There is a high demand for pain specialists in the world. Pain is a tricky but a common problem among people. In fact, over 25 percent of the entire American population complain of severe pains lasting more than a day.
When pain control gets out of control, it’s time to get to a specialist. An expert in their own field. For instance, a pain specialist in neurology knows the best cure for stubborn migraines. A specialist in orthopedic will address issues arising from joint replacements among other examples. One such specialist is Neil Verma.
What Do Pain Specialists Do?
Did you know there’s a difference between acute and chronic pain? Acute pain results from a sensation in the nervous system. It aims at alerting someone of an ailment or an injury that needs treatment. Chronic pains will last longer.
At times, chronic pain may start as acute pains in the form of a serious illness or a sprained back that continues more than it should. In other stances, it may be due to an existing condition. Some patients will have excruciating pain without any proof of an injury.
The most common types of chronic pains include.
- Arthritis
- Back and neck pain
- Migraines
- Nerve pain
- Cancer pain
- Shingles
Pain Control by a Specialty
If you’re having acute pains, it’ll decrease with time. But chronic pains will linger for long and may need intervention.
How the specialist chooses to proceed with pain control is dependent on their expertise and background.
The specialists can come from a wide array of specialties. Such include the following:
- Neurosurgeons
The experts can do nerve or spine surgery or any other procedure relating to spinal cord or the brain. At times, they may provide implantable devices, oral medications and nerve blocks.
- Anesthesiologists
These specialists can offer oral medications, trigger joint injections and nerve blocks. They may also use implantable devices like pumps and stimulators.
- Psychiatrists
These are rehabilitation doctors who use therapy to treat their patients. Some will also implant stimulators, pumps and do nerve blocks.
In addition to giving oral medications, psychiatrists offer family counselling, hypnosis, and cognitive behavior therapies among other forms of therapy.
Psychiatrists focus on how the patient reacts to the pain and how it influences their quality of life.
Finding a Pain Specialist
Be cautious. Not all specialists are the same. But all have something in common.
A pain specialist must have a certificate from their specialty board to offer pain management exercises. They also need to be certified by the board of pain medicine in the country.
As a patient, there are different ways in which you can get this specialist. You can find this specialist through internet searches, or referrals from your primary care physician.
Before you choose a pain specialist, consider their focus on medical practice. A true pain management doctor will spend most of their time treating people with chronic pains and not those with other ailments.
Also, consider their experience in the field. Opt for those who’ve been in the industry for awhile.
