Chronic pain is prevalent in the United States, according to recent statistics. An estimated range of 11% to 40% of American adults live with chronic pain. The most common condition is lower back pain.
Further, every year, it costs up to $635 billion for chronic pain in the United States. As staggering as the statistics are, you can still seek help and make managing chronic pain much more workable.
However, it can be challenging to choose pain management doctors. There are many out there, but which one will give you the relief you deserve as quickly as you need it?
Stop living with chronic pain, and find the best pain management doctor to treat you. Keep reading to discover how to do that.
Pain Management Experience
Chronic pain is challenging enough to live with, so when you are looking at options for doctors, experience is crucial. A pain management doctor with experience is one that you can trust to get you the results you need.
When you are considering a pain management physician, it is important to ask them how many patients they have treated with your specific condition. If you need a procedure as part of their pain treatment methods, then you want to know how many procedures they performed that are the same as what you need.
Further, inquire about complication rates. Complications can occur, so inquire about what the risk is that you could experience complications.
Check the Credentials of the Pain Management Doctor
The most important credential that a good pain management physician has is board certification. Completing a fellowship program in pain management is a sign that the doctor has the skills, experience, and training necessary to provide you with excellent healthcare.
Keep in mind the difference between pain management and pain medicine. Often, pain medicine could be a “quick fix,” not something that will help you for the long haul. Pain management, however, uses modern tools with the goal of lowering the intensity of the pain you have.
Ask for Referrals
You ask your friends and family for resources with many things in life, such as a plumber or a dentist. You trust another customer to give you honest feedback. If you do not have a friend or family member who can recommend a pain management doctor, you can still get honest feedback by asking the doctor for their referral list and contacting previous patients this way.
Ask Your Primary Care Physician for a Referral
Your primary care physician can often be a great place to start for a referral because they already know your health history. They are aware of the medications you are currently taking.
Find out if there is a pain management doctor with whom they work closely. Also, they may have a list of doctors who specialize in pain management specific to the condition you have.
Reading Online Reviews
Asking for a referral list will probably produce a list of satisfied patients, but are there any unsatisfied patients that you want to hear from? Reading online reviews is the best way to hear the good and bad and get the ugly comments.
It is much easier for a patient to tell you about a poor experience when leaving feedback on places like Google Reviews. Reading online reviews will give you a well-rounded sign of how well the pain management doctor is doing when treating patients.
Check out these patient testimonials for Innovative Pain Care Center.
Find a Pain Support Group
Do not let chronic pain make you feel like you are in isolation. You are not alone. Look for local pain support groups, both in person and with online forums.
It is a way to connect with people who are experiencing what you are experiencing. You can get information from people in your community, including how to find the best pain management doctor.
Research Their Communication Style
Managing chronic pain is important to your quality of life, so you want to find a physician who is supportive. You should be comfortable speaking with the pain management doctor.
It is important that you find a pain management doctor who listens to what you are saying and then can answer you in responses that you can understand. A good pain management doctor wants to get to know you and has an interest in your condition. They should understand what pain treatment methods they prefer and respect the decisions they make regarding their own health.
What Does Your Insurance Cover?
This is a practical consideration. You can choose who you like, but you could pay more or less depending on your insurance benefits. If you can find a good pain management doctor who takes part in your insurance plan, this is a good option.
However, while you want to save money, it should not be your primary consideration, though. Managing chronic pain isn’t a simple solution, so you want to make sure you work with the right expert. Even if the pain management doctor is out of network, still consider their experience, credentials, hospital quality, and outcomes when making a final determination.
Choose Pain Management Doctors
If you live in Henderson, Summerlin, or Las Vegas, Nevada, it is easy to choose pain management doctors. Get to know the team of physicians at Innovative Pain Care Center. They have a compassionate staff that is dedicated to helping patients like you improve function and relieve pain fast, safely, and effectively.
With patient-centered care, the professionals at Innovative Pain Cate Center use evidence-based diagnostic treatment plans. If you are suffering from chronic pain, do not wait another moment to get help.
Schedule an appointment with Innovative Pain Care Center today.
