pain management

[gurneet]

I would like to know what is Pain management team is and what they do..

[Jaybay]

It depends on what the underlying cause of your pain is.  Pain docs don't just hand out pain pills, although that is part of their scope of practice.  If you can share what is causing your pain, maybe a members here can share different therapies they have tried for the same problem.

[gurneet]

On Monday 20 i went to see my GP. My GP is sending me to see Pain management team and I would like to know what they will do for me

[Jaybay]

Pain management focuses on "management" of pain rather than "cure" of pain.  That's a very important distinction that usually gets lost when a patient is first referred to a pain practice.  I can pretty much guarantee that every last person on this forum who sees a pain management physician still deals with pain every day.  The goal is to reduce pain to a manageable level so the patient can regain some functionality and rejoin the land of the living.  

Chronic pain and illness do a major number on mental health.  Depression of some degree is all-too-common in every one of us.  Our lives have been turned upside down and we can no longer do many of the things that brought us joy.  If opiate therapy is involved, that opens up another whole can of worms.  Patients and family members often do not understand the difference between normal physical dependence and addiction, and many doctors often don't take the time to thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of opiate therapy.  

The words "pain pill" or "pain killer" are really misleading.  At best, most opiates can only dull the pain and for the first few weeks of therapy the brain is dulled as well.  Tolerance is a constant battle for those needing long-term opiate therapy, and constantly increasing the dose isn't always the best (or only) answer.

Notice that Tuck's definition includes psychologists as part of this multi-disciplinary approach to pain.  Psychotherapy is probably one of the most neglected tools in the pain management practice.  Patients get offended thinking the doctor doesn't believe they have real pain, and leave the practice in a fury.  Psychotherapy is just one more tool in the pain toolbox.  When patients say, "I'll do anything to get rid of this pain!" many of them turn around and refuse to even try psychotherapy.  I've found it extremely helpful; others do not.  You don't know until you give it a try for a few sessions.

Are you asking for yourself or for a loved one?  Members here have all kinds of conditions that cause pain, so I'm sure someone in a similar situation will be able to share personal experience with pain management.  Welcome!

[Tuckamore]

Hello Gurneet,

You've asked a good question. We may have different opinions based on personal experiences and geographical locations.

Here is a dictionary type of explanation:
"Pain management is a branch of medicine employing an interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those living with pain.The typical pain management team includes medical practitioners, clinical psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and nurse practitioners. Pain sometimes resolves promptly once the underlying trauma or pathology has healed, and is treated by one practitioner, with drugs such as analgesics and (occasionally) anxiolytics. Effective management of long term pain, however, frequently requires the coordinated efforts of the management team."

That sums up the general definition of pain management. In my state the PCP prescribes the narcotics for their CP patients. It is than the PMP that will review and recommend plans for pain management. So it can vary somewhat from location to location.

Please feel free to ask additional questions. This may not have answered your specific one.

Peace,
~Tuck