What is an interventional pain management doctor?
An interventional pain management doctor is a specialist in evaluating and treating different types of pain. The goal of an interventional pain management doctor is to figure out the source of your pain and eliminate it when possible. These specialists do more than just prescribe medications to treat pain. You might also be advised to have physical therapy, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency procedures.
What happens when your doctor refers you to pain management?
When you are referred to pain management, your doctor will set up an appointment for you to be evaluated by a specialist. Often pain management specialists are part of an interdisciplinary team that will help manage your pain. The team might include:
- Doctors and nurses
- Psychologists
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Nutritionists and dieticians
The goal of the treatment is to help you manage chronic pain and improve your ability to function.
What does pain management do on your first visit?
At your first pain management visit, you’ll have a physical exam and the provider will review your medical history. You’ll have a pain assessment done. You may be required to complete a drug screen and sign paperwork regarding your treatment plan. The doctor will also review the results from any tests or x-rays that you’ve had done. If you haven’t had any recent x-rays or exams, the doctor may order these.
By the end of your visit your doctor will help you understand your condition and develop a plan of care to address your pain.
Does interventional pain management prescribe medication?
Interventional pain management specialists typically do not prescribe medications. Instead they use various minimally invasive techniques such as injections to treat the source of your pain.
What are the common drugs used for pain control?
There are many medications designed to help control pain. Often over-the-counter medications will be a first line treatment. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications. These include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).
If these medicines don’t help control your pain, your healthcare provider may prescribe something stronger, like an opioid pain medicine. Opioids include medicines such as hydrocodone/APAP (Vicodin, Norco). However, these drugs are not without side effects and have the potential for misuse or dependence.
Sometimes pain management specialists use medicines that are typically not thought of as pain medicines to help with chronic pain. For example, antidepressants and antiepileptics might be used. Antidepressants that are selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), and tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, can help nerve pain. Antiepileptics that might be prescribed include gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica).
What should I not tell a pain doctor?
You want to develop a good working relationship with your pain doctor. For this reason, you should truthfully answer all questions you are asked. Some ways to work more effectively with your doctor include keeping a pain diary to help track your pain symptoms.
