Managing Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be difficult to manage because it varies so much from person to person. Even two people with the same kind of pain may need different treatments. That is why it is important to find a doctor who specializes in pain management.

Pain management doctors, often called pain specialists, have advanced training in diagnosing, treating, and rehabilitating people with chronic pain. They often work as part of a team with nurses, physical therapists, and mental health professionals.

Pain specialists realize that many chronic pain conditions have no cure, so they focus on ways to manage the pain. They also recognize that because chronic pain has many causes and possible treatments, no single treatment works best for everyone. Typically, they will try a progression of therapies until sufficient pain relief is reached. This progression is called the chronic pain treatment continuum.

If you are interested in finding a pain specialist near you, refer to our Pain Specialist Locator page.