When your doctor refers you to a pain management clinic, you may wonder how to find a clinic that offers the needed services. Pain management facilities provide comprehensive care for patients suffering from chronic pain conditions. Most pain management clinics offer a variety of services. Here is more information about these pain management services and what to expect when you visit a clinic:
Services Offered by Pain Management Clinics
The range of services offered in pain management clinics differs for each facility. Some facilities focus on treating specific types of pain, such as arthritis pain or back pain, while others offer treatment for various kinds of pain.
Some pain management clinics focus on specific treatment procedures. A clinic may offer non-pharmacological treatments like acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy, while others only provide pharmacological pain management services. Other clinics offer a variety of treatments, including the following:
Physical Therapy
Some pain management clinics work with a physical therapy specialist who develops personalized rehabilitation programs to improve mobility while reducing pain. Your physical therapist may prescribe techniques like hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, stretching, and exercising to enable you to perform daily activities with less discomfort.
Medication Management
The physicians in pain management facilities sometimes prescribe medications to manage chronic pain. Before prescribing pain medication, your doctor examines you to determine which medication regimen can effectively manage your pain. Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, muscle relaxants, and sometimes opioids.
Interventional Procedures
Interventional procedures are minimally invasive procedures that directly target the source of pain to provide long-term relief. Common interventional procedures include:
- Nerve and medial branch blocks
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Epidural injections
- Nucleoplasty
- Intrathecal pumps
Pain management clinics hire highly trained specialists for these interventions because they are delicate procedures. Pain doctors often recommend treatments like physical therapy and lifestyle changes to enhance the results of these procedures.
Alternative Therapies
Some pain management facilities offer alternative therapies to complement other pain treatments. Some alternative therapies for pain management include:
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Mindfulness techniques
Although these therapies do not address the underlying cause of pain, they may provide additional relief.
Nutritional Guidance
Some doctors recognize that a healthy diet is key for your physical and mental well-being. A healthy diet also helps with weight loss, which may be necessary to manage some types of pain, such as osteoarthritis.
What To Expect From Pain Management Services
During your initial visit, the doctor examines you to determine the cause and extent of your pain. If you do not already have a diagnosis, you may undergo diagnostic tests, including blood tests, MRIs, and X-rays. Your doctor may also want to know how long you have been in pain, what you have done about your pain so far, and how your pain affects your life. These questions help your doctor establish an accurate picture of your condition.
After your initial visit, your doctor creates a personalized pain management plan. At a follow-up appointment, your doctor may give you a diagnosis and discuss your treatment plan.
You then start attending treatment sessions over the next few weeks or months as agreed with your doctor. Your doctor may also give you exercises to do at home. During your treatment, your doctor examines you regularly to determine the effectiveness of your treatments and may adjust your treatment plan if it does not yield the expected results.
Learn How To Live a Pain-free Life
Not all pain management clinics offer the same services. When you need pain management services, research the services offered by local pain management clinics to get a facility that offers the treatments you need. By doing your research, you can find a facility that provides comprehensive care to alleviate your pain.
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