Making the decision to get pain management doctors, NJ pain clinics and specialized services involved in your treatment is based on several different issues. In New Jersey, as well as across the United States, most primary care physicians are trained and experienced in basic pain management, but they are not specialists in the field.
To become top pain management doctors in NJ physicians have to undergo rigorous and lengthy training. They have a 4 year degree, followed by graduation from medical school as a general physician, and then they have the opportunity to specialize. Most pain management specialists choose an area of focus that includes neurology, anesthesiology, orthopedics or internal medicine to name just a few options. From there the physician completes further training, residency requirements and testing before being granted certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
This extensive training, which is often in excess of 12 years, prepares pain management doctors in NJ with the skills and experience they will need to work with patients that are experiencing chronic pain from injury, illness, health conditions or medical procedures.
Evaluating Pain Levels
Choosing when to include pain management doctors or NJ pain management services into your treatment is usually a decision based on your pain levels, the effectiveness of the current pain management program, and the duration of the pain. Typically primary care physicians will prescribe or try a variety of pain medications, including over-the-counter and prescription meds, and progress to more significant mediations such as opioids and antidepressants.
However, pain management doctors in NJ often bring in other types of treatment options as well. They tend to approach treating pain from a patient focus, a more holistic look at all the factors that can influence pain, especially pain in the neck and spine. These can include blocks that limit the messages of pain that the nerves send to the brain, highly focused types of injections, or neurotomy, a radiofrequency treatment of the nerves to block pain transmission.
Seek a Consultation as a First Step for Pain Management
Working as part of your treatment team, pain management doctors in NJ will come onboard with your treatment once they have completed an initial consultation. When pain is not effectively managed by medications and treatments prescribed by your primary care physician or another specialist a pain management doctor is a logical and necessary choice.
