How many different Pain Clinics is it necessary to attend before they realise it doesn’t help someone with multiple health conditions?
Eg - RA with secondary Sjögrens, Fibromyalgia, FND, severely degenerative disc disease with kyphosis/ rotational scoliosis, ME/CFS.
I’ve just been referred again (7th time) by an Rheumatologist (my old one just left) and now I don’t think I’m physically able to do it again.
I’m beyond frustrated.
Try being advised by one consultant you need an operation, you arrive for the operation, then you get anaesthetic wake up find out as you were being wheeled into theatre operation is cancelled due to some tealeaf falling through the roof of a factory they were burgling and suffered a serious injury. 6 months later ! Told you don't need an operation but spinal injections then blockers and a radio therapy to burn nerve endings! Couldn't make it up!
That’s awful. Have you had that procedure done yet or are you still waiting? Was that recommended by a Pain Clinic?
unfortunately many pain clinics specialise in psychosocial aspects rather than biological aspects. Smoking? No problem, we will help you quit. Drinking too much, eating too much? We can help with that too. Gambling? No problem! (a few Tories should get that treatment!).
But if you have a physical problem? Sorry, we don't have the expertise to deal with that.
But you never know, maybe this appointment might be with someone that does understand physical problems. Maybe, like the dance, this will be your Lucky 7.
I hope the appointment brings some sort of positive outcome for you.
Hi cyberbarn. I’m afraid that over the last 10 years I’ve had this Psychosocial babble and Mindfulness rammed down my throat until I’m sick of it. I now feel totally let down and especially as I read this (above) I feel as though someone is taking the p*** . This latest Pain Clinic is one that discharged me two years ago whilst I was waiting to see someone. I found out after receiving a text entitled ‘Now Your Treatment Has Ended’. It hadn’t even started and I was so angry I refused to go back on their waiting list. Is it just me? BW
It isn't just you. My son has a trapped nerve. The treatment is the same as diagnosis, an injection. But the consultant anaesthetist isn't confident that she can do the injection and not cause more damage. So she encouraged my son to go on one of these pain groups. Needless to say none of us, including the GP, is happy about this.
I am an Expert by Experience with my local NHS trust, and I sit on the pathway group that includes the pain clinic. It is run by someone who thinks that all pain is caused by childhood trauma. They say the pain group sessions work, but they don't take into account those that either leave early or don't go because physical pain is not being treated.
I am also an academic researcher and was looking for people that treat the biological causes of pain for a study. I couldn't find anyone, because everyone only treated the psychosocial causes.
People should speak up, become members of their local NHS trusts, become Experts by Experience and Patient Safety Partners in order to change this. But sadly when people are in a lot of pain, it makes it very difficult to do those activities so the voices of people who have physical causes of pain are not heard.
I am so sorry about this, but I will keep fighting for people like you and my son.
I sat through weeks of a joint pain clinic where the only advice was to devise Smart goals. No use at all setting those if you can’t move. Absolutely useless. I was told by their physio that basically it was all in the mind, and that I should consider taking up running. Then I got the MRI back showing degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, facet joint arthropathy, osteophytes trapping nerves in two places and severe opposing end plate oedema. I’m still not brave enough to do as I’m told and embark on Couch to 5k
Hi Fiona 1. It’s an absolute joke. Couch to 5K? ‘Recliner. to climbing the stairs to bed on all fours’ is my limit. It’s so frustrating as I used to be so athletic and active. Now I’m just looking forward to watching the Olympics on the telly. x
Me too. Running and long distance walking were my thing. Now taking the bins out seems like a challenge. I wonder if it’s an age thing, or are they so dismissive of everyone?
I’m pretty certain it’s an age thing. Just living with two young children when I was younger was hard work. No hot water, no washing machine or dishwasher so everything was done by hand. I walked miles into town with the pram or pushchair because I couldn’t afford the bus fare but that was normal. I’ve never taken anything for granted but now I feel I’m just being seen as lazy. x
I'd try go one more time if possible If it's no help
I'd body swerve them after that
I stopped them long time ago
Some a waste of space some good as well
Depends on the pain specialist
It should always be for your goals etc as well and wot you want on top of theirs
Best pain specialist I seen was luck
A gp appointment got booked in with nurse was not happy
Turned out the nurse was a pain specialist she was very good
Tweaked all meds And change some with docs permission and helped even no tapering was shocked but it was fine
As with good docs or nurses she left
Hope it goes ok for you
I saw one pain ‘specialist’ in all my different referrals. I had no examination - nothing. At one group session, it was so long, most people started walking out in tears. I think I’ve made my mind up. I can’t go through all that again. Thanks for your reply.
Pain clinic
Pain clinic waiting times
pain clinic 
Pain impact clinic
