Pain Medicine Specialist

What is pain medicine?

Pain medicine is a broad category of medications that may alleviate various types of pain. It includes over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers and prescription pain medications. There are many types of pain that may respond differently to different pain medicines. The doctors at Pain Management Specialists are experts at determining the most effective medication for your acute or chronic pain condition.

Acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the main types of OTC pain medicine. When OTC pain medicine fails to alleviate your pain, your doctor may prescribe a prescription-strength NSAID.

Opioids are the most powerful prescription pain medicine. However, they also can have serious and life-threatening side effects and lead to dependency and addiction more frequently than once believed. While opioids may be necessary for the short-term treatment of acute pain, recent studies show that opioid medications are not appropriate or effective for the vast majority of people with chronic pain. The interventional pain management physicians at Pain Management Specialists prescribe opioids only as a last resort for people with severe, chronic pain that cannot be treated by other means; only for those who have a condition that would normally cause severe pain; and only for those who are judged to be at low risk for opioid abuse and dependency. In order to continue opioid therapy, patients must follow a closely monitored, comprehensive treatment plan for chronic pain and demonstrate meaningful improvements in pain, function and quality of life. Full compliance and engagement with the treatment plan is mandatory for patients being treated with opioids. Please note that the interventional pain doctors at Pain Management Specialists do not assume responsibility for prescribing prescription opioids that were initially prescribed by other doctors.

What happens during a pain medicine consultation?

When you visit Pain Management Specialists for a pain medicine consultation, your provider conducts an in-depth evaluation. During the evaluation, your doctor aims to find the source of your pain and to develop an effective, comprehensive treatment plan that does not rely entirely on pain medicine. 

First, they ask detailed questions about your pain, including the type of pain you feel, when the pain started, and the medications and therapies you’ve used to try to get relief from your pain. 

They perform a physical exam and may run various tests to determine the root cause of your pain, including bloodwork, imaging tests, nerve conduction studies, or a psychological exam. 

What can I expect during pain medicine treatment?

Pain Management Specialists takes a multimodal approach to pain management. The team believes in delivering high-value, personalized pain care and doesn’t let specific procedures, medications, or therapies dictate treatment.

When using opioids, they follow the guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This approach emphasizes a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan with minimal to no opioids and close monitoring of the small minority of patients who need to be treated with opioids.

Your comprehensive pain medicine treatment plan may include:

• Non-opioid pain relievers
• Interventional pain management 
• Physical therapy
• Behavioral therapy
• Stress management
• Treatment of mood disorders
• Exercise
• Lifestyle modification
• Alternative therapies like acupuncture 

Essential to many of the components of a successful comprehensive pain treatment plan is patient involvement - you are the most important member of the team. We also frequently tap into the expertise of local specialists to help implement certain parts of the plan.

When suffering from acute or chronic pain, you may need pain medicine. For a comprehensive and safe approach to care, call Pain Management Specialists or make an appointment using the online booking tool.