What Happens at a Pain Management Appointment?
Visiting a pain management clinic is not so different from any other outpatient medical appointment. Put simply, you are seeking the help of a healthcare expert to make sure you can live your healthiest and most fulfilling life.
But not all medical appointments are identical. And while you should have no reason to feel anxious or nervous, there are a few things to know that can help make your visit to the pain management clinic as streamlined as possible.
Prepare for your visit
Before your appointment with a pain management provider, make sure you take the time to prepare. This can help ensure a smooth visit and avoid delays while at the clinic.
Confirm insurance
First, make sure your insurance will cover the visit. You may have already confirmed this when choosing your pain provider, but if not, make sure you double check. While you’re at it, check to see if your insurance coverage includes a copay for the specific type of visit you are going in for. If it does, prepare to pay your copay on the day of your appointment. You might want to call the clinic to confirm the types of payment options they accept.
Collect your records
Next, gather any past medical records, imaging reports, and test results related to your current pain condition. This information will go a long way in helping your pain provider diagnose the cause of your pain and prescribe an appropriate course of treatment. Additionally, collecting this information in advance might help you avoid any potential paperwork-related delays the day of your appointment.
Make a Medication List
You will also want to prepare a list of any medications you are currently taking. Include the name of the medication, the dosage, and the frequency with which you take each one. Bring this list with you to your appointment and be ready to share it with your pain provider.
Photo ID & Insurance Card
Make sure to bring a valid photo ID and current health insurance card with you. Most clinics will require this information before checking you in.
What to expect during your visit to a pain management clinic
During your first visit to a pain management clinic, your provider will begin by learning more about you and your medical history. You will be asked to describe the details of your pain, including the type of pain sensation (burning, shooting, throbbing, aching, etc.), the severity of the pain and how it is impacting your life (usually measured on a 0-10 scale), where on your body you are feeling it, how long you have been feeling it, what might have caused it, and what treatments/remedies you have already tried.
Based on your feedback, medical history, and a physical examination, your provider will recommend an appropriate course of treatment aimed at providing you with optimal pain relief. In some cases, your provider may want to obtain additional information including lab results and diagnostic tests (e.g. x-ray imaging) to help inform their diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Your recommended treatment may be a minor therapy that is completed right there in the clinic, or a more advanced procedure that will be performed in an outpatient surgery setting.
Following your pain management treatment plan
It’s not just important to know what to expect when visiting a pain management clinic, but what to expect after your visit and diagnosis. Remember why you went to a pain management clinic in the first place. You were in pain and wanted to do something about it, so you sought the help of an expert.
Well, once that expert has lent their expertise and provided you with a care plan, make sure you follow it diligently. You have a responsibility in this as well after all. Not following your treatment plan can have consequences, such as failure to achieve the relief you were expecting, to potentially worsening your condition.
So, if your treatment includes medications, take them exactly as instructed. If you are having physical therapy, attend all your sessions and perform all your prescribed at-home exercises. If you’re having a procedure, closely read and follow all pre-op and post-op instructions.
Communication will also be critical to a successful resolution. Your provider will communicate with you as necessary regarding your care plan. But do not hesitate to contact your provider as well. Be sure to let them know if you are experiencing any side effects of your treatment, if your pain does not improve as expected, or if you have any questions.
It may not always be easy to stay on track, but you owe it to yourself to do this right and get the full benefit of your pain management treatment.
