Cleveland Clinic, anyone been there?

I am running out of patience and options and I can't take this back pain anymore and am now getting a new pain shooting down my left arm.  It is still efecting my left shoulder blade.  I went to the ER because my family Dr. and pain Dr. cannot help me and I don't even want to use my left arm at all.  He gave me some temp pain meds til I get to another dr., but I am running out of options.  I am ready to go to Mayo/ohio branch, I just wonder what to expect and how to prepare.

I don't know much about Mayo/Ohio, but I don't live far from the Cleveland Clinic and had thought about going there. Chose Pittsburgh instead but I'm beginning to wonder if I made the right choice. One thing I can say is that Cleveland Clinic has an excellent repurtation, AND a very informative website. I'd suggest reading everything you can on the website. If you're not far away, I think it's certainly worth an evaluation with them. They have a Spine Center and are used to people coming from all over the world, so you can even send your records and have them reviewed, and they will determine which specialist you should see. Be sure to check with your insurance first, though, and make sure they'll cover a referral and whether your PCP needs to do it or you can self-refer. Cleveland lets your self-refer, but your insurance may not. One thing I've found trying to collect even some of my medical records is that they are far from accurate, so I'd suggest reviewing the records BEFORE they go to Cleveland and make sure patient report data is accurate (the stuff you tell your MD's about your pain). Be careful not to suggest to your MD's that you're challenging their medical diagnosis, opinions, etc., but you can make sure all meds are recorded accurately, and that are your symptoms are listed. Let me know if you end up going.

I have been a patient of the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management program.  If I have had excellent care.  Let me know if you have any specific questions.

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Hey Afloat!!

Ahoy!! Sorry to see that you're in pain again or still....last time we wrote, you were getting over your rhyzotomy..... Did you get any relief from that? Oh how I prayed you would!

If you're not too tired, please let me know how you're doing! And how your school/career plans are going!

You are very special to me!
~Lakeside

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2 lumbar surgeries for L4-L5-S1 cystic tumor & post-surgical CSF leak complications. (Fall of '06). Central canal stenosis, severe degnerative arthrosis, grade 1 (21% shift) spondylolisthesis @ L5-S1 area, sensory & nerve function loss & radiculopathy in r leg/foot, on-going facet pain, sacral/illiac pain, lots of epidural fibrosis @ L5/S1.

Stella,
I'd like to hear more details of your experience with Cleveland's Pain Management Clinic. Do you live close by? How long did it take you to get an eval, and meds? I'm asking because although I'm only a couple of hours away, I'm in another state and I'm not sure my insurance will cover me in Ohio. I'm wondering how long it takes to get a good assessment re:pain, and maybe have local MD's follow up with prescribing. I also see you have had a positive experience with lyrica. I had so hoped it would help, but I'm back on neurontin which is so draining of one's overall energy. Any details you can share would be a great help!
Thanks,
PaLady