How to Find A Pain Management Doctor After a Car Accident

What Is a Pain Management Doctor?

A pain management doctor is a medical professional who focuses on evaluating, identifying, and treating various pain conditions. Whether you are suffering acute or chronic pain after your injury, a pain management clinic uses non-surgical techniques to reduce pain.

While primary care doctors may help in certain types of pain, pain management specialists have the training needed to help with car accident pain. A pain management clinic may diagnose and treat your injuries better than your primary physician.

How Can Pain Management Specialists Help with Car Accident Injuries?

A pain management doctor starts by conducting a medical exam to identify the extent of your injuries. Diagnostic tools such as imaging machines help identify the severity of spinal cord injuries, back problems, or brain injuries. Once your doctors understand your injuries, they may develop a treatment plan to manage your pain. Treatments may consist of pain medicine, physical therapy, or other interventional pain management.

Treating muscle soreness is a cornerstone of many pain management plans. Soreness often develops when your muscles relax and the tension associated with your first injury subsides. Thus, you need to pay attention to your body’s pain signals. If you are experiencing new or more severe pain, you should seek medical attention. You may have undiagnosed soft tissue injuries.

When Should I Visit a Pain Management Clinic?

It is essential to seek medical attention as soon as possible after getting into a car accident. Even if you do not think you have injuries, you should still visit a doctor to protect your legal rights to monetary compensation. Most insurance companies require members to see a doctor within a certain amount of time to file a compensation claim legally.

Most states impose statutes of limitations for car accident injury insurance claims. You may have between 72 hours and two weeks to seek medical attention, depending on where you live in the U.S.

You should begin thinking about seeing a pain specialist when you visit a primary care doctor, urgent care center, or hospital for your initial injuries. Specific injuries such as whiplash, headaches, and fractured bones are common after auto collisions. However, these injuries may not show up for several weeks, and the pain associated can last for months after an accident.

If you are experiencing acute or chronic pain, you may want to consider visiting a pain management doctor.

What Types of Injuries Do Pain Doctors Treat?

Most pain management doctors treat a wide variety of acute and chronic pain conditions. Because many auto accidents cause soft tissue injuries, many treatments focus on managing this type of pain.

Here are a few injuries a pain management clinic can treat:

• Whiplash: Whiplash can occur when your head moves back and forth forcefully during a collision. This abrupt, unnatural movement can cause your neck to hyperextend, causing pain. Whiplash is among the most common car accident injuries in the U.S. and one of the top causes of chronic pain.
• Strained ligaments: Your ligaments are the bands of tissues that connect bones within your body. During a car accident, ligaments can stretch or tear due to the amount of stress your body experiences.  
• Herniated disc: A herniated disc occurs when a soft disc between your bones in your spinal vertebrae slides out of the proper position. Herniated discs can cause chronic pain that requires ongoing treatment to manage.

Your doctor will analyze your injuries and develop the best treatment plan.

What Pain Management Options Are Available?

Discomfort and more severe pain can occur in various body areas after a car accident. Many of these injuries require ongoing treatment to manage.

There are several pain management treatment options. Here are a few of the treatment techniques pain management specialists often recommend:

• Ice: Using an ice pack or cold compress regularly can decrease inflammation in a strained muscle. Using ice is an effective pain management technique because the cold reduces circulation to the area by constricting blood vessels. 
• Braces: A doctor may recommend wearing a neck or back brace for a brief period to manage pain. However, restoring a normal range of movement is vital, so you should avoid wearing a brace for a long period. 
• Medication therapy: Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce pain and swelling following a car accident injury. Painkillers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatories are commonly prescribed to help the injured area heal properly. 
• Physical therapy: Pinched nerves or damaged muscles are common after a car accident. Both these injuries can result in pain and a limited range of motion. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to manage muscle or nerve pain.
• Massage therapy: The severe amount of pressure placed on the body during an accident can easily damage your body’s soft tissue. Muscles can heal in the wrong way, causing chronic pain. Your doctor may recommend massage therapy to help loosen tight muscles and reduce pain. 

Your doctor may also recommend epidural steroid injections or radiofrequency ablation, depending on your injuries.

How Can I Find Pain Management Specialists in New York?

Not every doctor can perform pain management services. You should see a pain management specialist, not a general care practitioner. Here are some tips to ensure you find the best doctor for your situation:

Tip #1- Don’t Use Your Primary Care Physician

You may want to visit your primary care doctor to manage your pain following a car accident. However, a primary care physician performs physicals and treats everyday ailments.  Car accident injuries such as whiplash or pinched nerves require more attentive care. A pain management clinic can diagnose and treat your pain more comprehensively.

Tip #2- Select Pain Specialists Based on Your Injuries

Certain doctors are more qualified to treat specific injuries than others. The supervising doctor might have given you a referral if you went to the emergency room after the accident. Follow that referral for information on the type of doctor you should see. If you do not have a referral, consider the kind of injuries you have.

Are you dealing with a muscle strain, back pain, or headaches? If you are experiencing bodily injuries such as joint and neck pain, you should see an orthopedic specialist. However, you should see a neurologist if you have severe headaches or another head injury.

Tip #3- Read Reviews

Even if you get a referral for a doctor, it is important to read reviews. Most doctors have an extensive online presence through reviews, and customer feedback forums. Google the name of the doctor and look at their website. Does it look professional? See if the website has a spot for customer reviews. A good doctor will list their license number online or readily provide it if asked. Verify their license and experience with your state’s certification board. Also, carefully read patient reviews and see how previous clients felt about the care they received.

Tip #4-Be Honest During Your First Appointment

Some people are hesitant to be fully honest with a new doctor. Others do not want to reveal intimate details even though they are in pain. It is vital to be completely honest with your doctor, even if you caused the accident or were under the influence during the incident. Inform your doctor of any old injuries and bring a list of medications you are currently taking. Honesty is essential if you want to receive the best care.

What Should I Expect During My Pain Management Appointment?

During your first pain management appointment, the doctor should perform an extensive examination to evaluate your injuries. Your doctor should ask specific questions about the accident and the pain you’re experiencing. Be prepared to provide a detailed account of your injuries and your current medications. Be patient with your pain management doctor. It may take a few visits to develop an effective pain management plan. You should follow your doctor’s plan precisely to ensure you get the proper pain relief.

Find The Best Pain Management Doctors in New York, NY with Injured Call Today

Are you searching for a pain management clinic? Look no further than Injured Call Today. Our search tools are free and allow you to locate pain management specialists in your local area. Our resources not only help you find a top doctor in your area, but they can also help you make the appointment you need. Don’t wait any longer to get the pain relief you require.

It is possible to live a pain-free life with the help of a doctor who understands how to help you manage it. Contact Injured Call Today to make an appointment with a specialist in your local area. Injury doctors listed in our directory accept no-fault insurance and PIP (Personal Injury Protection), workers’ compensation, and other insurance plans. Same-day appointments may be available.

Sources:

http://sterlingmedgroup.com/pain-management-doctor-car-accident/