Pain Psychologist?

My pain specialist wants me to see a pain psychologist before I go back to see him on the 6th. I didn't tolerate the Cymbalta and have gone back to just the Fentanyl patch and ibuprofen for breakthrough.

I had never heard of a pain psychologist and didn't ask the nurse because she kind of shocked me with that. I cried all the way home from work thinking that my doc thought I was nuts and my pain was "all in my head".

Turns out that a pain psychologist consults with you on how the pain is affecting your life and quality, etc... He then consults with your pain doctor and they come up with something more workable, I guess.

Has anyone seen one? Know anything about them? What can I expect?

Thanks much!

p.s. I think my pain doc thinks I'm depressed, though, as I was taking Zoloft when I first met with him. He didn't ask why I was on it...just assumed, I'm sure. I was having anxiety attacks pre-op (worried and don't tolerate anesthesia) and my primary doc gave me Xanax to take PRN but wanted something to go with after the surgery that was a little longer acting. Since stopping the Cymbalta, I haven't gone back to the Zoloft and feel fine.

I understand your confusion. I have never heard of a pain psychologist either. I see a pain management doctor for the pain caused by the tumors on my spine. I was referred to neuropsychologist, who did what you just described, but he was trained in both neurology and psychology.

They also trief putting me on cymbalta...I did not tolerate it well at all...as a matter of fact I was soooo sick from it.

I hope they are able to find a solution that works well for you. At this point I still have to have one more operation, but after that operation...I will be going to an inpatient pain management clinic. This is not to be confused with inpatient psych unit. The one I am going to has neurologist, orthopedists, anesthesiologists, psychologists and physical therapists. They all work together to develop a plan that keeps the pain under control while still allowing you to live an active lifestyle. The thing that I like the best is that I have multiple drug sensitivities...and they are actually able to make drug cocktails that are specially formulated for each client that keeps the pain under control...

The problem is my insurance will only pay for it once...and they want to make sure that all known needed operations are out of the way...because as we all know...surgery increases the need for pain meds even if just for a short time.

I am with charmed dancer on this one.

I work in orthopedics and send patients for pain management all of the time. Most of them are sent to neuropsychologists as well who help them to manage their pain.

I don't know that anyone thinks that the pain is "in your head", the doctors are sometimes at a loss though and these psychologists can be very helpful in these situations.

Are you taking pain medication at this point and if so is it narcotic (percocet, vicoden, etc...)

Also, I don't know if I missed it in your post, but what kind of hyst did you have? Was it abdominal or vaginal?

I had a TAH/LSO on 11/7/06 and still feel VERY sore at times. I have had to actually take a vicoden to get me through the tough days.... I feel as though I should be over all of that, but then remind myself that everyone has a different tolerance to pain and everyone recovers at a different rate...

I hope to hear from you soon! Best of Luck to you!

Please know that you are not "crazy" and this will all pass in time! Be good to YOU!!!!

Sending you lots of 's!!!

They think that I have nerve damage from the surgery but since I had never heard of a pain psychologist before, I was understandably miffed by their referral KWIM? I think when anyone hears 'psychologist' they think mental health, so until I got home to google it, I hadn't a clue.

Funny thing is....I work Neuro/Trauma. But, the only pain psychologist is over 4 hrs away, and I work for a HUGE facility. Strange.

Anyhoo...I am currently on Fentanyl with ibuprofen for breakthrough (take 600mg QID). It's just not workin' for me. I went back to work this week, and it's been horrible.

I have an allergy to sulfa and meds with a sulfa component. So, that axes all narcs except Fentanyl. I can also take Ultram, but it's not effective. My doc is at a loss.

I don't tolerate anesthesia/surgery well, so my GYN is apprehensive to open me back up. He said he will consider it if the pain clinic can't help me, but like he said, "It's no guarantee I'm going to find anything."

It's just so discouraging, as I had this hyst to get rid of my pain. I'm in waaaaaay worse pain now than I ever was.