Pain specialist

[evilaphrodesia]

My hubby is looking for a pain doctor that will take a patient with head pain... not neurologist (have that covered). No doctors have taken him seriously thus far so he needs someone who will listen and understand.

Also, advice on who to avoid would be good too. Thanks!

Comments

[winged_embrace]

I don't know any pain doctors, but has he tried non-traditional medicine, like chiropractors, massage therapy, or accupuncture?

[xadorexwhorex]

Where about in his head is the pain? You mentioned he saw a neurologist so I'm sure they talked about trigeminal neurologia. I had this really terrible pain "in my face" but I couldn't pin point it. Turns out I had TN. I thought I was going crazy b/c no one knew what was wrong with me. I feel his pain...literally!

[evilaphrodesia]

What is TN (I know you said what it stands for, but what is the condition), of you don't mind me asking? He's going to be seeing a new neurologist because his last one was a dolt. The guy had no interest in helping my husband, just kept saying "you have migraines... try this medical sample and come back in 4 weeks" every time. I saw it for myself-- unbelievable. They're not migraines, btw. He had a completely normal MRI. He can't pinpoint the pain most of the time but pain medications do help him (real pain meds... otc don't work) but it's like pulling teeth because most doctors are more stuck on the addiction risk than helping people to feel better.

May I also ask you what you do for the pain? His former neurologist said they never prescribe narc pain meds because they don't help and cause rebound headaches, but whenever my husband has been able to take something like that he doesn't rebound and he can function. It's worth the risk, even in my opinion, if he can feel better!

[xadorexwhorex]

I had this excruciating pain in my face for months. I was on the left side of my face kinda towards my jaw although sometimes it would be up near my temple. I though it was a tooth, so I went the dentist. Five times. After X rays and wearing a mouth guard to bed I still had this pain. Finally I saw a neurologist. She diagnosed me with Trigeminal Neurologia, which basically is very painful swelling (inflammation) of the nerve (trigeminal nerve) that delivers feeling to the face and "surface" of the eye- as by google. The only thing is, my pain lasted more than a few seconds, it would be for hours a few times a day. I was taking about 20 ibuprofens a day. Finally my doctor gave me a prescription for carbamazepine which is an anti-epilepsy drug and it magically stopped. I took about 300 mg for a few days and it went away. I haven't had to take anything since.

I'm so happy I don't have to deal with that anymore, it was dreadful! I am however nervous that it will come back one day. >_< Hope this helps, good luck

[xadorexwhorex]

Oh and as for medications- I tried Valium and oxycodien before the Carbamazepine. Sure I felt great on valium but it didn't really stop the pain. I found large quantities of ibuprofens helped, but you can only do that for so long before you destroy your liver.

Keep me posted!