Boston Pain Management

[tink2004]

I know that one other person posted this a while ago and never got a response. I am in the Boston area, I have a neurologist (who knows nothing about SM and doesn't believe it causes pain and won't prescribe me anything), a primary care who won't give my anything for pain, I'm trying to get in to see Dr. Heilman but I NEED a pain management doctor. I am in sooo much pain all of the time and have been my entire life but I am very young, 27 and no one will have give me any pain medication. I went to a pain management center (sports medicine north) in September and they wouldn't give me anything because "SM is too serious a disease and can cause paralysis". I tried calling Winchester Hospital pain management (in Woburn) and they blew me off saying that they wouldn't give me any pain medication and if I was on anything they wouldn't even see me (even though I am not on any and have never been prescribed any pain medication). I can't keep dealing with such pain, I often go home and cry and I feel so bad for my children because they can see in my face how much I hurt. Does anyone know of a good pain management clinic that knows about SM and will actually treat my pain in the Boston area?

[pmaxwell]

I was recently contacted by another member who lives in the Boston area and has the same problem. She goes to New York for treatment but that is hard on her and not possible for everyone. Anyway as a result of her call, I emailed everyone in our database in the Boston area (we had about 450 records) and found a number of people interested in starting a support group so that is in the works. I did hear from one man about his doctor who he said is very caring. Ziv Williams is a neurosurgeon at Harvard Medical School but that is about all I know about him.

I do not understand how some doctors still think people with SM cannot have pain. I hear it often. I guess they think if they tell you don't have pain you will believe them. Do they actually think people enjoy suffering. Or that people just want drugs. You can get them too easily on the street to go to the expense and trouble of seeking pain management under scrutiny. Sorry getting a little carried away. I'll stop here.

Until you can get the help you need, try to figure out the triggers. Maybe if you can eliminate them or reduce the cause it would help. Also look into biofeedback, relaxation, diet, etc. Some of these can help get you through for a while. This is a stressful time of year which can increase pain. The weather also effects symptoms.

I pray you find the help you deserve and that others with personal experience will respond.

best wishes,

Patricia

[tink2004]

I got your email and would love to be in a Boston support group. After that initial email no one ever reached out saying that they wanted to also meet up. I don't have a place to meet but I can ask my local library, I live about 15 minutes north of Boston. If anyone has any good specialists in the area or wants to meet up please reply, I've been checking the community every couple of days. Good luck to all and happy holidays!