Most doctors go through the same type of education. In general, they all have about 10+ years of education, not counting the extra years it takes to obtain a specialty. However, you probably already know that this doesn’t mean all doctors are equal.
Finding a truly amazing doctor is like finding a rare gem, especially when it’s for something as urgent as pain management. When experiencing pain, the last thing you want is to spend hours and hours just trying to find a provider. If this sounds like you, read on for our top tips on how to find a pain management doctor that meets your needs.
What Is Pain Management?
First, let’s dive into the details of pain management. Pain management specialists complete an extra year of schooling and take extra certification exams to earn their specializations.
These doctors generally treat two types of pain: chronic and acute. Chronic pain is discomfort that has built up over a long period of time, such as the pain that comes with arthritis or a herniated disc. Acute pain is discomfort that shows up sharply and suddenly, such as the pain that accompanies surgical recovery or a broken bone.
Pain management specialists have many tools at their disposal to help relieve pain for their patients. These can include medications, physical therapy, and interventional procedures such as injections.
When it’s time to see a pain management specialist, you’ll likely know — or another provider may recommend one. Your doctor may write a referral if you have recently undergone surgery, have consistent pain that affects your daily activities, or have pain that doesn’t go away even with at-home pain relievers.
8 Tips To Find a Pain Management Doctor
When you’re trying to find a pain management doctor, it’s important to be informed and know what you’re looking for. This can help you choose a doctor who can help you as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Read on for eight tips to help you choose the right doctor from the get-go:
1. Know Your Needs
Before opening your search engine, evaluate your symptoms and your needs to get an idea of what type of pain management you’re looking for. Make a note of whether your pain is acute or chronic, where you feel it most in your body, and how severe it is on a scale of one to 10. Think about if anything makes your pain better or worse; this can help your doctor identify a treatment that has a better chance of working for you.
Next, think about your goals for pain management. Do you simply want to feel less pain, or are you also looking for more mobility or better sleep? Everyone’s goals are different, so think about what matters most to you. Once you know the answers to all of these questions, you can start looking for a Stillwater pain management doctor who meets these specific needs.
2. Do Some Research
Now, it’s time to fire up the search engine. Use general search engines, review platforms, and doctor directories to look for pain management doctors near you.
You can also ask for a referral from your primary care doctor or another specialist. In some ways, this might be a better option because your doctor is likely aware of your pain management needs and can recommend the specialist who is best qualified to address them. You can also try seeking recommendations from friends, family, or local forums.
3. Look for Credentials
When you’re trusting a doctor with your pain, make sure they’re truly an expert in their craft. One of the first things to look for is a certification in pain management. While most doctors can prescribe pain medications and make suggestions, pain management specialists have extra knowledge about what causes pain and how to treat it.
Then, look at how long a particular doctor has been working as a pain management specialist. If it helps you feel more comfortable, you can look at their background and see what kind of education they have or whether they stay up-to-date on new treatments and techniques.
4. Evaluate Their Approach
Evaluation is one of the most important elements when it comes to choosing a doctor. Even if a doctor is knowledgeable and highly educated, none of that matters if you don’t feel comfortable around them.
If you’ve found a pain management doctor in Bartlesville who you think could fit your needs, schedule an initial consultation to learn more about their bedside manner and communication style. It’s vital to find a doctor who listens to you and makes sure you have all of the necessary information to make informed decisions about treatment options.
5. Ask for Their Treatment Options
While you’re at your consultation, make sure to ask the doctor what chronic pain treatment options are available at their practice. There are many ways to treat pain, such as medications, physical therapy, and injections, and you may need to try a few options before finding something that works for you.
If you’re interested in a new and innovative technique like a nerve block, spinal cord stimulator, or regenerative therapy, then ask about that as well. Not all specialists stay up-to-date on new advances in pain management, and it’s better to learn what options are available to you before you officially become a patient.
6. Consider Convenience
This might not be one of the top-of-mind things to look for in a pain management doctor, but it’s still something to consider. There’s no point in finding the perfect doctor if they’re halfway across the country.
Instead, start small by looking within five to ten miles from your home or workplace. Ask about their scheduling practices and average wait times to ensure that you can receive the timely care you need. Finally, talk about what follow-up care looks like to make sure the frequency of visits works well with your schedule.
7. Look at Reviews
One of the best tools that you can use to find a pain management doctor is online reviews. Look at review platforms like Healthgrades, Zocdoc, or Yelp, or simply look through Google or Facebook business reviews.
This can help you learn a lot about a doctor, including their effectiveness and bedside manner. Look at the general star rating and read through both the five-star and one-star reviews to get a good idea of the doctor’s strengths and weaknesses. Look for potential issues that show up multiple times, such as poor communication or undesirable outcomes.
8. Check Your Insurance
Health insurance plans generally cover visits to pain management doctors, including services such as consultations, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, and common treatments. However, your provider may require a referral from a primary care physician or preauthorization for certain procedures. Additionally, insurers typically only cover treatments deemed medically necessary, and services from out-of-network providers may result in higher costs or a denial of coverage.
Some treatments, such as experimental or alternative therapies, may not be included unless explicitly stated in the policy. To see if your procedure will be covered, review your insurance plan details and confirm any limitations, copays, or deductibles with your insurer.
What Questions Should You Ask During a Consultation?
When you go in for an initial consultation, bring a list of questions so that you feel confident in your choice to join or dismiss the practice.
These questions can include the following:
- What is their approach to diagnosing and treating pain?
- Are there any risks or side effects of the proposed treatments?
- How do they measure treatment success?
- Do they offer telehealth options for follow-up visits?
What Other Specialists Should You Consider Seeing?
With all of this information, you can find the best pain management doctor in Tulsa, OK. However, this is only one piece of the puzzle.
A good pain management doctor works with an entire team of health professionals to make sure your pain is being treated as holistically as possible. Even if your pain management specialist doesn’t employ these professionals within their practice, they likely have a few that they frequently work with.
Other members of your care team could include the following:
- Physical therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Psychologist
- Mental health counselor
- Acupuncturist
- Yoga instructor
- Nutritionist
- Personal trainer
The Bottom Line: How To Find a Pain Management Doctor
Finding the right pain management doctor for you may feel a little overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. Accessing care should be as easy and stress-free as possible, which is why we’ve compiled these eight tips to help you find the best doctor around. From asking questions at a consultation to looking at online reviews, there are many steps to choosing the right provider.
At Oklahoma Interventional Pain & Spine, we know how much trust it takes to choose a pain management specialist. That’s why we’re committed to answering every question you may have and working together to find a treatment approach that meets your goals and expectations. To learn more about our doctors, call us today to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
Chronic Pain: What It Is, Symptoms, Treatment & Management | Cleveland Clinic
Chronic Pain – Diagnosis & Treatment | Made for This Moment | American Society of Anesthesiologists
What an Out-of-Network Provider Means | Very Well Health