Hey I went to a pain clinic for like 3 years and I developed an addiction to pain killers from it, so beware of those doctors.
If you got addicted to pain killers it's your fault, not the doctor's. Less than 1% of people that take pain killers for pain get addicted. There is a huge difference between being dependent and addicted. Being addicted means you take more than prescribed, run out early, buy drugs on the street or elsewhere, doctor shop and use different pharmacies trying to fake out your doctor. Being dependent just means you might have withdrawals if you stop taking the drug suddenly. This is true of many maintenance drugs, not just pain killers.
Okay, so much for the quick education. My pain management doctor is a well-respected Physical Medicine & Rehab doctor, (aka Physiatrist). He specializes in spine and brain injuries but handles all aspects of pain management. He does not run a pain clinic that hands out drugs like candy. A good pain management doctor will first try several techniques to help your pain. These could include injections, and there are several kinds of injections, not just epidural steroid injections. There's also physical therapy, bio-feedback and several other things depending on what is causing pain and why. Treatment may also include pain killers. That is what they are for, relieving pain. Taken responsibly they are a very safe way to help with your pain so you can live your life. Unfortunately, posts like Julz' are what gives such doctors a bad rap. And many people have a misconception that taking pain killers for any length of time is somehow wrong. Like any specialty, there are bad doctors in the pain management area. But the good ones are a godsend to those of us that need them.
