What to Expect at an Appointment for Pain Management
Chronic pain is a problem for more than 50 million Americans. New regulations are limiting the pain medication that doctors can prescribe. You may not even want to manage your pain with narcotics. Your primary care doctor may recommend a center for pain management to help find other treatment options to manage chronic pain. Going to another doctor can be stressful, especially when you are living with pain. Here’s what you can expect during your first appointment for pain management.
At your appointment, you will fill out paperwork for the pain management center. Your medical background is very important to understanding your pain. Be prepared to list all your past surgeries and health problems. The doctor will want to know any medications you are currently taking. You will also need to identify the pain and how it started.
During your appointment for pain management, you will have an examination with a specialist. These specialists do not want to cause more harm, so they will be careful while assessing your general physical condition. You should bring previous records and imaging results with you or have them sent to the center. That way, you won’t have to pay to have them performed again.
The specialist will talk to you during the appointment about your pain and what makes it worse or better. They will want to know how your pain interferes with your activities. The doctor will suggest treatment options, usually starting with the least invasive methods first. It may take time to find the appropriate modalities that help you manage your chronic pain. At the end of the appointment, the doctor will probably have you return in a few weeks to evaluate the treatment.
When you know what to expect on your first visit, you can focus on how the center for pain management can help you. You may want to bring a family member who can help you remember to tell the doctor everything and to ask questions you may not think of. Your comfort at the appointment is important so you can focus on getting better.
By Dr. James Lin
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My mother-in-law has been experiencing a lot of pain recently, so I was thinking a visit to the pain center could be helpful for her. The article made a good point that she should be completely honest and forthcoming about any surgeries and health problems she has had in the past. I’m sure that would allow her to get the best diagnosis and treatment possible.
I didn’t know more than 50 million Americans suffered from chronic pain. That’s distressing since pain can diminish quality of life. I know my grandpa hasn’t been getting out as much since it hurts to move around.