"The Pain Management team did not manage my pain"

I recently seen the Pain Management team while being an inpatient. When the nurse came in during visiting time I was with my dad. I was very surprised that they did not ask if we wanted the curtains closed or my dad to leave, although I was happy for him to stay.

The first thing that was said before the nurse introduced themselves was that I was going to be a drug addict and on the streets! Both my dad and I thought that this was disgusting and unacceptable!

I had horrendous pain in my sinuses following a recent biopsy although I was in with a lung problem.  I had been given medication that same day by one of the ward doctors which actually helped with the pain - it didn't get rid of it but it did help. I was told this medication was not appropriate for me and that they were was stopping it immediately. I was then told that I was to come off my co-codamol which works for my other joint and muscle pain and to start on other pain-killers as co-codamol was very addictive. I agreed to try it but it did not work at all and now I was in even more pain!!

I was literally in hell at this point and it really affected my mental health. When they came back I was advised that they had decided that I was going to take this medication and that I had no say in the matter.  When I asked if there was anything else at all that could help, I was told that pills were not the answer.  I was querying gels or anything else,I wasn't even asking for pills but that appeared to be the assumption.

I was devastated.  I wanted help and what happened was I got worse! I was then told that I was being discharged with this pain relief and could follow up with my GP and come back to the pain clinic. I felt awful - I couldn't live live like this.  I couldn't think straight or do anything. I felt suicidal.

Thankfully my parents were staying with me for a few weeks after and I managed to speak to my GP who said they were not surprised that the pain relief did not work for me as it doesn't work for everyone.  They were also surprised that I was changed to it in the first place.

I was changed back and given other medication which is actually helping now. I am now in a better place mentally but I am now terrified to be admitted to hospital again. I honestly would rather die than have anything to do with these horrible people again. And I certainly will not be going to any appointments with them - the anxiety just thinking about it is overwhelming. 

They seem to know nothing about actually managing pain and appear to only want to get people off all pain medication -  I wonder if they get bonuses or something for doing it?  What is the point of a pain management team that can't help people manage pain?