Tips for Choosing a Pain Management Clinic

Have you seen one doctor after another for years? Does it seem that you will never find a way to combat the pain and discomfort?

If this sounds familiar, then it is likely time to consider a pain management clinic. These centers are often a last resort, after patients have spent long periods of time trying to find the answers to make life more bearable.

By evaluating the patient’s health history, these clinics are able to device pain management plans that are meant to simply alleviate some of the pain, or, in some instances, cure it all together. While all aim to produce the same end results, not all are created equally. In order to choose the right one to handle your chronic pain, there are a few things that you should consider.

First and foremost, be sure that the clinic is very familiar with your type of condition or the source of your pain. Some may specialize in a certain disease or condition. If that isn’t yours, you might want to look for another option. Even if there isn’t a specialization, it is likely that the manner in which pain is treated will differ from one clinic to another. Ask questions and try to determine which is most likely to work for you. Are you looking for alternatives to the medicines and medical procedures already attempted? Then, you might want to find a clinic that offers a wide variety of alternative medicines such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic.

In addition to the questions you ask about the path of treatment, it is a good idea to inquire about staff credentials.

• Have the doctors been studying this line of medicine for years?
• Are they new to the field?
• Are they set in their beliefs or are they always looking for new answers to age-old questions?
• How many patients have they seen that have the same concerns and complaints as your own?

Though it may seem a nuisance to be forced to travel a good distance each time you have an appointment, it is worthwhile if it means receiving better care. After all, imagine what life would be like without pain. With that dream in mind, the drive will not seem so long.

Be prepared to experience a new way of looking at your pain. Pain management clinics are not the same as other doctors’ offices. You will likely be seeing several different specialists during visits. It is likely that it won’t be just the pain that is addressed, but also the mental components that come with living with chronic pain. You might see a physical therapist who can recommend specific exercises meant to strengthen certain areas of body, which will put less stress on other areas of the body. These clinics aim to treat the whole problem, not just one specific ache or pain. Also, do not expect an instant answer regarding a cure or management technique. These centers often pride themselves on being thorough in search of the source of the pain and then in finding the right method for treating the individual.