Question About My Doctor and Pain Specialists?

Question by wouldnt u like 2 know: question about my doctor and pain specialists?
[rewrite]I have been with the same doctor for over a year now, I started going to her because my back has hurt me for several years. about 4 months into seeing her she started prescribing me pain medications. I had to go get X-rays, MRI’s, Cat scans and even a myleogram. she had referred me to a neurosurgeon because I have a herniated disc that is pressing on a nerve in my back, causing severe pain in my lower back & down into my legs. the neruosurgeon said there is nothing that can be done with surgery because its not severe enough. now my doctor wants to take me off my pain medication and refer me to a pain specialist. I dont know why she wants to take me off the pain medication because its the only thing that helps me get around better without me being in so much pain. I dont know anything about a pain specialist, what all do they do? do they prescribe pain medication? should I look for another family doctor? I try to tell my doctor what is wrong with me and I feel like she doesnt listen to a word I say. she acts like all people do is mis-use pain medication, I dont misuse my medication at all, i take it as directed and everything. I know once I go off the pain medication my back will start hurting really bad all over again, it hurts to stand for too long, sit for too long, lay in certain positions. I dont know what to do, i feel like she’s treating me like I’m just another junkie looking for a high. the neurosurgeon knows whats wrong with my back and he agrees that i must be in pain, but he said he has no reason to treat me because i dont need surgery. every since he said that my family doctor wants to take me off the medication when i have proof that my back is messed up, she even has copies of all the tests I’ve been through! I’ve been to chiropractors, I’ve had physical therapy and both of them have made my back feel worse, I could barely walk out of physical therapy because my back was hurting so badly and I was in tears from the pain. she is aware of all of this, yet she wont listen. could someone please give me advice? what would you do? no rude comments please! thanks 🙂
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Best answer:
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Answer by LaGail R
the medication is addictive and you sound like you are addicted to it. There is no question about the injury, the concern is how to treat it. No one wants pain but it looks like that is what is in your future. They are trying to prepare you to bear the pain w/o medication. If w/o the medication you can barely walk, in tears they can try to help you to deal with the pain. There is no good choice here.

Answer by DOT
First let me say I am sorry you are having back problems. Yes…the pain IS real. A pain management Dr might be able to help you. The clininc I went to DID prescribe pain meds along with several other methods of treatment. (Injections, etc)

I am surprised the neurosurgeon didn’t recommend a pain clinic too. Are you having any tingling or numbness in your legs/feet? If a nerve that is being pinched by the herniated disc stays pinched too long, it can and will cause permanent damage.

Also please be careful of going to a chiropractor for this. It sometimes causes more damage than it does good. Don’t give up on seeking the right treatment for your back. You might want to consider getting a 2nd opinion and this time go to an orthopedic spine specialist. (that’s who I see)

I wish you the best. Chronic pain is hard to deal with.

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