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» LymeNet Flash » Questions and Discussion » Medical Questions » anyone seen a physiatrist?

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Author Topic: anyone seen a physiatrist?
monkeyshines
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Since I haven't gotten anywhere trying to decrease the pain by dealing with the disease, I'm trying to think of different ways to address it more directly.

I've had several rounds of traditional physical therapy, acupuncture, and 8 months of cranial sacral therapy, but haven't made any progress.

I'm worried about how stiff and painful I continue to be in spite of stretching, and how many pain meds I've taken in the past four years.

Has anyone tried using a physiatrist? I'm wondering if there are methods that could be used to numb or otherwise treat my tendons, in particular.

At this point I'd even let them inject me with botox if it would make them 'let go' even a little!

monkeyshines

Posts: 343 | From Northern VA | Registered: Oct 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
lymie tony z
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Hey there Monkey,

Yeah, go ahead and seek out a shrink...if you can take there constant denial of your pain being caused by an infectious disease.

You may even get some relief thru bio-feedback or self hypnosis...meditation...

Are you using a Quinalone to combat your lyme...if so you'll get tendonitis...

Are you using any kind of muscle relaxer?

Do you have access to a hot tub?

Do you have access to a tems unit(electric stimulation of muscles and nerves) to reduce tension,stress and pain?.

zman

--------------------
I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman

Posts: 2527 | From safety harbor florida(origin Cleve., Ohio | Registered: Jan 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
monkeyshines
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lymie tony z,

physiatrist (physical medicine doctor that deals directly with the physical functioning of your body) not psychiatrist! LOL

I've never heard of Quinalone .. I'll look into it. I don't have access to a hot tub or tems unit, either, I'm afraid.

I do do meditation (actually took lessons) but haven't tried biofeedback. That's a possibility.

monkeyshines

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char
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Sorry you are hurting!

Our LLPA at Dr. J in Charlotte has policy that psychiatric and pain meds done through a pain dr. or psychiatrist.

We do pain management through a psychiatric PA who is learning about lyme and very good. This is working out well for us as we are killing 2 birds with 1 stone as she can help with the depression and anxiety that accompany both lyme and co. and pain.

I was initially frustrated that we could not do one stop shopping with our LLMD, but now I appreciate another set of eyes watching over us.

Best Wishes,
Char

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Aniek
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A physiatrist gave me my life back. I started seeing a phsyiatrist before I was diagnosed with Lyme and he was the first doctor to seriously work towards ending my pain.

He did diagnose me with fibromyalgia and I stopped seeing him because he was convinced I didn't have Lyme. But he sure he new his pain treatment and kept very up to date on all the medications and techniques.

It took months to find the right pain management system, but wow, what a difference when we found it.

I'll PM you my doctor's name, he's in southern MD.

--------------------
"When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison

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bettyg
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Monkey, sure to read about your constant pain too.

I bet others will also read this as a psychiatrist; I see several of us did already.

That's for explaining what this person was; never heard of this before. Best wishes; Aniek, so happy you found pain relief.

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IsThereHope
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No, but about a million doctors have told me I need one to get over my "fake" disease ...
Posts: 121 | From Memphis, TN | Registered: Dec 2004  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Foggy
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Be carefyl, phsyiatrists love steroids and most know little how they effect Lymies. A phystrst tried to talk me into steroid injections claiming he'd given them to others with "Lyme's."
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monkeyshines
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zman,

I looked up Quinolone ... I did take two of these, Cipro and Levaquin ... at some point during my years on abx. I had this pain before I took them, but it's spread and gotten worse since. Maybe they made it worse??

monkeyshines

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monkeyshines
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Foggy, thanks for the warning. thanks to lymenet, I'd know not to let anyone give me steroids!

monkeyshines

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lymie tony z
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OH wow, Psyatrist...

I could have sworn you were talking shrink...duuuhhh...LOL

Never heard of one of these docs....

glad you looked up the quinalone factor...

I have also had some bad muscle pain when on clyndamicin also weight loss.

It looked soooo much like psychiatrist thru my lyme eyes and brain....hehehehe...

Exactly what do these guys do?

zman

--------------------
I am not a doctor...opinions expressed are from personal experiences only and should never be viewed as coming from a healthcare provider. zman

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monkeyshines
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zman, yeah, I can see why you'd read it that way ... I should have thought about the lyme brain thing before I posted ... except I have lyme brain [Smile]

I wasn't exactly sure myself how to define physiatrist, but here's what I found:

"A physiatrist (fizz ee at' trist) is a physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Physiatrists treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries.

They see patients in all age groups and treat problems that touch upon all the major systems in the body. These specialists focus on restoring function to people.

Physiatrists treat acute and chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders.

They may see a person who lifts a heavy object at work and experiences back pain, a basketball player who sprains an ankle and needs rehabilitation to play again, or a knitter who has carpal tunnel syndrome.

Physiatrists' patients include people with arthritis, tendonitis, any kind of back pain, and work- or sports-related injuries.

Physiatrists also treat serious disorders of the musculoskeletal system that result in severe functional limitations.

They would treat a baby with a birth defect, someone in a bad car accident, or an elderly person with a broken hip.

Physiatrists coordinate the long-term rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injuries, cancer, stroke or other neurological disorders, brain injuries, amputations, and multiple sclerosis."


So, for a lymie like me, who's primary problem is full body pain, I think it *sounds* promising, unless he/she ends up being a total duck who wants to interfere with your lyme treatment, or like Foggy says, doesn't know enough not to prescribe treatment that's counter-indicated.

monkeyshines

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Aniek
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I should add, a family friend is a physiatrist. Great person, but he knows nothing about Lyme. When I last saw him, he was amazed at how much I knew about Lyme and pain treatment.

Unfortunately, there are very few docs out there who really understand Lyme. But a good physiatrist should still be open to helping aid your Lyme treatment by treating your pain.

--------------------
"When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison

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valymemom
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One of the neurologists my son saw early in treatment sent him for physiotherapy. He went 3x times weekly for three months and did not have any change in symptoms....but....she was extremely helpful in suggesting that there was an underlying disease problem that we were missing and that needed to be dealt with.

I think that now in his treatment, she would, indeed help him with pain symptoms. I also believe that our two early acupuncturists (months of that, too, without budging of pain)could help my son more now since he is being treated for the disease.

I would try it!

Posts: 1240 | From Centreville,VA | Registered: Mar 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

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