When you are living with chronic arthritis pain, it seems like this pain is disrupting every part of your life. Not only does the pain interfere with hobbies and physical activities, but it can also put a damper on your relationships, work performance, and more.
Too often, patients with arthritis feel hopeless about treatment options. You’ve probably tried different medications and treatments, only to experience minimal relief.
A pain management specialist can be a great resource if you want to find solutions to overcome arthritis pain. You’re invited to reach out to our team at Kentuckiana Pain Specialists to learn more about the available treatments for your arthritis management.
Why a Pain Management Specialist Instead of a General Physician
A primary care physician can be an excellent resource for many health conditions, but the services and treatments available are limited. When you have arthritis, there are undeniable benefits from visiting other types of doctors – such as a rheumatologist and pain management specialist.
Keep in mind that a primary care physician can assist with standard treatments. Often, the course of action is to prescribe anti-inflammatory pain medications to manage symptoms. Digital imaging might be requested to rule out other injuries.
Then, the doctor will often refer patients to see a specialist for a more in-depth diagnosis and treatment plan. You don’t need to wait for the symptoms to get worse before going to a pain management specialist.
What to Expect from a Pain Clinic
Anyone with chronic pain can visit a pain management clinic to access alternative treatments. Typically, patients have run out of options with their general physician, which is why they look for a local specialist who can help.
It’s common for patients with inflammatory conditions to visit pain management clinics. For example, we often work with people who are living with arthritis or fibromyalgia. While it’s not possible to cure these conditions, there are many options to minimize the symptoms and help you find relief.
One of the benefits of working with a pain management specialist is the interdisciplinary approach used for treatment. Instead of addressing the symptoms alone, the doctor looks at the bigger picture. This holistic approach often involves multiple treatment options.
The goal is to help you find relief immediately. Then, ongoing treatments can be beneficial for minimizing the pain and discomfort in the future. Ideally, pain management services help you avoid flare ups.
Remember that a quick fix isn’t the goal when working with a pain management clinic. Instead, the focus is on helping to improve the overall quality of life by restoring function and using different tools for pain management.
Minimizing the Use of Pain Medications
One of the biggest motivators for patients to visit a pain management clinic is because the person wants to minimize their use of over-the-counter and prescription pain medications.
There is a time and place to use pain medicine. But most doctors and patients agree that painkillers don’t offer the desired long-term results. Remember that these medications cover up the symptoms without addressing the root problems.
Pain management services can be ideal for patients who are trying to reduce or avoid pain medications altogether. For example, you might be in a situation of coping with pain medication prescribed by a primary care physician. In this situation, it’s beneficial to talk to a pain management specialist to explore other options.
Keep in mind that medication might be part of the treatment plan, but ultimately your doctor is often trying to help with tapering off medications.
When to See a Pain Management Doctor for Arthritis Pain
You might be getting by with at-home treatments for arthritis pain. But, eventually, rest, ice, and pain relievers aren’t enough.
How do you know when it’s time to talk to a pain management specialist about your arthritis symptoms? Here are a few reasonable indications that you will benefit from these services:
- Pain Isn’t Subsiding: If you are trying all of your usual remedies and not finding relief, it’s time to reach out to a doctor. Often, minor aches, pains, and flare-ups can be managed at home. But if a week passes and your pain isn’t responding, it’s worth the trip to talk to a pain specialist.
- Different Type of Pain: You’ve been living with arthritis pain for so long that you likely know your “normal” baseline. It could be a red flag when you start seeing different symptoms or patterns in your inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Reach out to a doctor right away for support.
- Other Conditions with the Pain: Arthritis is autoimmune, which means it’s common for patients to also live with other conditions. Sometimes, pain medications cause side effects that also need to be managed through your treatment plan.
- Debilitating Pain: When your symptoms are severe and interfering with your daily lifestyle, then it’s essential that you seek pain management services as soon as possible. Some patients find that their symptoms continue to worsen, despite treatment.
The truth is that it’s never too early to talk to a pain management specialist. When you are living with chronic pain, there are undeniable benefits that can come from early intervention. In addition, immediate treatment might be necessary to prevent more significant issues in the future.
Personalized Treatment Plan for Every Patient
Every patient is unique, so it’s essential that you work with a pain management specialist who offers personalized services. Our team takes the time to understand your symptoms and conditions.
We always get to the root of the problem first through thorough diagnostics. Then, we can move forward with a unique treatment plan to help find the most relief possible – and hopefully, return to a normal lifestyle once again.
Often, there are multiple healthcare providers involved in helping arthritis patients with their symptoms and pain management. The focus is on reducing immediate pain while also reducing the risk of joint damage and more severe pain in the future.
The benefit of this proactive approach is that it often helps patients maintain more active lifestyles, which can promote overall health and wellness. In addition, by taking a holistic approach, the hope is that you can reduce the impact of your pain and symptoms on your lifestyle.
Book an Appointment with a Pain Management Specialist
You don’t have to be living with severe chronic pain. Our team at Kentuckiana Pain Specialists can help with pain management services for arthritis and many other chronic conditions. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive approach if you are looking for pain management support.
We have an office in the Louisville, Kentucky, area for your convenience. Call our office at your convenience when you are ready to book an appointment: (502) 995-4004.