Cleveland Clinic Pain Management

Please forgive the length of this post. I recently had an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Center in Lynnwood. I have been a pain management patient for over 4 years now. Multiple spinal issues, fibromyalgia, EBV, and TBI to name a few problems I have. I moved to the Cleveland from another state I am very concerned with what the protocol at this location. If you are looking to continue your pain management meds, you can bypass this institution. The spin you'll get is "the cutting edge rehab alternative therapy" lecture. The deer in the headlights was my response. To say I was upset is an understatement. The fact I had to resign from my federal job because I simply could not keep performing with unrealistic expectations. After hearing the rehab speech the only thing I thought was, "Oh my God, they are going to drag me back to work!" The Fed Workforce has a vast menagerie of hostile work environments to which I owe most of my PTSD to. I was so shocked to hear this I almost broke down right in front of the provider. I had all my current meds and provider info. Where I came from, I almost spent every penny on alternative therapies to complement the medications I was taking which insurance did not cover. The worst part was these did not work and I was still stuck with the bills . Which has ultimately caused me to prepare to file bankruptcy due to the horrid amount of medical bills I have. I'm currently working on disability retirement and SSDI.

As most of you know we have to be very careful with what we say to the doctor and how we say it I had all of my information and with a quick glance I was advised that my spinal problem that causes me excruciating pain was not bad at all. To add insult to injury the next comment was, "If you are looking for somebody to prescribe meds here forget about it." While the odea of integrating acupuncture, massage therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, Tai Chi, group counseling, individual counseling and even Reiki sounds like a wonderful capstone for somebody who is finally ready to be rid of pain meds meant medications forever. They have several outpatient treatment clinics that are quite intensive if you search the internet and read the reviews. However I am very concerned with doing program having too many irons in the fire. In addition to pain, I have uncontrolled anxiety and PTSD issues, preparing for bankruptcy and having to establish a household by myself! IMO there are just too many stressors in my life for me to really consider starting a program like that right now.

If anybody has all their stuff in order and no major life stressors other than what pain management has caused, it sounds like a really good idea on paper. When I asked about the statistics for long-term recovery from these programs they were not available. I was told they are pilot programs and funded by grants. That raised the biggest red flag for me. We aren't guinea pigs! I would even equate going to these programs while unstable psychologically and with multiple problems like going to bootcamp when you cannot even do a push-up or sit up. If I find anything, I'll post. May the odds be ever in your favor in regards to finding a provider who will write Rxs.

-Cheers
Hurting in Cleveland

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Lauga BC, I'm right with you on this Cleveland Clinic crap, and that's what it is, CRAP! Thank goodness I found a great pain Dr. In Westlake-nothing to do with the Cleveland Clinic. Actually an ex DR of them. He is a great Dr!! My husband broke his neck back in 1979 or so and at our age now it has caught up with him and needs help. Since we already belong so to speak, PCP- with the clinic I thought I would get him an appt. with one of there PM Drs. This was why he didn't have to get all his records ect, everything is with them to begin with. Well we have a "MyChart" and we get our Dr reminders appts. there. This is part of a letter they sent him before his appt:

"You have an appointment scheduled with Dr.**** in our ****** office at 9:40 am on 7/19/16. Please be advised this appointment is a consult only and no medications will be prescribed. The Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Dept will be unable to assume prescribing your pain medications if you are currently taking them. Once you have been thoroughly evaluated by the doctor and a plan of care has been established, the doctor will determine if medications will be provided"

Is that not some bull? Well I called and cancelled that appt. Were NOT paying a high copay to hear the DR is not going to do anything else. Why would he even go? LOL. That's the Cleveland clinic for you. I too am trying to get disability in Ohio! Good Luck. It has been almost 7 years for me trying to get it on my own. Now I have an atty. and it's been over a year still waiting. I wish you well and hope you found a good PM Dr. If not try vitals.com. There are a lot of good drs on there. Take care.

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