Whether you are already under treatment for chronic pain with a pain doctor, have recently received a referral from your primary care doctor to a pain doctor, or are experiencing pain that you think may need to be managed by a specialist, you may be wondering what qualifies someone to be a pain medicine physician, or whether seeing a pain doctor is the right choice for you.
A pain doctor, or pain management specialist, is a physician with special training in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all types of pain in the body. Pain doctors must first attend medical school, where they thoroughly learn the basics of medical science and patient care. After medical school, doctors who want to pursue pain medicine must complete a training residency, usually specializing in one of three areas: anesthesiology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or neurology. After residency, they complete fellowship training for at least a year, which covers all aspects of pain management. Physicians must become board certified in their primary specialty and complete an accredited fellowship in order to become eligible to be board certified in pain management by one of three certifying boards recognized by the American College of Graduate Medical Education.
At Louisiana Pain Specialists, we pride ourselves on taking the time to fully understand the origins of a patient’s pain and to develop a truly comprehensive plan of care. We believe that by using a balanced, multidisciplinary approach, our patients come much closer to their goal of pain relief as well as an improved quality of life.
The medical field is rapidly improving the overall understanding of pain through research and is developing new specialized methods of diagnosis and treatment. In addition to a thorough knowledge of how pain works in the body, pain doctors are trained to utilize the most advanced techniques for evaluating, diagnosing, and treating pain effectively and safely. Pain doctor Nomen Azeem, M.D. of Louisiana Pain Specialists elaborates, “My drive for incorporating cutting edge technology into my practice comes from the desire for the best long-term outcome for each patient.”
Pain doctors develop a comprehensive treatment plan, and often refer patients and coordinate care with other providers including physical therapy, psychological therapy, and rehabilitation programs. Dr. Satvik Munshi, another pain doctor practicing with Louisiana Pain Specialists explains, “At Louisiana Pain Specialists, we pride ourselves on taking the time to fully understand the origins of a patient’s pain and to develop a truly comprehensive plan of care. We believe that by using a balanced, multidisciplinary approach, our patients come much closer to their goal of pain relief as well as an improved quality of life.”
If you are experiencing any type of chronic or acute pain, consider making an appointment with one of the knowledgeable and experienced pain doctors at Louisiana Pain Specialists. Most appointments can be scheduled within a week.