Tips for Working with a Pain Management Doctor

Man Suffering with back Pain

Acute pain after an injury or surgery typically dissipates with time, therapy, and healing. However, chronic, or ongoing, pain, can be more complicated to pinpoint and treat successfully. That’s where a pain management specialist can help.

Here are some tips for working with a pain management doctor in Wooster, Ohio.

1# SELECT THE RIGHT PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTOR

Because your primary care physician knows you and your medical history well, ask him or her for a referral to a pain management doctor in your area. Research that doctor’s credentials, experience, and expertise in treating chronic pain.

Types of chronic pain these health care providers deal with include:

  • Neck and back pain
  • Cancer pain and discomforts from cancer treatment
  • Headaches and migraines
  • Sciatica and other nerve entrapment syndromes
  • Diabetic neuropathy
  • Arthritis–both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
  • Fibromyalgia

2# TAKE A RELIABLE FRIEND OR RELATIVE TO YOUR APPOINTMENT

When you have a pressing medical problem and are seeing a new healthcare provider, it’s wise to have another responsible adult along with you. That person can help you communicate your concerns fully and accurately and also assist in understanding the information and instructions your pain management doctor gives you.

3# ANSWER THE DOCTOR’S QUESTIONS COMPLETELY AND TRUTHFULLY

You will be asked about your medical history, including injuries, chronic conditions, surgeries, and prescription and over-the-counter medications. Be accurate about dates and results of invasive procedures and what, if any, pain management techniques you have used–chiropractic care, for instance.

4# DESCRIBE YOUR PAIN AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE

Unfortunately, many patients struggle with precise descriptions of their pain. So, before your appointment, think about when your pain started and how severe it is on a scale of one to 10. Your doctor will ask about its location, what may relieve or worsen the pain, and its quality. In other words, is it a stabbing or shooting pain? Does it feel like pins and needles? Is there accompanying numbness?

Finally, tell your physician how the pain impacts your daily function. Can you accomplish your work and home tasks, or are there things you cannot complete/ What would you like to see as the outcome of your pain management plan?

5# COMMUNICATE ABOUT HOW YOUR PAIN TREATMENT PLAN IS WORKING

The best way to do this is to keep a pain journal–either written or on your phone or laptop. Document how you feel as you take medications, receive chiropractic care, receive injections, and more. Communicating frequently through the patient portal will help your doctor adjust your treatments as needed.

PAIN MANAGEMENT DOCTOR IN WOOSTER, OHIO

At Wooster Community Hospital, we offer a wide range of pain management modalities, such as prescription medications, biofeedback techniques, chiropractic, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nutritional counseling, and many others. Each pain management plan is tailored to the individual’s medical needs, age, lifestyle, and expected therapeutic outcomes. Innovation and great patient-doctor communication are at the heart of all we do.

For information on getting the treatment plan you need to control or eliminate your pain, please contact Wooster Community Hospital at (330) 263-8144. Alternatively, you can submit an online request form to book a consultation with our pain management doctors.