If you’re living with chronic pain, there are high chances that you have already taken the first few steps to manage it all by yourself and have then landed in a professional pain management clinic. Well done, you’ve taken the right first step indeed. Self-medicating is encouraged as long as it’s done under the guidance of a professional and isn’t harming your body in any way.
Now that you’re in the pain management clinic, we should clear a few things up for you. Many come in seeking help but have set ideas about the treatment, causing the professionals and therapists not to be able to treat them ideally. Keep reading to know more about five wrong expectations people have about pain management clinics.
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Sometimes, the diagnosis would be different than what you have been expecting
There is a sea of information on the internet, and most often, patients like to indulge in self-educating themselves. While there is nothing wrong with reading a few articles, much like what you are doing right now, you shouldn’t believe blindly everything that someone writes on the internet – especially when it is something related to medicine, medical practises or professional therapy.
You might self-diagnose your chronic pain as something but upon being tested, your professional pain therapist might bring out a report stating something entirely different. It is essential that, at times like this, you trust your doctor more than the internet.
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The diagnosis and progress can be slow
Nothing is instant in a pain management clinic.
Your diagnosis, as well as treatment, will most likely involve a few time-taking steps. Your therapist might wish to run a few tests to determine accurately what the issue is and then use primary care, leading to advanced pain treatment. You could ask your doctor for a detailed description of each step involved; for instance, professionals for pain management in Spokane Valley, WA walk you through the entire line of treatment, if requested.
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Sometimes, the real issue is your habits and lifestyle
Most of the times, the root of our chronic pain issues is our unhealthy lifestyle and habits. Not exercising regularly, eating unhealthy food and not enforcing good practices in everyday life can lead to such problems. As difficult it is to hear from your doctor that the real reason for your problems is just you, it is most often true.
Often people get upset when their doctor discloses this information to them as the official diagnosis but it is ultimately your responsibility to take good care of your body.
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Yes, you need to know your medical history, family history and all the other things
Your doctor cannot dream about the other trips that you’ve made to other doctors. Neither can they assume the other medication that you are on. Them asking about your family’s medical history isn’t because they are extremely nosey and wish to dig up the past. Let them know clearly about your ongoing medication, allergies, previous diagnosis, etc., because everything that your doctor asks is for a better, more accurate diagnosis.
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You can’t have unrealistic expectations about pain management
While the steps sound easy: diagnosis, treatment, and continuous cycles of physical therapy to ease pain, they really aren’t.
Chronic pain isn’t easy to treat as curing pain cannot happen completely. A pain specialist such as a chiropractor or physical therapist can treat the source of the issue but not the problem itself. Though, accurate medication, professional physical therapy and remedies can help a great deal.
A pain management clinic is your best bet to get rid of chronic pain. Just make sure you don’t seek professional help with the wrong expectations.