Referral to pain clinic.

[Hhhhuiuikki]

Hi has anybody ever been to a pain clinic? Can you self refer or does the GP have to refer you? Thx

Some one called goldenrings wrote this post but it got deleted - but I was curious to know the answer.

[Dizzytwo Moderator]

Hi there, you do need a referral from your GP and it can be quite a long wait in most areas xx

Momo

[mattoid-mags]

Hi, my GP referred me to the pain clinic but I had to ask her to do it. She said ok but that she didn't want me coming away from the clinic with loads of strong meds. It's more for support than anything else. My GP won't prescribe me strong painkillers, I know the reasoning behind it but I still would like to be given the chance to see if they help with the pain when it's at it's worst.

I had 1st appointment at pain clinic last month but it was more of an introduction. Now waiting on 2nd appointment where I'll get the opportunity to have a face to face with either a consultant, physio, OT or psychologist- or maybe even all four of them. However, there is a big waiting list so not sure when I will get that 2nd appointment. At the moment I am only taking amytriptiline and mild over the counter pain meds. 😭😭

[Sarahvit]

IN the US it depends on your insurance. Some insurance requires you to get a referral while others don’t and you can just call and make an appointment. I don’t know if it works the same way in the UK?

[hettie01]

Hi... I was referred by my Dr... I found it very helpful as they sort out the best medication to suit you.. Also they send you to a pain management course which can be helpful to teach you how to pace your pain.. Also there is other things made available to you.. I was under the pain clinic for 2 years.. But if I need any other support I can phone them without going through the Dr now as I'm on their books.. Your first appointment is a induction in my experience I'm pleased I went.. Hope this is helpful x

[Horsesgalore]

I was referred by the rheumatologist, I have had an initial appointment, but I have a 2 hour appointment next week with the consultant, physio, psychologist as appropriate and they will also decide if one of their pain management course would be appropriate.

[Hidden in reply to Horsesgalore]

that,s excellent Horsesgalore not many trusts operate that process, good luck with it let us know what they say-- could I suggest you ask about hydrotherapy and acunpuncture for pain if its available, you MIGHT be offered a cortisone injection under an immage intensifier-they are very good for controlling pain but you need physio input of some sort to keep things ticking over..

[Horsesgalore in reply to Hidden]

I live in Essex and they don't do anything like this, but as I work in London I've been seen by Guys / St Thomas, you name it they seem to be able to offer it! I've just started hydrotherapy at Guys, but I will ask about accupuncture as well.

[ruthmel1 in reply to Horsesgalore]

Alot of these courses are set along NICE guidelines which is basically CBT and GET which actually helped my Fibro . The course was laughingly called 'Energy For Life' !!! Hilarious! Someone was optimisitc!

[ruthmel1]

I've beent wice over 12 years.Both times fabulous.But as with all NHS depts its a lottery.I've heard of folks with terrible experiences and some like mine which were very positive.

You do need a G.P referral and waiting times can be long but give it a go.

[Hhhhuiuikki]

Why was the original post deleted?

[Mdaisy in reply to Hhhhuiuikki]

It wasn't deleted by a community admin as far as I know. Having looked up and searched the followers of this community there's no member called Goldeneye.

Reasons as to why this might be is they deleted their posts and left community; or HU deleted their account for a reason due to a report on here or other communities they had joined. I don't know why but Thank You for posting the question again so people can discuss this

[janet8310]

I went threw the whole thing pain management they said to go and talk to someone about your past im like my past has nothing to do with my pain and said cause im not going there kicking me out lol so i got no help from them at all

[SLEEPINGDOG]

I too was referred to a Pain Clinic by the hospital treating me. They gave me a series of drawings of postures I was supposed to bend into and told me that if I kept on doing them it would go away; they were painful and I couldn't achieve some of them, even when I enlisted in a physiotherapy course at another hospital (this was supposed to improve my balance as well. It didn't and I still get dizzy spells [eg yesterday I had a dizzy spell and dropped to the floor, bouncing off the corner of a square table with my head - there was a lot of blood!] At a follow-up appointment at the previous hospital they said my meds already covered pain reduction and it would be incorrect to increase them (I accept that they know what they're doing on that, so I didn't argue and I don't wish to get dependent on habit-forming drugs).

A while later, my personal GP Doctor asked me all about my comfort and recommended me for a different Pain Clinic, which I attended, but the Consultant just went through the same questions, advice on lifestyle, exercise, etc, then praised me for my forbearance and gave me another appointment to see his Junior. It was a long way to travel and I can't drive anymore, so I never went.

Dizzytwo [earlier] is absolutely right. You do need a qualified person such as your GP to refer you, and - unless you have certain types of insurance and can 'go private' it can be a long wait.

John

[bunny64]

My rheumatologist referred me to a pain management clinic, but it was a 2 year wait.

[lucyjane171]

i was referred by my GP and was waiting about a month for the appointment last August but it all depends on where you are i would say and how long the waiting list is. My mum however was referred by hospital in November and is still waiting for an appointment.

[Hhhhuiuikki]

Do you get injections at Pain clinic? My pain clinic has told me funding for injections hs been cut?