Pain Clinic prior to lumbar surgery?

Yes,
You will need the Pain management course pre- post and beyond surgery no matter what the outcome. Please do the course and pay attention. It will help you no matter what the outcome. Surgery is rarely 100% successful so expect some lasting ailment, hopefully not for you ( I hope you get 100% positive outcome) but be prepared for some lasting pain.
Hope all goes well and I recommend the courses to all.
Regards Paul

Excellent question, my exact thoughts. I've come to the understanding that a lot of people still have pain after surgery and so pain clinic helps prepare you for the future. And also whilst you wait for surgery.

I am finally getting some treatment through an injury management clinic, plus the pain management program. The psychology part I've been through already and to me it is just voodoo. I don't know if it is supposed to be a subliminal thing where you adapt to the pain and increase your tolerance purely through believing what they are telling you about it, or if it has to be a conscious decision that there is nothing wrong with my injury and it is all in my head. I understand what they are saying about tolerances and trying not to aggravate the pain by pacing myself, but how can you pace yourself when the act of getting out of bed and going to the toilet first thing in the morning is enough to aggravate it and ruin the day. In order to not overdo things I'd be bedridden. They talk about if you can walk 50m one day without pain then increasing it gradually will prevent sliding back into the pain realm, but what if preparing breakfast, walking around the house, sitting in the car and all the other things you need to do every day are already too much? It seems impossible to do that little in order to find a starting point to build up from. The pain meds aren't doing squat and I don't know if the doctor would be at all keen to increase them just to get things going with the pain program. All of this stuff should have been done 18 months ago, before it became so chronic. But the health care system isn't designed to help anybody unless they have private health insurance or wads of cash.
For all this time I've been pushing through the pain every day, firstly due to the need to keep working, but later simply because I was told by my GP that I couldn't injure myself any worse by being active. Unfortunately it is that activity which has caused my back to be in a continuous spasm that is restricting movement. I guess I just have to hope the physio can release the knots and let the muscles relax enough to relieve the tension.
I am a skeptical person at the best of times and think that this may be a big hurdle to overcome if mind power is involved in making progress. That and my inability to sit still and do nothing. Here's hoping for some good results in the next 6 weeks.
If parts of this didn't make sense, it's the drugs messing up my mind. Feeling a bit of a space cowboy at the moment.

WCT Interesting alias My mind is filled with wild turkeys rowing a canoe.

Yes your quite right about the feelings you have regarding your experiences.

Sometime ago I attended a hospital pain clinic with mixed feelings. I only had 8 trigger points so ipso facto I didnt have fibromyalgia, hurmph, I wasnt all that impressed and they referred me to occupational department for an additional assessment.

Kept a few people busy for a while.

The one good thing that came from the pain clinic was a good description of the previous 10 or so years medical history.

I remember at the time thinking the same thoughts as you regarding voodoo subliminal thought etc about turning off the pain ,,its great if you can do it a bit like smiling while youre hitting your thumb with a hammer "No problem at all" Just carry on.

The suggestions they give are great, but I doubt if many ,if any, have had to endure what you are going through at the moment.

The doctors advice about activities not causing any worse pain I think needs to be taken with a grain of salt, No activity leads one down a more painful path in the long run but equally over- exertion also aggravates the pain. Many parts of the body need movement to function properly, but gently gently I find is the best approach.

Pushing through the pain for work and other activities may be necessary at present, but like a ignoring car noises , are the same ,we pay more in the long run. Being able to be still with the pain is difficult, I find music with headphones helpful or even watching sports or car racing anything that helps to divert the mind. Physios can be a big help but like others there are good one and etc etc. dont hesitate to change if youre pain doesnt.

Fellow traveller Arjay

Thanks Arjay. One good thing out of the program so far is that the psychologist suggested I do more fishing. I think because you need to have something in your social life to keep you going, that a hobby I can enjoy that doesn't aggravate my injury should be enjoyed more often. The wife doesn't agree though, but I couldn't get the psych to put it in writing to persuade her.
I think my biggest challenge is going to be to not overdo things. I have a tendency to charge ahead when I get involved in an activity, get the job done regardless of how I am feeling. An example is at home we have allocated tasks for the kids to do so that I don't strain myself with bending down, lifting, twisting etc. But I cannot help but do them myself when the kids are too lazy or forget. Otherwise I end up crashed out on the sofa all afternoon and feel like I am wasting away. Because of inactivity and boredom eating, I'm putting on a few kilos [I've always been a slim 63kg, now I'm around 66], so I have the urge to keep moving and doing as much as i can to avoid growing into a blob. The meds have me bingeing in the evenings, vanilla ice cream with white chocolate ice magic. Straight after that I crave salty, so I slice up a heap of ham spec. During the day though, I can barely build up an appetite for lunch or dinner. Strange.
Love the bunny rabbit pic, they are the best pets in the world.

hi, I am on wait list for the public pain clinic, but things are so out of control at moment, I am going to see a private pain specialist to see if I can get any help or relief from this... my mental health is also really bad again and I am thinking that suicide is my only option of ending this intolerable situation, thankfully the wait for the private specialist is only 4wks, so that is so much quicker than the public system....

has anyone been to see a private pain specialist, do you get to see a whole team of people like in the public system??

From what I've heard the private system is similar, in that you will get an overall strategy involving psychology, physio, fitness or gym therapy and also your GP including pain medication and such. I don't believe any one specialist can help with pain on their own.
Sorry to hear how bad it is for you, hang in there as best you can. You definitely aren't alone in the feelings of frustration as to how long it takes to get help through the public system, or indeed privately. From my sessions so far, it is clear there are many different levels and types of suffering due to injury and disease in people. Apart from patiently waiting, there is the whole process of constantly being told to "pace yourself". For impatient souls like myself who need to be doing something to avoid total boredom, it gets old pretty quickly. The isolation isn't much help either. Hopefully you can find some folks on forums such as this to share with, to get support from, to help pass the time with until relief comes. I'm wondering how long you had to wait to see the pain clinic, as it took me around 9 months to have the initial appointment. Every time I book for the next session of anything, it is at least a couple of months. I've been waiting for the public system neurosurgeon to see me about getting surgery and it has been over a year with nothing except a call to do a satisfaction survey. Needless to say I told them what I thought. Even if I do get seen soon, I'd only go onto the next waiting list to go under the knife, probably another 2 or 3 years. It's totally absurd and there really needs to be a national inquiry into it, instead of putting people in our situation through program after program to take our minds off the need for immediate intervention. Are you listening Mr. Turnbull?

I aw a specialist pain medicine physician and I am booked in for facet joint injections of local anaesthetic on Friday lumbar so finger crossed it will give me some relief if it works as planned she may do nerve burning (like a little bonfire in my back they had better not turn up with marshmallows)
I did a pain management course at the Wesley hospital and there was a phsych,2 OT physios ,a phsysio ,a sister in charge and a top nuerosurgeon Dr Leigh Atkinson .
Pamcarr please contact lifeline as I am a bit concerned for your safety do you live on your own ? If you do please call a,close friend and ask for help.
If you can tell us roughly where you are I am sure one of us would happily come around and try to cheer you up if you wish , just name which capital city you are close to we can narrow it down with PM from there if you wish.

Johnno

Lifeline - https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/I-Need-Help-Now

Here's a mob who help people with support groups and also have a help line. At least they know a bit about chronic pain:
APMA - http://www.painmanagement.org.au/what-we-do/support/helpline.html

Peter

hi Johnno, I am married, but my husband is at a loss how to cope with me at moment, and he often goes to the shops or movies just to get some space I think, my mother is law has also recently moved in to help during the week, esp with the housework and cooking etc...

but I have planned my suicide and if I am left alone for long enough I think I might well go through with it... I just cant get out of the whole at moment... this is the worst I have ever been in my life, and I think I am a real risk of it...

I am at the point of needing hospital treatment for my mental health

Peter - thanks for these links, i will definitely use them, also thanks everyone for supporting me during this time, i really appreciate it

Hello Pam I seem to be going back over my history tonight and yesterday.

About 50 or so years ago I developed schizophrenia and severe depression both symptoms wanting me to end it all on numerous occasions. Luckily for me I realized that I wasnt thinking straight,turned up at psch hospital doorsteps where I was admitted for a few weeks until the feeling subsided and I managed to get on with life again. This occurred a number of times. I hope you can reach out rather than taking such a drastic step ending it all.

I know many people say that there is no cure but to say that there will be no cure I think is grossly misleading. Many developments are racing ahead in genetics and molecular biology every day now .

The development in generating stems cells and 3 D printing techniques is starting to revolutionize this area. maybe not today but I see a time where tissue regeneration will overcome many health problems and genetic discoveries will alleviate much of our suffering.

One other thing regarding your Hubby is that there are support networks for carers in each state which can help in dealing with stress they also go through which may be of help to him and indirectly to you.

I hope you can keep trying to overcome these black thought and reach out for help

My prayers and thoughts are with you

Arjay/Ron

Hey WTC,

Pace yourself isn't a means of saying you can't do what you enjoy all it means is to do it a lot slower than you normally would ,if you have to lift something ask for help ,it may seem stupid but it is a means to an end and that end is !
Your sanity! because if you keep doing things at your usual pace you find the world (the world of pain) .
Mate what city do you live in or near?

Johnno

Hi Pamcarr
I have been following your posts (in between jet lag and not being able to keep my eyes open so apologies for the late response) and I am so very sorry you are feeling so desperate at the moment. I know it's little comfort but you have a whole family here on the forum and we would hate for you to take your life. Life is precious and no matter how bad it seems it will get better, it is your mind playing tricks on you and currently you have no strength to get your mind back on track. As for the psychologist you saw, you need to forget about him as he seriously needs to get a new job!!!! Please call one of the support networks out there such as Lifeline or one of the others as they are the people you need to talk to not some idiot with a piece of paper who claims to know what he's talking about. I totally know how you feel. I had an idiot like that once but luckily now I have a wonderful psychologist who helps to keep me on track (and I keep his supply of tissues going!!!!)
You are a strong person Pamcarr and your strength has got you this far and will continue to push you forward.
Hang on in there and keep talking as we all want to help you. HUGE hugs to you and know that we all care xxxx
Jo

Thanks Johnno. I definitely do things slower, a shopping trip used to only take me 15 minutes, now at my walking pace it takes an hour or more. Since I was a kid I've always power walked, probably to keep up with Mum. That stayed with me and wherever I am going I am in a hurry. However, the last 2 years my limping has dragged me back to a slow pace, even old farts with walking sticks are overtaking me. It is a hard thing to change your lifestyle, to modify behavior that has been with you for 40 years.
The most frustrating thing is that most of the things I enjoy aren't possible, even with pacing. Three and a half years ago I had to give up riding motorcycles thanks to my elbow problems. There is a life long hobby shot to pieces. It affected my interaction with the kids in ways such as not being able to bowl or bat at the cricket nets. Now that my back is in chronic pain, even more of my life has been clawed away. No more soccer practice, no more gardening, definitely no more work so it has left me with a giant hole in my life. I've tried to fill it with TV, food and other hobbies. Unfortunately the pain medications leave me with no energy for alternative pursuits either. While recovering from my elbow surgery I got into oil painting [See my avatar picture ?] I haven't been able to motivate myself to continue with it since my back issues arose. I think one reason why is the fact I can't drink alcohol to motivate me. For some reason it is only when I am drinking to ease my depression with life that my artistic abilities emerge. When sober and feeling melancholy, there just isn't any mojo. I wish I could drink, but a six pack would make me so sick the next day. Darned opiates took away another favorite hobby, getting drunk. I've been on the wagon for almost two years, after regularly having a six pack three or four days of the week. I don't think I even went through withdrawals or anything, but now that has been substituted by another addiction that doesn't bring any advantages with it at all.
About the only thing I have left in life to enjoy is fishing up in the mountains, but I can't get way often enough because of the family's work and school schedule. One trip every month or two is the best I can hope for. In the meanwhile, I just dawdle around the house looking for something to fix, something to break, something to mull away the hours of waiting for the insurance company or the public health system to come up with an alternative to being imprisoned in this house.
I live in Canberra by the way. It's been so cold I can't even jump on the mountain bike [at least I can do that without too much aggravation] to go for a spin around the suburbs. The cold definitely has an adverse effect on the pain. Perhaps I'll take my remote controlled plane for another spin this week, a hobby that doesn't involve too much pain, but has the possibility of affecting the hip pocket nerve a little when unable to land properly 🙂