Hi there, I was referred to a psychologist who specializes in biofeedback, behavior, pain management.
My PM doc says he will fax over my info, since he is also into addiction issues and helping those that have addiction problems.
I called last week to make an appt, and the receptionist calls back, and I ask if they have a website to gather more information...they really don't have one that is geared to the patient.
The doc gets on the line, he starts in about addiction, drug holidays, receptors in brain, tolerance and the like. He doesn't ever refer to it as 'dependence' just 'addiction'
I did NOT sign for this.

There was more discussion about cognitive therapy, hypnosis, "pain and suffering" and while I understand most of this, I don't subscribe to the drug holidays.

I am unsure if I should see this doc....I don't think I am required to see him, but I don't want to cause any problems with my PM doc.
Thoughts?

Kat my PM doc in Louisiana made me go see a psychologist when I first started with them. I went a couple of times and never went back. He wanted to know what I was doing there? He said it didn't look like I had any problems.

Sometimes addiction issues means tolerance. You might be tolerant and addicted to the meds you take but you are not an addict. If you need the meds for pain relief and your pain is keeping you from living a decent normal life then you are not an addict. If you didn't have this pain, would you want this medicine? If you do then you are probably just wanting to get high and you are an addict.

Maybe that particular doctor doesn't think that you can build up a tolerance. He might think that people that have taken meds as long as you are addicted but not in the "seeking" meds way. Who knows. I guess the only way you can find out how the thinks is go see him. Can you ask your doctor why they are referring you?

Kat; this is tricky for sure, your PM Doc. "may" just want to cover himself for prescribing your meds. If he hasn't indicated he thinks you have a problem, it may just be a hoop to jump through. I suppose mabe try a first appointment, then tell your Doc. you would rather HE council you. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come for all Pain Management patients. Let us know outcomes ok?

Yeah, I don't quite understand the "why" he is referring you. So this new guy is into all sorts of non-drug treatments. That in itself is not bad, but I am getting feedback from others that even PMs are probably covering themselves from the eye over their shoulder of big brother. I have postulated with with some others here, but it is probably to avoid scrutingy of "just prescribing pain meds." And probably one reason many pain docs won't take on cash paying uninsureds. The can intermittenly do various expensive procedures whether they work or not. But that sounds like a strange referral from your doc. I mean you had major, major surgery. I would be curious to know more. Hope I read your post right. Good luck my friend
PB

My PM doc has "suggested" that I see a therapist. He says most chronic Pain Patients develop some form of depression. He has never pushed the issue. I am seeing my first "psych" this Friday but it is more about dealing with my husbands new found alcoholism than for me.

When he(PM doc) made the suggestion, he told me that this doc usually deals with addiction, and more addiction problems that SOME chronic pain patients have.

I really don't have to see him, I don't subscribe to many things, I have my own HIGER power and that is God..and I wouldn't even know about pain pills if I weren't in pain.

I went up to 40MG oxyc just before my surgery, and back down to 20MG 3x day...and 5mg oxy for b/t, so there isn't a tolerance issue.

I am probably going to be on these things, or something like it for life.

The PM doc said he would tell the psych that I wasn't there for tolerance issues more for pain control issues.
The previous psychiatrist that I saw said I was UNDERmedicated vs over medicated.

SHEESH.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ~David~,

Sorry Kat, didn't mean to intrude on your post, the Doc. himself atated, "It isn't so much a tolerance issue as for pain control"...I doubt this will impact on your med. regimen at all, it's just an adjunct therapy.

Easy there on the controls!

I did ask if he wanted to take me off meds or was this adjunct to my current med regimen, thats when he mentioned the drug holiday...which I don't think I am supposed to be doing.
Plus, his attitude is that it's addiction and not dependence. that irritates the heck out of me.

Hey Kat were you by any chance crying that day he suggested you going? I was at the time they made me go. Everytime you get emotional about your pain they want to send you to a psychologist. The first time I went I asked him if he could prescribe me some zanax? He said he couldn't write prescriptions and I asked him why I was there then?

Kat with the medical issues you have there is NO way you could take a medication holiday. That's just plain and simple cruelty and torture. I think if you were totally incapacitated and you had a 24/7 caregiver and they didn’t give you your pain meds for a day that would be grounds for abuse. I sure hope if you decide to go to this doctor that he reads your history thoroughly. The more you post about him the more I would think twice about even talking to him on the phone anymore. He sounds like he has one way of thinking and he’s not going to budge from it and that is lumping everyone into the same cloth. If you take pain pills then you are an addict even if you weren’t one before you started taking them. Some doctors have a “I am better than you” attitude and this guy sounds like he thinks pretty highly of himself. All you need now is for him to be a male chauvinist. Those that think that highly of themselves and are chauvinists is very hard for anyone to remove those blinders.

So Kat, was just wondering...the PM doc was the one who referred you to see the psychologist?
Did you or could you maybe ask your pm doc. why he thinks this psych. would serve or benefit your pain management? Or is seeing a psychologist just kind of a standard in pain management???

I would be cautious of a doctor who already seems to think pain patients are addicts regardless of there needs. JMO~ I dont see a PM doc, but just from what you have stated I would be leary too~ And anyways...Go with your gut on this one!! Your the one in pain, not him!!!

My best to you~
Sprawl

From what Ms.Mag has said to me about her PM Doc. he is caring, concerned and compassionate) Historically, Pain Managment has had a minimum of accountability by the very nature of it's speciality, (much like hospice situations where morphine, Fentanyl, demoral) are dispensed routinely) In recent years, more and more people have tried to obtain Pain Management services, thus, they have had to implement a variety of criteria in many of them,
Some require drug testing each visit, I was required a series of injections, MRI, etc.
they are likely offering this "Addiction Psych." Doc, to have documemtation that other therapies have been tried and Doc's are not just arbitrarily handing out. Don't forget, there are likely THOUSANDS (if not a million) narcotic drugs generated from these clinic's daily. Ms.Mags Doc. has her best interest.

Like someone stated earlier some CP'ers suffer depression from time to time and if the depression gets out of hand it could become a problem. I know this bout of pain I am currently in the throws of is making me angry not depressed but I can certainly see how one would/could get depressed. I mean come on, you just gotta get tired of hurting all the freckin time.

I thinks Kats main concern was the suggestion of a drug holiday, NOT FUN! Been there.