Pain clinic, any insights appreciated please.

[rounder]

Has anyone been referred to the pain clinic for pain resulting from lumbar spine degeneration, and did you find it useful? I saw the spine consultant today for a review that was due 2 years ago...."covid caused some delay! "...he did apologise😂. I have lots of arthritis and degeneration of the lumbar spine, with similar changes in the cervical and thoracic spine developing now, plus 2 slipped discs. I still have regular nerve pain as a result and the consultant is referring to the pain clinic but I have no idea what to expect so any insights you could offer would be much appreciated. He did say the waiting list is "substantial" so not expecting to hear any time soon.

Living with the RA pain is bad enough, but the relentless nerve pain in my lower back and leg is so wearing I will try anything for a decent night of sleep.

Thank you for reading, I hope you're all staying safe and warm in this gloomy weather.

[Gigi71]

I was referred in 2018 by my GP and waited for 9 months to be seen for severe back pain, the pain doctor was very kind, he ordered an MRI, booked me for physio and prescribed Duluxetine, which after reading about I decided I wasn’t happy to take, I’m already on many drugs for my RD and associated medical problems. I had a rheumy appointment a couple of months later and he saw the results of my MRI and put me on Gabapentin which I have to say helped greatly with the pain once on a dose suitable for me. Back to pain clinic, I had hoped I would have been offered guided steroid injections at the pain clinic, but he decided my case needed to go to a MTD to decide a treatment plan for me, the outcome was to see a neurosurgeon, where I was offered an operation, due to the length of time of all this took, the pandemic happened, so my operation didn’t go ahead. I had been discharged from the pain clinic until such time as I had the operation and if needed after the op, I would be referred back again. The saga for me carries on, but I hope this gives you an idea of what can happen. X

[rounder in reply to Gigi71]

Thank you. My back surgeon is reluctant to operate because there are too many problems for 1 surgery and the risks may outweigh the benefits. He did mention the possibility of guided steroid injections if necessary but prefers to watch and wait. I take a lot of medication already so am a little reluctant to add more, I had Valentin for 3 months after my initial slipped discs whilst on umpiring South Africa, it made my head spin and made me feel very odd.

[rounder]

Thank you Ajay, that's really useful information. Sleep is definitely a problem with the back pain combined with needing a new knee...just started on that journey so it's likely to take a long time to get any treatment. I'm very happy to do physio, I self referred to physio for the knee and he has arranged an x ray next week to start the process as he suspects it's home on bone now.I suspect I need a proper conversation with the GP about pain stuff and poor sleep but have been trying not to bother them.

[Sheila_G]

I really feel for you. My brother is exactly the same as you. His GP told him it was pointless going to the pain clinic because it would take a long time to get an appointment and he (the GP) could control his pain just as well. He hasn't. My brother is in constant pain but won't go back to GP because he doesn't want any surgery. I hope you get more help and are not waiting too long.

[rounder in reply to Sheila_G]

Thank you Sheila, eventually I decided there was nothing to lose in waiting for an appointment and going along to see what was on offer. I hope that your brother gets the help he needs. X

[Sheila_G in reply to rounder]

Thank you. Good luck with your appointment. x

[Katiewy]

I accessed Cambridge Back Clinic privately after many years of back pain. It was a very good decision ! For a few hundred pounds I am receiving great treatment. Injections and blocks not surgery. Found the back clinic on an internet search for pain clinics. Speedy treatment which was what I needed.

[rounder in reply to Katiewy]

That's really good to hear, it gives me some hope. At the moment we're thinking we will probably be digging into our savings to get my knee sorted given the ever extending waiting lists.

[Katiewy]

Cambridge Pain Clinic sorry !

[Gilliancheche]

I went to A pain clinic before my RA diagnosis for severe lower back pain due to degeneration. I actually found it really helpful. They did not prescribe any meds but just explained how the various ones work, and how they can combine or not in some cases. They helped me understand what is going on when there is pain, and sone excellent coping mechanisms. I would recommend going if you get a chance.

[rounder]

Thanks Gillian, it's exactly what I hope will happen. I need some techniques to help me sleep and work out what meds might be helpful and not, GP's do their best but yet more pills aren't helpful when you already take lots due to a variety of health issues. I currently have a box of gabapentin in the bedroom prescribed for my spine pain"just in case you want to use them", but when I first hurt my back I took them for 3 months and hated how foggy it made me feel.

[eastbournelady]

The degeneration in my case is too bad for op so referred to pain clinic luckily well before pandemic, they may discuss adjusting or adding in some pain meds /other meds like amytriptyline which may help you relax before bed and duloxetine, pregabalin for nerve and fybro related pain but may also offer a course on pacing, crafting keeping exercising and talking and meditation/ mindfulness which all may join together and help a little. I also had a guided injection in spine did no good for pain at all. Most of the time they explain that chronic pain is not a result of injury... try teling that to someone with chronic pain oh i forget they do, and I can assure you that doesnt help. You may be offered a tens machine that does help a bit. Suggest you take pain clinic option to help but do not expect miracles. Later on like me you will realise you are alone in battling this pain really.

[rounder]

I can hear how frustrating you found it, and living with chronic pain grinds you down doesn't it.I hope to go along with an open mind, if I am lucky something might help, if not nothing is lost. I think advice around sleep might help, similarly just talking to some one outside the family might be valuable as I try to shield them from some of my struggles.

Thank you for taking time to share your experience.