Just wondering if anybody's ever been sent to see a pain management specialist-are they simply a route to stronger drugs, and gruesome shots, or do they actually introduce a different HELPFUL treatment that the rheumy can't?
My rheumy wants me to see one, but as I'm uninsured, I can't afford to see both docs. I left a message trying to explain this to the rheumy, but the message she left on my voicemail simply says that I must keep my followup with her (I was thinking maybe I would see the pain doc first, give whatever new thing they start a month, then followup with rheumy, but she says no).
I guess I don't understand. I see the rheumy every month or two at least. Each time, she pokes my trigger points (18/18), checks my joints, and sends me home with scripts for Norco, some new NSAID she's hoping will work, yet another muscle relaxer (going in circles with those, and have now tried them all I think). So far I'm still not seeing any major change in my pain, in fact I'm actually getting worse according to the BASFI.
So is there a point in seeing the rheumy this often? There's no cure, the meds aren't helping, and each visit is literally food off of our table. I think I've lost sight of what the goal is supposed to be>
