Is it important to see a pain specialist?
Many primary care physicians are well informed about treating pain and can be relied on to provide excellent care. But if you and your primary doctor agree, a pain specialist might be appropriate in your case. Pain specialists, like neurologists, cardiologists and other specialists, have additional training and experience that you may find valuable.
To learn more, you may wish to visit these sites of organizations that servepain specialists:
American Academy of Pain Medicine
American Academy of Pain Management
American Board of Pain Medicine
What should I consider in selecting a doctor or pain program?
There are physicians who prescribe medications only for pain, physicians who do only functional restoration without medications, physicians who do only cognitive behavioral pain therapy, physicians who perform only blocks or do surgeries for pain and physicians who might do combinations of these therapies.
Some physicians, in an interdisciplinary fashion, provide expertise in all of the above interventions to patients in pain. You should know the type of pain clinic that you have chosen to visit. Choose wisely!
You may also want to consider a multidisciplinary pain management clinic or program. The
American Chronic Pain Association has guidelines for selecting a
pain management
program at www.theacpa.org/pf_02_05.asp.
My doctor is not responsive to my questions and needs. How can I find another?
You have a right to be treated with respect and to have your concerns taken seriously. If
your current provider does not measure up to your expectations,
find another.
Many professional physician organization Web sites have listings of their members available to the public. These directories can help you locate an appropriate pain medicine physician in your area.
Print the directory and share it with your primary care physician to identify the best physician for your particular needs. You can call American Pain Foundation at 1-888-615-PAIN for a list of pain specialists in your state or visit these sites for help:- www.nationalpainfoundation.org/MyPain/
TipsForFindingAPainPhysician.asp to see a list of online physician directories. - www.painfoundation.org/page.asp?
menu=1&item=4&file=page_resources.htm - www.painfoundation.org/downloads/FindingCare.pdf
