Pain Management – Who Is Eligible?

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How long have you been living with chronic pain? You’ve likely adjusted many areas of your life to manage the discomfort and do the best that you can to get through the day.

Many patients with chronic pain seek medical treatments then feel discouraged when they can’t find relief. Eventually, it leads to a point where the person is consigned to living with the pain because they don’t see any other options available.

If pain management has failed you and your life is being hindered by chronic pain, it might be time to seek help from a pain management specialist. Even though you haven’t found results through traditional medical services, many alternative treatments are available at a pain management clinic.

Are There Eligibility Requirements for Receiving Treatment?

Some patients wonder if they need a referral from their primary care physician before meeting with a pain management specialist.

The truth is that you can seek these specialized pain management services without a referral. Simply reach out to our clinic to schedule a consultation.

Anyone who wants extra support in managing chronic or constant pain can take the initiative to meet with a pain management doctor.

One thing to consider is how much insurance will pay for these treatments. If you have insurance coverage, it’s always a good idea to learn more about your coverage to know what to expect for out-of-pocket costs.

Signs You Will Benefit from Pain Management

Just because a patient is in pain doesn’t mean that they need to visit with a pain management specialist right away. Certain factors make it more likely that a person will need to go to a specialist instead of a general physician:

Chronic vs. Acute Pain

Immediate pain from an accident or surgery can often be handled through traditional pain management treatments, such as medication and physical therapy. But there are also instances where patients want to supplement their treatments with specialized pain management, which might help to speed up recovery.

If you have an acute injury, consider all medical treatments to help you find relief and get back on your feet again. For example, after the emergency treatments are finished, there are benefits to working with a pain management specialist as you are recovering from the injuries.

Pain management services are also standard for people living with chronic pain. Any type of chronic pain can be helped through a pain management clinic, including back pain, autoimmune diseases, joint pain, chronic headaches, and more.

Subpar Results from Traditional Medicine

Another sign that you need to talk to a pain management clinic is that you haven’t achieved your desired results by working with a primary care physician. A general medical provider is an excellent resource for short-term illnesses, wellness checks, and more. But they don’t have the expertise necessary for more severe issues, such as chronic pain.

Too often, patients get caught in the trap of depending on pain medication to make it through the day. Popping pills provides immediate relief initially, but the dependency increases with ongoing use.

Instead of relying on pain medication to manage your home and work responsibilities, consider other treatment options available through a pain management clinic.

Pain Is Getting Worse

Pay attention to how your symptoms and pain are progressing. Do you find that the symptoms intensify, either in severity, duration, or frequency? When these pains are expanding and increasing, don’t delay a visit to a pain management doctor.

For example, if you notice that the pain is stopping you from going to work or you are unable to sleep at night, then it is clear that your pain is unmanaged.

When you are struggling with day-to-day activities, then it’s essential to understand that your struggle is not typical. Instead of living with the pain, it’s time to find lasting results by talking to a pain management team.

Dependence On Medication

Many patients also find that over-the-counter pain medications are no longer effective. One example is how over-the-counter pills can be effective in the earliest stages of back pain.

But if the pain continues to worsen and you build up a tolerance to the medication, you require higher and more frequent doses to find relief.

This dependence can also occur with prescription medication.

Remember: relying on pain medication is not a healthy or sustainable approach. There are many side effects of drugs that can damage your overall health. A better solution is to seek alternative pain management services.

Pain Management: Interdisciplinary Clinic

One of the greatest benefits of working with a pain management clinic is that these healthcare facilities include a team of medical experts who are working together for your highest good – including pain management doctors and nurses.

The medical team assists with everything from diagnosis to treatments and beyond. Optimal results are achieved by looking at the whole person instead of being hyper-focused on just a few of the symptoms.

Not only do pain management doctors help with medications, but they also consider other factors that could be contributing – including physical or structural issues, lifestyle habits, and psychological issues.

Often, pain management includes both modern medicine and alternative or complementary medicine. The goal is to improve your quality of life and minimize the pain in a safe, sustainable way.

When you are working with a pain management team, you gain tools that help you with self-management, as well as ongoing treatments that help you function throughout the day.

Personalized Services from an Expert Team

The good news is that our pain management specialists offer unique services for every patient. We dedicate the time and attention to understanding your needs and getting to the root cause of your pain.

Once the diagnosis is finalized and we understand your symptoms, it’s time to design a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief.

Our approach is two-fold. First, we focus on immediate results so you can get back to your normal lifestyle as quickly as possible. Next, we evaluate the longer-term treatments needed to help you maintain these results in the future.

Start Feeling Like Yourself Again

It’s difficult to express how challenging life is when you are living with chronic pain. However, if you are tired of dealing with these chronic issues, schedule a pain management consultation to learn more about unique treatment options.

Our goal is to help you start feeling like yourself again. In addition, many patients enjoy life-changing results by working with a pain management clinic. These specialized services can help you minimize or even eliminate daily chronic pain.

At Kentuckiana Pain Specialists, we are here to help with all types of chronic pain. Schedule a consultation to learn about our comprehensive pain management services. We are located in Louisville, Kentucky area. Call us at (502) 995-4004.