Treatment for Chronic Pain

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  • Kaiser PCP for husband's chronic pain

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    Jan 17, 2024

    Hi, my husband desperately needs a new primary care physician at Kaiser. He has been a construction worker for decades and as a result he has chronic pain along with the occasional new, acute issue. He has had terrible luck with Kaiser just wanting to prescribe pain medication or dismissing his pain rather than exploring and treating underlying causes. For instance, last year he got written off by 2 doctors before going to the ER to discover he had occular shingles. I'd like to find him a doctor that will explore what's wrong rather than writing him off. He is also grumpy and dubious of Kaiser in general so needs someone who's not intimidated by his bad attitude toward a system that has let him down. I'd love to hear any recommendations you have! Thanks! 

    Jan 17, 2024

    As far as a new PCP there, I can't say for certain. I switched to a different one recently and he seems good - Neal Patel out of the Oakland office.

    I found out earlier this year - after being with Kaiser for over 15 years - that there is such a thing as a pain clinic. It is geared to people who suffer from chronic pain. It's a whole function unto itself where you get assigned a team of a pain doctor, pain psychologist, physical therapist, and also have a discussion with a prescribing pharmacist. You do need to "do" the program which is 8 wks of an online class learning about pain and then meet with your team regularly to help you work out the best solutions long term. The most important thing I took from the class is how efficient our pain receptors get after years of chronic pain and retraining them to "calm down" is key. For many reasons, I don't take any pain meds so the other modalities are what I'm using to get better. It was also helpful to have my assigned PT because (of course!) I got injured separate from my chronic pain and we had to work out how to handle both.

    Now, if I'd been able to see a PT as often as I needed to when I first got hurt, I wouldn't be walking around with chronic pain in the first place and wouldn't need the pain clinic, but that's the state of our healthcare system - so assure your husband he's not the only one frustrated. Good luck!

    Jan 24, 2024

  • MD for Chronic Condition Management

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    Sep 26, 2018

    Hi All -

    I have had chronic pain for many years, and have managed it well with many tools - one of these is pain meds.  My doc at kp retired; new doc wants me to suddenly stop meds.  He is virulently against trying cbd/thc and I feel trapped to handle my condition.  Only doc in his area who handles this now  I need a doctor at Kp in any east bay kp (or a recommendation of any system in Bay that handles chronic pain management well).  I work full time, physically active.  Want to stay functional.  

    Sep 26, 2018

    I'm sorry to hear this.  I don't have any suggestions for physicians, but I too had the same situation and I feel for you.  My long time doctor left and some young kid just out of medical school took his place.  I was irate some young kid was telling what was best for me.  A friend of mine who's a physician with Kaiser once told me that they're given incentives to get people off of traditional pain meds.  I refused to take the mind numbing garbage they tried to push on me.  Thankfully, this happened to me in December a few years ago, so I was able to switch insurances and find a doctor who's more open minded to treating chronic pain issues.  Unfortunately, with the current environment with people abusing medication, it's quite tough to find doctors who are willing to prescribe the only things that work for some people.  Good luck.    

    Oct 3, 2018

    I use opiates regularly and have Kaiser. When the opioid crisis really ramped up and I realized how much pressure drs are under to reduce rxs, I met w my doctor and reviewed my use.  I assured her that I’m aware of potential for tolerance and abuse, how I keep them to a minimum using other methods to deal w pain.. How I haven’t had substance abuse problems in past, etc.. Basically, I made my case. Im sure it helped that I’ve been seeing her for years.. it would be harder with a new provider. And also helped, I’m sure, that I’m a well-off White woman.. which makes me a little sick. I wish u luck, I worry a lot about my access being cut off. 

    Oct 3, 2018

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for managing chronic migraine pain

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    Jul 31, 2016

    My daughter (17) has been suffering with chronic migraine for years, and her neurologist has recently suggested trying CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) to help manage it.  I wonder if anyone has a recommendation for someone who specializes in this very particular niche: has anyone had wonderful (or not-so-good) experiences with therapists hopefully in the East Bay?  Thanks in advance for your help!!

    Jul 31, 2016

    Hi. I don't have a therapist to recommend, but as a peer of yours wanted to share my story with you as a migraine sufferer. Migraines run in my family and at the age of 12, around puberty I began experiencing them. It was only a few at first, but at age 16 they would happen once a month and shut me down for days and only a trip to the E.R. could remedy the worst ones, (there were none of the currently available meds at that time to treat them.) My own personal feeling is that they are seriously tied to hormonal fluctuations for women, AND really tied to our stress level and emotions. I also don't think it is fair to tell women that they are "all in our head" either, because they certainly are not, even if our emotional state contributes to them!!!! I was a very Type A person in high school, involved in way too many activities, constantly juggling academics and my leadership roles and working part time. My own family was stressful and I really did not know how to manage any of it. It seemed that I was really pulled together on the outside, but on the inside, I worried and hid so much from my own family. I think that is really what made my migraines soooo bad. When I left for college, I decided not to join any clubs or groups, and I was out of reach of my parents and all of their expectations, and I started being a little bit of a "bad girl"(but it was all very tame by today's standards- ha ha) and you know what? My migraines stopped. I think also that my hormones had leveled off as well, but letting go, not having a really high stress level with the pressure to succeed and also starting to see a therapist to work out old issues helped me as well. I know that hormones and stress are my biggest triggers, but every woman is so different. I really wish that CBT had been offered to me as a teen, it would have helped me so much. I think it is a great avenue to explore, and I wish you both luck- there are gonna be some great therapists in this area who specialize in this! I hope some other posters can share names with you. best...

    Aug 3, 2016

    Hi Susan. I saw your message and had to reply. There is a child psychologist in Berkeley who specifically does CBT with teens who have migraines and chronic pain named Dr. Rachel Zoffness. I heard about her from my daughter's friend's mother when I was looking for a CBT therapist who works with kids. She has stellar training (Brown U, Columbia U, UCSD) and has a PhD in Psychology. Website has all the info, www.zoffness.com. It's such a specific niche I felt silly having this info and not sharing it with you. I hope your daughter gets the help she needs and feels better soon!! Best of luck to you... PT.

    Aug 8, 2016