term Psycho-social?

Many thanks

Tracie

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracie,

I am so sorry you had to go through that I know how awful it is and how mad

it can make you as well. I used to come home with so many emotions running

through me from sadness, anger and doubting myself. It IS a crazy making

situation.

If you are nuts pre-CFIDS/FM the doctors eventually make you crazy.

It is only my suggestion but I would not go back unless you feel it could

help you. I have had to put my dignity in my pocket several times because the

benefit out weighed the degrading mistreatment or

you could also write to the administration with a complaint and any one

else higher up. I would send them information on FM and demand an apology which

you may or may not get.

I was at ONE of my ex-doctors office with rib pain, the practitioner says,

I don't give FM patients pain medication. I leaned over her and asked , " Why

is that " and she started stumbling over her words. I asked to speak with the

doctor and demanded to know their reasoning for treating us differently.

Well, needless to say I never had a working relationship with them again.

Sadly I have to many stories like that.

I feel so bad that happened to you, fighting back can restore dignity but

doctors don't like patients that fight back so be prepared what ever road you

decide to take.

Good luck,

Cat

[Guest guest]

Tracie,

Hi, I'm S. and I've been mostly lurking on this group because I'm

fairly recently diagnosed (actually going through the process still, but

I'm already convinced). At any rate, the reason I'm replying to your

questions here is that I am also a mental health counselor and

psychotherapist. Here's my take on what you've told us here.

You seem to have gone to a clinic that focuses on pain management rather

than pain treatment. They confirmed a diagnosis you already knew you

had. That's no problem, it's always good to know that it is confirmed.

Although, I'm not quite sure how they could do that by only speaking

with you. My impression is that to diagnose (or reconfirm a diagnosis)

there has to be at the bare minimum, a check of the pressure points that

define the condition. Did they do at least that or just talk? Was this

a M.D. or D.O. office, or was it someone with other types of training?

On to the term " psychosocial " -- that is a term that is used daily in

my profession. We use it to encompass any information relating to

cognitive, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, or physical history. In

other words, it is a catch-all term to cover the whole human being

rather than any one area of symptoms. Unfortunately, it is also the

type of term that can be used to refer to a condition in a very

over-simplified term that can mean a number of things, none of which

they are being specific about at this time. I'm not saying they are

being intentionally deceptive, however it would be wise to approach this

carefully. I, of all people, believe in the usefulness of

psychotherapy, however, only as it is needed and on an individualized

basis for each client. An overarching prescription of Cognitive

Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for all FM and CFIDS patients doesn't seem to

be directed at individuals. I, myself, am seeing a counselor ( it's

rather difficult to counsel yourself) who is working with me on a

holistic basis, rather than using CBT alone.

Hope it helps.

S.

tracie8818 wrote:

>

> Hi,

>

> I have just had my report back from the pain clinic and it states I

> suffer for Fibromyalgia (diagnosed 5 years ago) and also tht I have

> Psycho-social issues (i also have CFS/ME diagnosed earlier this year)

> that may be helped by going to the pain mangement clinc and having CBT.

>

> I had no medical examination just a 20 min chat about the problems I

> have.

>

> Has anyone else had experiecne of this?

>

> Also why has he used the term Psycho-social?

>

> Many thanks

>

> Tracie

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tracie,

I'm sorry but I laughed so dang hard at their ignorance exibited tward

you! I have never been told that but when I went to a pain clinic

(just before I got my lower lumbar rebuilt) they told me there was

nothing wrong with me and that I was taking too much tylenol ROFL!! I

think they are full of it most of the time. The only pain clinic that

I can say takes " Pain " conditions seriously is the Pain clinic in

MIchigan Ann Arbor, St. ph's Hospital. Never try the one in

toledo ohio!

I'm sorry you got that reaction but pay it no mind. How stupid!

To even say something like that after just 20 minutes shows they have

some major problems.........not you!

God Bless,

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

The doctor I saw at the Pain clinic was a Consultant Anaesthetist.

Im seriously begining to wonder if its all in my head. I told him I

think positivly and tried to go out to the shops. I lasted 3 shops

and had to leave I was asleep before i got out the car park. He said

he hears that quite a lot.

I told him that ive been off work for the 6 months and im so used to

running around since splitting from my husband 2 years ago and having

3 daughters, that if I could make myself better I would. I hate being

this way.

I have a fantastic GP who I need to see, but am feeling like im most

proberly wasting his time.

Sorry to rant, but need to let off steam.

Take care

Tracie xx

>

[Guest guest]

-Don't ever be sorry Tracie,

We are here for you. I don't know of one person that posts that would

not understand what your talking about. This is the one safe place you

can feel free to come without judgement. It is comforting to know

that when we post ...there seems to be someone that can make a

suggestion or two to help us with a specific problem.

God Bless Tracie,

>

>

> Hi all,

>

> The doctor I saw at the Pain clinic was a Consultant Anaesthetist.

>

> Im seriously begining to wonder if its all in my head. I told him I

> think positivly and tried to go out to the shops. I lasted 3 shops

> and had to leave I was asleep before i got out the car park. He said

> he hears that quite a lot.

>

> I told him that ive been off work for the 6 months and im so used to

> running around since splitting from my husband 2 years ago and having

> 3 daughters, that if I could make myself better I would. I hate being

> this way.

>

> I have a fantastic GP who I need to see, but am feeling like im most

> proberly wasting his time.

>

> Sorry to rant, but need to let off steam.

>

> Take care

>

> Tracie xx

>

>

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Tracie,

Don't let yourself be swallowed up by people that don't accept these

illnesses. Be strong, believe in yourself and know that we are always here to

listen and give as much support as possible.

Keep your chin up and GOD BLESS,

[Guest guest]

you are not alone in the this depressing world of use to's and wish I could like

before.

i used to work and bend and not have any problems. i haven't been able to work

for 15 months. I wasn't even working much. I was doing infusions, but the

bending and doing vitals was killing my neck and back. It was making my

headaches worse. I feel as thoughI do not contribute as a financial prvider and

totally worthless in that way as I haven't been able to clean the house for

years. we fianlly got a house cleaner every other week. my husband does the

laundry except for mine, but that isbecasue I would only wear things once if he

did it all the time. ( happened too many times).

I used to be able to have alist of errands an arms lenght and get it done in one

day, and not have it be extended in the night. now I end up ding only 2-3 and am

dragging my hind end at some point and feel like you that I need a nap halfway

throughthe store. Sometimes at walmart( and usually at the back pof the store) I

run of energy totally and wish someone else would push the cart and finsih the

shoppong but I have to do it. So I drag on. Then the lines are long.

It is disappointing. alli can say is make a reasonable list for the day. in the

last 2 weeks, I have set a list in my head for the day, including dr appts, etc.

I always try to get them done. In that list are things that I have put off tha I

needed or wanted to do around the house. (like get ohot album together or

organize office). I am trying to set up to sell things on ebay and the state of

thinsg as they were it would be impossible. so far so good.

I still am unhappy with my body and everyday i am mad at it. I threw a deep vein

clot(7 " long) in the spacebehind m,y left knee in june and been on blood

thinners since. This has kept me from doing many things and being very careful.

I have 2 joints right now that have bled into the joint and very sore. the clot

after 3 1/2 months has not changed. I am being encouraged to see a vascular dr

for alternative meds or other options. I had to put off getting my left ulnar

nerve released as it is completely bloecked since last december. now the right

one is having problems. my right leg and right foot too.. I can't get any

injections for my cervical spondylosis and ddd. so you see, you are not alone.

this mess , is just that.

hang in there. it could be worse. I told myself that for so long, that i do not

think it can as I came close to being the worst this year. dead. so i have only

to up, or down. who knows.. but i have to keep trying . but I never know where.

i live in s. fl. and the drs here do not care if you live or die. they like

their money. I have some good drs. but too many . I need a team. thinking about

going to cleveland clinic in weston. i do not know itf they canhelp, but gotta

try something. gott a protect what is left of the good parts.

so when you are tired, lay back and take a nap , and remeber you are not

superwoman anymore. you are who you are and do not goout eveyday. take a day

off to relax , like the pic. even if you just lay down and watch tv.

carol

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I'm so sorry to hear that you aren't doing any better. You mentioned

the Cleveland Clinic in Weston. I thought I'd give you some information

that was given to me, just to help in your decision making process. A

friend of a friend had CFIDS and told my friend that she went to the

Cleveland Clinic. She recommended it as a good place to get all your

diagnostics done in one place, and from what I've seen of it on their

website, that seems to be their strength. She also said that she took

the information they gave her and worked with her own doctors and some

naturopaths to come up with a treatment to address her specific needs.

It seems to me that you sound like you have become angry with yourself

for not being able to work, clean house, and get through the day like

you used to. I know I get frustrated at not being able to do the things

I used to think were simple and quick. One or two tasks a day and

that's about all I can manage. I do have a good support system in my

family, and a counselor, both of whom remind me that I didn't try to get

this condition, and while it's ok to be frustrated, that I shouldn't

become upset with myself for not doing more. First of all, it's

counterproductive -- the more I get upset, the worse I feel. Secondly,

if I focus on positive things, I actually feel better, so I try really

hard to give myself credit for what I can do. Even one thing

accomplished is better than none. I've been listening to a couple of

guided imagery CDs that help both with thinking positively and with

validating where I am at this point and what I can do. That helps too.

Hope it helps.

[Guest guest]

thanks susan,

i do what I can and it does get frustrating. hubby i know gets tired of it. i

used to have so much more in my life before we moved(friends, activities,

familiarity.) but I do not have any of that here. down here, everyone has there

nose up in the air practically and the only people whou meet are sick ones or

health care providers.

my hubbys company is looking at him to promote him for another position in

oveido outside orlando, which would be wonderful. it would be nearer to

jacksonville where we moved from and my friends are. the taxes here (wpb) are

horrendous!

the dr's do not care outside their practice. they do not communicate with the

other drs. my drs up in jax were not like that. i would make trips to jax if we

moved just to go back to my old drs for 2 days or so, to get proper care. i know

I can trust them.

maybe things are looking up. neither my mother in law, my husband, nor I like

like it here. so say prayers. althoughit does take mucho out of me to pack and

ready a house to sell as i had to do i jax, I will not miss this one excpet our

animals are buried inthe yard.

so , say a prayer for guidance and the light the way . i know the way is

there.

thanks

carol