Providers Who Treat Chronic Pain
There are several types of providers in the medical and wellness fields who work to diagnose conditions causing pain, help their patients manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Primary Care Provider
A primary care provider, or primary care physician, is often a person’s first contact with the health care system. They can provide an array of preventative, primary, and urgent care services, as well as refer patients to outside providers when specialty care is needed.
- Primary care providers can be physicians (M.D. – Medical Doctor or D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), nurse practitioners (NP, ARNP), and physician’s assistants (PA).
- Research has shown that access to, and use of, primary care services has been demonstrated to be associated with better health outcomes.
Pain Specialist (or Pain Management Specialist)
Pain specialists, also referred to as pain management specialists or pain medicine specialists, are physicians with special training and experience in the treatment and management of pain.
- Pain specialists have access to more advanced evaluation and diagnostic tools for complex chronic conditions.
- These practitioners often come from fields such as neurology, anesthesiology, psychiatry, and rehab medicine, but their primary interest and expertise is treating patients with chronic pain.
- A key role of pain specialists is to coordinate additional care as needed. Physical therapy, rehabilitation programs, and psychological therapies, for example, can all be parts of a comprehensive treatment plan with a multidisciplinary approach.
Palliative Care Specialist
Palliative care specialists work with patients who are managing pain from cancer or other serious illnesses. The focus of palliative care is to improve quality of life and help patients and their families understand their choices for medical treatment. This is often defined in contrast to curative care, which aims to cure or promote recovery from an illness or injury, but both can be part of an integrated care plan.
- Palliative medicine is interdisciplinary, and complements other specialties.
- This treatment approach includes additional consideration of mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing in addition to physical health.
- Palliative care can include end-of-life considerations for individuals with advanced or terminal illnesses.
Finding the Right Care Provider
It may seem overwhelming trying to decide who the best care provider is to support you. Below are some questions for you and your loved ones to consider when looking for a healthcare provider.
- Do I currently have a primary physician?
- What care is covered under my health insurance policy?
- If uninsured, what community resources are available?
- Does this provider seem knowledgeable about chronic pain and/or my condition?
- Do I feel comfortable asking questions?
- Do I feel heard?
Other providers who commonly work as part of a team to address chronic pain concerns include physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, psychologists, etc.