What is a pain management specialist?
Pain management specialists are licensed medical professionals who use various approaches to prevent, evaluate and treat acute or chronic pain disorders. Pain management specialists may be trained in a number of specialties, including orthopedic surgery, neurology, physiatry (physical medicine and rehabilitation) and anesthesiology, or may work alongside surgeons.
When would I see a pain management specialist?
You would see a pain management specialist to help manage chronic postoperative pain, as well as pain from disease (e.g., cancer), injury (e.g.,compression fracture), or painful conditions (migraines, fibromyalgia, etc.). Other conditions that cause chronic pain include reflex sympatheticdystrophy (disease of the nervous system), peripheral nerve injury (causalgia), inflammation of the spinal nerves (arachnoiditis), chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and phantom limb pain.
Treatment options may include oral or injected medications, nerve stimulation, physical therapy and counseling. Pain management specialists may also be trained in nontraditional forms of pain management, such as acupuncture.
Treatment options may include oral or injected medications, nerve stimulation, physical therapy and counseling. Pain management specialists may also be trained in nontraditional forms of pain management, such as acupuncture.