Why Would You Need To See A Pain Management Specialist?- EP 11

Why Would You Need To See A Pain Management Specialist?

When might your surgeon or primary care doctor recommend a referral to pain management? What does it mean and how do you know if you’re ready? If you’re sent to pain management, it can be for a variety of reasons. Tune in to hear Dr. Danko break down an overall review for understanding treatment in pain management. 

 

Episode Highlights:

• If your primary care doctor is referring you to pain management does that mean that they have run out of options in your care plan? Dr. Danko explains.
• Opioids and injections are not all of what pain management does and those two treatments are not tied together.
• Medication management is most commonly for continuation of a controlled substance or to consider starting a controlled substance, with the most common being an opioid.
• Opioids in the right situations can be beneficial and help patients function better but also come with the need for closer monitoring.
• Some Pain Management Practices are interventional procedures only and some practices are medication management only which is why it is important that you understand what kind of practice you are being referred to.
• What about injections? 
• Implantable devices are used to treat chronic pain, too. When are they used?
• Dorsal ganglion stimulation is a specialized stimulation that is specific to individual nerves and focal areas in the body.
• Have you heard of the new type of stimulation called restorative neurostimulation?  Dr. Danko explains how it can strengthen muscles and the trial options available.
• There are several minimally invasive surgical procedures that Interventional Pain Management specialists can be qualified to perform; For example: minimally invasive lumbar decompression, indirect lumbar decompression, posterior SI joint fusion, posterior spine fusion, and facet joint fusion. These are all outpatient procedures that are shorter in duration and generally don’t need general anesthesia. They are done through small incisions not open joint procedures.
• What does it mean that Pain Management is a subspecialty? How does board certification affect what may be offered? 
• It is important to do your homework when you’re going to see a new provider to thoroughly understand their training and options they provide.
• Interventional Pain Management is not a scary thing like you may read about in books or see in movies. They are medical specialists just like other doctors who are working to help patients improve quality of life.

3 Key Points:

1. When a patient gets referred to pain management there can be a lot of unknowns. Dr. Danko sheds light on why a patient may be referred and a better understanding of what treatment in pain management looks like.
2. Not all Pain Management Specialists are the same; Some Pain Management Practices are interventional procedures only and some practices are medication management only which is why it is important that you understand what kind of practice you are being referred to.
3. There are several minimally invasive surgical procedures that Interventional Pain Management specialists can be qualified to perform. Having discussions with providers will help you realize that nothing is going to be forced and they are there to help you sort through the options available to improve your quality of life.

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