A car accident, autoimmune condition, back injury, or sports injury are a few examples of why people experience chronic pain. Typically, an acute injury will happen, and the intense pain subsides as you recover from the injury.
But there are times when the pain lingers, resulting in ongoing discomfort that can interfere with every aspect of your life. Chronic pain doesn’t only happen after an accident or injury. It can also develop as a result of nerve damage, surgery, or long-term health issues.
Do you feel you’ve reached the “end of your rope?” It can feel hopeless to try different treatment options without finding relief. If you have been working with a primary care physician, it might be time to step out and find a specialist to take your pain relief treatments to the next level.
Self-Referral to Visit with a Pain Specialist
Some primary care physicians will refer patients to a specialist when the basic treatments aren’t working. But you don’t have to wait for your doctor to suggest the referral. If you are ready for relief from your chronic pain, ask your primary care physician for a referral or start looking for local providers on your own.
A pain management specialist takes a different approach compared to general physicians. Instead of simply masking the pain with medication, a specialist will address the root issues and help you find both immediate and long-term relief.
Here are a few signs that you might benefit from a self-referral to a pain specialist:
- Pain that lasts three months or longer
- Regular life activities at home and work are disrupted because of the pain
- Difficulty diagnosing the root cause of your pain
- Your main doctor (primary care, surgeon, or orthopedist) has run out of treatment options
- Mental health and mood are being impacted by chronic pain
- The pain flares and is unrelenting
Too often, patients are told by general physicians that the only solution is to use pain medications to mask the symptoms. So, people believe they must grit their teeth to get through each day, dealing with unbearable pain that never seems to disappear.
Rest assured, knowing that there is hope. A pain management specialist takes a different approach, offering unique treatments you can’t get from a general doctor. When you are ready to explore other possibilities, then we invite you to reach out to our team to schedule a consultation.
Physicians: When to Refer a Patient to a Pain Specialist
If you are a primary care physician or a different type of doctor, you might wonder about the ideal timing to refer patients to a pain specialist. The most notable sign that your patient will benefit from specialized services is when the conservative care you provide isn’t working: anti-inflammatory prescriptions, rest, physical therapy, etc.
Referring a patient to a pain specialist is a solution to verify the diagnosis and help the person find the relief they desperately need. Here are a few signs that your patient will benefit from pain management services:
- Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Pain caused by nerve damage is best handled through various interventional methods, such as steroid injections, spinal cord stimulation, nerve blocks, and more. A pain specialist can confirm the nerve damage and provide a holistic approach to help each patient that walks through the door.
- Mobility or Function Concerns: When chronic pain persists or flares, it can have a negative impact on a person’s function or mobility. These signs are concerning, especially since a loss of function can have a domino effect that leads to other complications. Therefore, pain associated with mobility concerns is a definite sign that the patient should visit a specialist.
- Need for Rehabilitation: Sometimes, patients have a hard time with rehabilitation after an injury or surgery because the pain makes it unbearable to participate in physical therapy or other types of treatments. Consider referring patients with acute pain to see a specialist so they can maximize their rehabilitation time to get back on their feet as quickly as possible.
- Increasing Use of Pain Medications: Does the patient need higher dosages of medications to manage their symptoms? If the person continually requires more medications and asks for early refills, then it might be time for pain management services.
One benefit of referring patients to a pain management specialist is maintaining open lines of communication with the other doctor. The goal is to develop a relationship so all healthcare providers can work together. This collaboration allows medical record sharing and multiple perspectives for care coordination.
How a Pain Specialist Can Help
Whether you are self-referring or a doctor referring a patient to a specialist, there are undeniable benefits from pain management services. A variety of conditions can be treated in a pain management clinic, including:
- Back pain
- Joint pain (hips, shoulders, knees, ankles, etc.)
- Post-surgical pain
- Chronic migraines or headaches
- Spinal issues
- Autoimmune conditions (arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.)
Any type of pain lingering or getting worse could merit treatment from a pain management specialist.
Finding the Root Cause of Your Pain
One of the most important reasons to visit a pain management specialist is to get to the underlying cause of a person’s pain. When the pain persists for an extended time, it can be hard to believe that relief is possible.
The primary goal is to identify the underlying cause, then design a treatment plan to address the condition. Pain management is more than symptom management. It is a holistic approach that offers both immediate results and long-term relief for each patient.
Because a pain management specialist focuses on pain treatments all day, they have a unique perspective and specialized training that goes beyond the services offered by a primary care physician.
Once the diagnosis is determined, your pain management specialist can create your personalized treatment plan. This multidisciplinary approach might include:
- Medications for immediate relief
- Additional diagnostic testing
- Physical therapy
- Injection therapy (nerve blocks and/or steroids)
- Pain pumps
- Other alternative treatments
- Referrals to other specialists (such as a pain psychologist)
- Ongoing monitoring and adjustments to the treatment plan as needed
Talk to the Pain Specialists: Call for an Appointment
What are your pain relief goals? Our team is here to help! We provide hands-on services to help you learn more about your condition and navigate the various treatment options that are available.
Many times, patients are unable to achieve results when working with a general doctor. But integrative services from a pain management team can be the key to helping you find the relief that you need.
For more information, reach out to us at Kentuckiana Pain Specialists. We serve patients throughout the Louisville, Kentucky, area. Call our team at (502) 995-4004.