What Is a Pain Management Specialist and Should I See One?

2 min read

Pain management specialists are physicians who have special training in treating all kinds of pain. Pain can arise from a number of reasons including injury, surgery, or chronic conditions like HIV-related peripheral neuropathy.

Pain can also be the initial problem, as some people experience pain without an obvious cause.¹

What is a pain management specialist?

The field of medicine continues to learn more about pain, how it develops, and how to best manage it. Pain management specialists have knowledge in the physiology of pain, various medications to treat pain, and techniques and procedures to reduce the perception of pain.

In addition, pain management specialists are trained in how to evaluate patients with complicated conditions.¹

What happens during the first visit

During the first visit with a pain management specialist, the physician is focused on evaluating your pain and understanding your healthcare concerns.

The first visit usually includes a physical exam, a detailed health history, and a review of any previous tests performed.

It is helpful to bring with you any imaging studies, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

The pain management specialist will analyze your situation and provide you with an initial assessment. In some cases, additional diagnostic procedures are recommended.¹

Type of pain management approaches

Pain management specialists use a combination of approaches to help people who have acute or chronic pain, including:^1,2

Medications
Procedures, like nerve blocks or spinal injections
Coordinating complementary and alternative approaches, like mindfulness practices, meditation, acupuncture, or physical therapy

When to see a pain management specialist

Chronic pain is generally considered any pain that lasts for more than 3 months.

If a person is experiencing pain for a long period of time under the care of their current healthcare providers, it may be time to consult with a pain management specialist.

Pain management specialists understand a multitude of options to manage chronic pain, like HIV-related peripheral neuropathy. While you may need a referral to a pain management specialist from your primary doctor, a pain management specialist can suggest and coordinate a multidisciplinary approach.

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Khafre Kujichagulia Abif Moderator
Alafia (Peace) Thank you for this piece. I don't have any need for a pain specialist at the present time. There is a great deal of discussion in Black communities about our pain not being taken seriously. It's about race and the long held idea that we can tolerate more pain than other races. It is often said that specialist by and large don't do much to address the issues held by Black patients. I don't know if this is true or not but it is the perspective of many. Khafre (Team Member)
1. Ze Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Khafre Kujichagulia Abif" user-id="2046187"/> Hello Khafre! I would personally say that the discussions are absolutely and statements are absolutely true. We are often not listened to about our needs, or how our bodies are worn. I believe that's why you also see it being more socially acceptable for those in our community to manage their pain in alternative ways (ie. alcohol, drugs, comfort food). Our community has long been deprived of needed medications, and also have created stigmas with taking medication. I personally know that I will withstand massive amounts of pain before I take anything, even OTC, although allowing the pain is said to be worse on your body. I have recently had routine visits with my PCP to manage consistent pain I have been experiencing. -Ze (Team Member)
2. Khafre Kujichagulia Abif Moderator
 <inline-mention username="Ze" user-id="2048448"/> Alafia (Peace) How did that visit go? Were you heard? Khafre (Team Member)
Heather Renee Moderator & Contributor
Sadly, I have lived most of my life in chronic pain. Starting with stage 4 endometriosis when I started having periods, chronic migraines shortly after high school, fibro shortly after that, following with a positive diagnosis. Along the way, I would be told to go see a pain management doctor when whichever specialist I was seeing decided that they had no idea what to do next. Unfortunately for me, I never once found a pain management specialist who would prescribe anything. Most of the time, they could not even come up with a new therapy to try. You have no idea how bad the sense of hopelessness that this creates. Having multiple health issues is a hard pill to swallow, but it is even harder to know that you will have to live your life in constant pain. These days, I am not sure a doctor would know how to determine what condition is causing my pain. I always just hope that I am the odd one out and everybody else receives better pain management care - Heather (team member)
Khafre Kujichagulia Abif Moderator
Alafia (Peace) Yet another great article from you all. This one is something I haven thought about because I am not experiencing any pain. I was unaware of pain and its relationship with HIV. Thank you. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)