[] How you can find and manage a pain clinic or specialist who will respond to your needs.
Here's How:
1.) Ask your general practitioner for referrals.
2.) Ask acquaintances for referrals.
3.) Interview prospective doctors/clinics.
4.) Remember, these people are here to help you. You pay them to provide a service.
5.) The doctor should listen to you and answer your questions to your satisfaction.
6.) Talk to other patients to get a feel for the doctor/clinic.
7.) Tolerate only a reasonable waiting period; e.g. 2+ hours is unreasonable.
8.) The treatment plan should be fully explained, including all side effects.
9.) The plan should be flexible in case you cannot tolerate any part of it, such as levels of physical therapy.
10.) You should okay any changes in the treatment plan.
11.) If you need medication, request them. Your pain should be controlled at all times.
12.) You should be allowed time to consider any procedure, esp. surgery.
13.) You are always entitled to get a second (or third or fourth) opinion.
14.) Progress should be made; e.g. you feel better, you're in less pain, you gain mobility, etc.
15.) If you need medications, these should be prescribed to you and titrated ( adjusted in strength ) according to your need.
[] Tips:
1.) Remember that a doctor, clinic, or hospital provides services in return for payment. You deserve good service.
2.) Doctors are not gods.
3.) You can change doctors.
Related Information:
1.) Medical Mistakes
2.) Patient Bill of Rights
3.) Finding Out What's Wrong
[] More How To's from your Guide to Back and Neck Injury / Chronic Pain
[ NOTE: If you want to verify the above information, you will have to enter this url onto the address-line of your computer monitor.
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