If you are in pain, know that all pain specialists are not the same. Surely you want to get relief as soon as possible. To increase the chances of getting the professional care you need, become acquainted with the types of pain specialists and their methods. Then, compare this information to your condition.
Realize that there are a variety of pain specialists and each type generally has a specialty. For example, a chiropractor is a professional who focuses on back pain. This means a pain specialist of this type may not be best if you are suffering with knee aches. To make sure you get the pain relief you need as soon as possible, you must try to choose the correct type of pain specialist. Also note that even among the professionals of a certain type, there are many techniques used to treat pain.
These two facts can place a degree of burden on you but it may be worthy to accept it so that you can quickly get the assistance that you need. Getting competent help will require you to have a good idea about your pain. Some physicians ask their patients to keep a log that outlines when they have pain, what type of pain they have, and any apparent triggers that may be responsible for it.
When you know this, you can begin to look for the appropriate pain specialist. Try to find out in advance if the specialist is inclined toward certain methods. For example, Dr. Jones may be well known for preferring electrical stimulation. You may, however, find during your research that this method of treatment is rarely effective for pain like yours.
Your primary care physician (PCP) can play an important role in helping you choose a pain specialist. He may try to convince you that he will be able to manage your pain and, depending on the type of health coverage that you have, you may have to allow him to try before you can get access to an actual specialist. The best way to speed up this process is to continually keep your primary care physician updated about the ineffectiveness of his prescribed remedies and to press him for a referral.
Blindly accepting the referral of your PCP may not always be wise. You may want to do a bit of research and investigation before making your decision. Other patients can also be a good source of information and recommendation. Since these individuals may have personal experiences with the professionals you are considering, you may find that they can provide a better assessment of a pain specialist than your PCP.
Remember that you are the patient and the one who is in pain. Try to find a pain specialist that appears to be informative, honest, and receptive. The lack of any element in this trio of important factors could result in you suffering unnecessarily. You need to have an informative and honest specialist because you should be fully aware of your problems and treatment methods at all times. You need a pain specialist who is receptive so you can communicate the successes and failures in his prescribed methods and have him act accordingly.
