What Should I Look For? – Look for a clinic with a specialist who knows about your kind of pain. Ask if the doctor has had special training and is board certified in pain management. As with other doctors, you should also try to find someone you feel comfortable with.
Pain Management Clinics: Why You’ve Been Referred & What to Expect When you are first referred to a pain management clinic, you may be concerned about what exactly will happen there. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This guide will take you through all the details, to ease your worries and set you up to make the most of your appointments.
Outpatient pain management clinics
Rather than staying in hospital, you will attend the clinic regularly, perhaps once a week for a set number of weeks. You may stay at the clinic for a whole day or for several hours depending on the clinic. These are more commonly used than inpatient clinics.
Inpatient pain management clinics: If you are referred to an inpatient clinic you will stay in a hospital setting for three to four weeks for a more intensive pain management programme.
If you have chronic pain, meaning pain that has lasted for over three months, your doctor may refer you to a pain clinic. If your pain is significantly affecting your life and daily functioning, you are more likely to be referred. You may be referred with or without a diagnosis for your chronic pain.
Providing pain science education Giving you the tools to better manage your pain Helping you to increase your level of functioning Reducing pain symptoms Increasing confidence Giving you more control of your life and your condition
Once you’ve been referred to the pain clinic it’s a great idea to start monitoring your symptoms and writing them down. This can help the medical professionals at the pain clinic to get a clear idea on how your pain affects you and therefore how to help you. Try to write down everything that you can think of about your pain in short, easy-to-read, bullet points. Keeping a can help you start to notice any patterns. Sometimes it can be a little bit nerve-wracking when you’re attending a medical appointment in a new place with new people.
While they may already have your medical records, it’s a good idea to take any scans or medical letters you have along with you.Planning out how you are going to get there, whether someone is taking you, if you’re driving or taking public transport for example, can ease nerves and ensure that you are there in plenty of time.If you’re going to an inpatient programme, you will be provided with a list of items you need to take with you and details on how long you will be there.
When you first attend the pain clinic, you will have an initial consultation with a doctor. They will chat to you about your pain to establish things like:
How long the pain has been affecting you Which areas of your body are painful How the pain affects your functioning How you’re sleeping, eating and exercising What support you have at home Whether you already have a diagnosis for your pain How you cope with your pain currently If you’re on any medications If you have any other health issues
You may be given a physical examination by the doctor. This usually entails them using their hands to put gentle pressure on specific areas of the body, or moving specific parts of your body. They will ask you how the pain feels and how severe it is while they do, while also looking for swelling and other symptoms. From there you may be given a series of tests, particularly if you don’t already have a diagnosis. This could involve blood tests, Xray’s, MRIs, ultrasounds and so on, according to your symptoms. Depending on the clinic, these tests may be done at the first appointment, or you may be given an appointment at a later date to attend a hospital or separate medical facility to get the tests.
During your first consultation it’s important that you are open and honest with the doctor or nurse, so that they can get as full and accurate a picture of your pain as possible. If you’re worried about anything, remember that they are human just like you. Ask them questions and talk to them about how you are feeling.
After your first appointment and the results of any tests, the team of medical professionals at the pain management clinic will consult with each other. They may call you or send out a letter to give you your next appointment. At your next appointment you may be given a diagnosis if you do not already have one; this is often a preliminary or working diagnosis. This simply means it’s what they think your diagnosis is but they will continue to monitor you and update it if needed.
From there they will discuss a treatment plan with you. Your treatment will be individual to you, to tackle your symptoms, help you manage your pain and increase your daily functioning. You will usually go on to attend the pain clinic for a set number of weeks, agreed upon by you and your doctor. You will be guided throughout your treatment plan, seeing the appropriate specialists and being given exercises to practice at home.
Typically, there will be a wide range of medical professionals at the clinic including:
Doctors/ Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) Occupational Therapists (OTs) Psychical Therapists (PTs) Nurse practitioners (NPs) Psychologists/ psychotherapists Nutritionists
There are a wide range of potential treatments you may engage in as part of your pain management treatment plan. For some people it may be trial and error to find the treatments that work for them. For others they may see results more quickly from one approach.
It’s all about figuring out what helps each individual, treating them as a whole person rather than just focusing on one specific part of their body. It’s likely you will be engaging in more than one treatment and seeing more than one specialist within the clinic. Medications Doctors or nurses will discuss with you any current medications and potential medications that you could take to relieve your symptoms.
They will typically talk to you about the side effects of each option and how you can take them safely. Medications that may be discussed include:
Pain killers: these can range from over the counter options like paracetamol to, Anti inflammatories: these provide relief from inflammation as well as reducing pain. Some may be over the counter while others may be prescribed. They may be non-steroidal anti inflammatories (NSAIDS) or corticosteroids. Anti-convulsants: thought to block pain messages, anti-convulsants may be prescribed to try and control your pain. Anti-depressants: as well as dealing with the mental health problems that often accompany chronic pain, anti-depressants are understood to interrupt pain messages Muscle relaxants: these are sometimes prescribed to ease tense muscles and provide some relief.
Topical medication: creams or gels which interrupt pain messages for a short period of time when applied to the affected area can be used. Patches which you stick onto your skin and which release a steady dose of medication, such as a lidocaine patch, can bring some relief as explained, Remember to always ask questions about any medication you are prescribed. Many have side effects and it’s important that you consider all of these before adding any new medication to your daily routine. If you are still unsure after leaving the pain clinic, you can always do more research on medications online.
Ensuring you are making the best choices for you is important. Pain relief injections Some clinics may offer various types of pain injections which block the pain messages from the nerves, or which provide painkillers in a more concentrated way in a specific painful area. This can sound scary, but some people can find it very effective.
Always speak up if you are worried Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) You may be offered a TENS machine and shown how to use it. Usually you will be allowed to take this home with you. It can sound a bit worrying but it’s just a small machine with sticky pads that you place on certain areas of your body. The machine releases a small electric current to interrupt pain messages. You are in charge of the strength of the signals and the intensity of the pulses the machine sends out, so you can do what is comfortable for you. It doesn’t feel painful; it tends to feel like a pulsing or tingling sensation. This explains how big a difference TNE can make for pain patients, having a positive influence by, ” easing pain, decreasing disability and pain catastrophization, increasing physical movements and increasing adherence to therapeutic treatments such as exercise.” Group talking therapy Group therapies usually involve you sitting around in a circle or in a classroom setting. The doctor or nurse who leads the session may ask you to engage in group activities to help you learn more about your pain and learn management strategies you can utilize at home. Sometimes a pain expert will provide a lecture on pain science and the latest management techniques.
Physiotherapy Deconditioning through avoidance of is common within those with chronic pain, which can lead to muscles being weakened and pain increasing. Sessions with a physiotherapist will involve them guiding you through exercises to strengthen your body and teach you how to move your body with confidence without making your symptoms flare.
Download our pain therapy app for free! Has helped 100s of patients Exercise Often pain patients become of exercise, worrying that it is going to worsen their pain; this can become fear avoidance, and is detrimental to patients. During a pain clinic, exercise may be engaged in in various forms.
It may be incorporated into other therapies; it may be done in a group setting or individually. There may be exercise classes such as yoga and stretching which teach you how to exercise safely with support from medical professionals. You can then use these tools at home to start exercising more regularly.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be delivered by a psychologist or psychotherapist, either in a group or individual setting. CBT focuses on replacing negative thoughts and the associated unhealthy behaviours, with positive thoughts and behaviours that will lessen pain.
This concluded that CBT, ” reduces patients’ pain, distress, and pain behavior, and improves their daily functioning.” Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on accepting your pain and your present situation, as well as learning that negative thoughts do not need to lead to unhelpful behaviours.
teaches you to commit to changing pain-creating behaviours and in turn, managing your pain more effectively. This found that participants who engaged in ACT showed, ” significant improvements in physical disability, psychosocial disability, and depression” Mindfulness Stress is proven to worsen chronic pain and fuel it as this explains, ” Ultimately, a prolonged or exaggerated stress response may perpetuate cortisol dysfunction, widespread inflammation, and pain”,
Mindfulness can reduce stress and therefore pain. During a pain clinic, mindfulness may be integrated into other therapies or may be done as separate classes. You may be led in, yoga or breathing exercise for example. The skills you learn will enable you to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life, even with things like getting dressed or taking a bath.
Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) is commonly used, which combines meditation and mindfulness exercises with stress reduction techniques to break the, This explains that, ” Participation in an MBSR program is likely to result in coping better with symptoms, improved overall well-being and quality of life, and enhanced health outcomes.” Occupational therapy An occupational therapist will talk to you about your daily routine and your environment both at home and if you are working, in the,
They will help you to find ways that you can make day to day tasks easier for yourself, in order to reduce the chance of flaring and increase your level of functioning. Nutrition guidance You may see a dietitian or nutritionist who will advise you on how to form healthy eating habits. A helps your immune system to function, aids in general physical and mental health, and helps you maintain your weight.
Other treatments Depending on the clinic, sometimes other treatments like massage therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and chiropractic treatment may be offered.
Massage therapy: a professional masseur will talk to you about which areas of your body are painful and provide a massage to loosen tense muscles and provide some pain relief. : very fine needles are inserted into specific areas of the body to stimulate the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals to be released. : exercising in a pool of warm water can take weight off your joints and make exercising less painful Working against the water during movement can also help to build muscle strength. treatment: A chiropractor will use their hands to manipulate specific areas of the body to release muscle tension and relieve pain.
While attending a pain management clinic can feel worrying at first, the reality is that these clinics are safe places filled with medical professionals who can give you the skills and tools you need to get your life back! You might also like to check out our (download links below). It can be used alone, or in conjunction with your treatment at a pain clinic.
Merkes M, (2010), ” Mindfulness-based stress reduction for people with chronic diseases.” Physical Therapy, Volume 94, Issue 12, Pages 1816–1825, Kara E. Hannibal, Mark D. Bishop (2014), ” Chronic Stress, Cortisol Dysfunction, and Pain: A Psychoneuroendocrine Rationale for Stress Management in Pain Rehabilitation ” Spine: Volume 27, Issue 22, p 2564-2573, McCracken, Lance M., PhD; Turk, Dennis C., PhD, (2002), ” Behavioral and Cognitive–Behavioral Treatment for Chronic Pain: Outcome, Predictors of Outcome, and Treatment Process” Pain Medicine, Volume 13, Issue 7, Pages 861–867, Lance M. McCracken, PhD, Rosie Jones, BSc (2012), ” Treatment for Chronic Pain for Adults in the Seventh and Eighth Decades of Life: A Preliminary Study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)” International Journal of Health Sciences, Vol.2, No.3, pp.33-45,Adriaan Louw, Emilio J Puentedura, (2014), ” Therapeutic Neuroscience Education, Pain, Physiotherapy and the Pain Neuromatrix” NHS (2017), ” Chiropractic” NHS, (2019), ” Acupuncture” Versus Arthritis, (2018), ” Hydrotherapy” Practical Pain Management, Volume 11, Issue 6, Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH, (2012), ” A Diet for Patients With Chronic Pain” Practical Pain Management, Elizabeth Michaelson Monaghan, (2019), ” Your First Visit to a Pain Clinic” Practical Pain Management, Forest Tennant, MD, DrPH, (2019), ” Medications for Chronic Pain”
Please note: This article is made available for educational purposes only, not to provide personal medical advice. : Pain Management Clinics: Why You’ve Been Referred & What to Expect
Contents
What happens at a pain management clinic?
What to Expect During the First Visit to a Pain Clinic A pain clinic is a health care resource that concentrates on the diagnosis, management and treatment of chronic pain. Within many clinics, specialists that focus on different pain types and conditions are available.
- A pain management specialist is a doctor with additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of pain.
- Pain management specialists have a detailed knowledge of pain physiology and a deep understanding of the specific tests used to diagnose pain-related conditions.
- Pain management specialists prescribe medications, perform procedures (such as spinal injections and nerve blocks) and recommend therapies to treat pain.
The first visit to a pain management clinic usually involves an appointment with a general practitioner, internist, nurse practitioner or medical assistant. The visit typically involves a detailed evaluation of the individual’s pain history, a physical exam, pain assessment, and diagnostic tests.
General PractitionersInternists NeurologistsRheumatologistsAnesthesiologistsOrthopedistsPhysiatristsPsychiatrists
Other professionals at a pain clinic may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and psychologists. No matter the cause of chronic pain or how long it has been present, a person should expect to have a better understanding of their pain and treatment options after the first visit to a pain clinic. : What to Expect During the First Visit to a Pain Clinic
What happens at my first visit to a pain management doctor?
First visit to a pain management doctor – On the first visit, a pain management doctor will ask you questions about your pain symptoms. He or she may also look at your past records, your medication list, and prior diagnostic studies (X-ray, MRI, CT). It helps if you bring any prior, available studies (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs).
- Where is your pain? (what body part)
- What does your pain feel like? (dull, aching, tingling)
- How often do you feel pain? (how often during the day or night)
- When do you feel the pain? (with exercise or at rest)
- Setting for the pain? (is it worse standing, sitting, laying down)
- What makes your pain better? (does a certain medication help)
- Have you noticed any other symptom when you have your pain? (like loss of bowel or bladder control)
What is a pain management specialist?
What to Expect During the First Visit to a Pain Clinic A pain clinic is a health care resource that concentrates on the diagnosis, management and treatment of chronic pain. Within many clinics, specialists that focus on different pain types and conditions are available.
- A pain management specialist is a doctor with additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of pain.
- Pain management specialists have a detailed knowledge of pain physiology and a deep understanding of the specific tests used to diagnose pain-related conditions.
- Pain management specialists prescribe medications, perform procedures (such as spinal injections and nerve blocks) and recommend therapies to treat pain.
The first visit to a pain management clinic usually involves an appointment with a general practitioner, internist, nurse practitioner or medical assistant. The visit typically involves a detailed evaluation of the individual’s pain history, a physical exam, pain assessment, and diagnostic tests.
General PractitionersInternists NeurologistsRheumatologistsAnesthesiologistsOrthopedistsPhysiatristsPsychiatrists
Other professionals at a pain clinic may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists and psychologists. No matter the cause of chronic pain or how long it has been present, a person should expect to have a better understanding of their pain and treatment options after the first visit to a pain clinic. : What to Expect During the First Visit to a Pain Clinic
How do I choose the best pain management doctor?
5. Expect to Need Plenty of Paperwork – Almost every pain management specialist will begin with a pain evaluation, This includes developing a medical history, reviews of any tests or bloodwork, and a physical examination. This initial evaluation is one of the most important parts of the pain management process.
- You must prepare for it by bringing all the relevant materials.
- A list of questions or concerns is not required but may be helpful in helping you communicate with the pain management specialist.
- Make sure to bring any copies of relevant x-rays, medical records, and other paperwork you may need to this initial appointment.
This provides them with a full picture of your history and what may be causing your pain. Providing a full medical history is an essential part of pain management. It’s the best way to ensure your pain management team knows about anything in your past that may be causing your current pain.
Without it, a proper diagnosis and treatment plan will be even more difficult to develop. Make sure you have all the papers you need before your first appointment. Let the pain management doctor know what medications you have taken in the past and what tests you’ve already had done. This will not only let them know your story but will also save them from performing any unnecessary, repetitive procedures.
Like any other doctor, it’s also important to keep a pain management doctor updated if any changes occur. Let them know if you start or stop a medication, get a new test done, etc.
How to get better pain management?
- NSAIDs,such as ibuprofen,help decrease swelling, pain,and fever. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people.
- Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever. It is available without a doctor’s order. Ask how much to take and how often to take it.
- A pain cream,gel,or patch may be applied to your skin on painful areas.
Which is better for pain management?
- Several kinds of prescription pain medicines are available.
- Muscle relaxers help decrease pain and muscle spasms.
- Steroids decrease inflammation that causes pain.
- Anesthetic medicines may be injected in or around a nerve to block pain signals from the nerves.
- Anxiety medicine decreases anxiety.
What exactly is pain management?
- In-depth knowledge of pain disorders
- Ability to evaluate patients with difficult pain disorders
- Appropriate prescribing of medications for pain problems
- Ability to use different diagnostic tests to pinpoint the cause of pain
- Skill with procedures,such as nerve blocks and spinal injections
What is the salary of pain management?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $400,000 and as low as $156,000, the majority of Pain Management Physician salaries currently range between $249,500 (25th percentile) to $381,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $400,000 annually across the United States.
