Pain management doctors are not all the same. If you’re looking for a pain management doctor, it’s important to do your research so that you can find one who is the best fit for your needs. That’s why we created this list of 7 tips to help you out!
1. Check credentials
The first thing to do is ask whether your doctor is board certified in pain management. Certification isn’t mandatory, but it indicates the physician has proven himself capable of treating patients with chronic pain. Ideally, you want a board-certified anesthesiologist or neurologist who specializes exclusively in pain management.
2. Check their education
A pain management doctor should have at least one advanced degree, such as a master’s in public health or an M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., or any other acronym that denotes advanced training and knowledge of public health issues related to chronic pain management outside of just prescribing medication.
3. Ask about their philosophy
Ask your prospective pain management doctor in Davie how he treats chronic pain and what his success rates are. A good response might be: “I believe the best way to treat chronic pain is by using a multidisciplinary approach, which means teaming up with therapists who can help you address some of the physical problems that contribute to your chronic pain, like poor posture or muscle tension.”
4. Insurance cover
You might want to ask whether your prospective pain management doctor accepts your health insurance and, if not, how he manages to charge such low fees (he probably has a captive audience of patients who have no other option.) You will also want to ask how frequently you can expect to come in for an appointment.
5. Ask about their approach
Finally, ask how your pain management doctor plans to treat you if other methods fail. A good answer will be something along the lines of: “I know I can’t help everyone with chronic pain, but I am willing to try other things before resorting to prescription medication.” then, keep looking for another pain management specialist until you find one who fits your needs. Source- pain management tips for choosing a doctor.
Learn more: How Does Acupuncture Work for Pain?
6. Ask how long they have been treating patients for chronic pain
You might find a doctor who isn’t board certified but has been practicing almost as long as your local anesthesiologist or neurologist. That doesn’t mean he can’t be trusted; it just means certification is a relatively new requirement, and if the older pain management doctors weren’t good enough to get certified, perhaps certification isn’t so important.
7. Trust your instincts
You may not feel qualified to judge a pain management doctor’s credentials, philosophy, or educational background, but you can usually trust your gut-level reaction to the person. Do you trust him? Does he make you feel at ease? Are his fees in line with other pain management doctors in your area? Do you feel safe with him? If the answer is no to any of these, then start asking around for a new pain management doctor.
If you choose a pain management doctor that doesn’t meet all seven of these criteria, you might as well not even bother with one at all. As we started saying earlier in this article, chronic pain needs the expertise and dedication of a multidisciplinary team to treat it properly, so if your prospective pain management doctor isn’t by your side for the duration of your treatment, then you might as well just look for a new team.
