Do You Need To Be Referred to a Pain Management Clinic?

A pain management clinic can improve your quality of life if you’re dealing with chronic pain. These clinics provide specialized care to treat your condition and prevent pain medication overuse. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we diagnose the root cause of your pain and create personalized treatment plans based on your condition. 

Treatment at a Pain Management Clinic

Anyone suffering from chronic pain can attend a pain management clinic for treatment. Whether or not you need a referral depends on your insurance policy and your chosen pain management clinic’s policies. Some insurance policies require a referral from a primary care physician to cover the services offered. Review your policy and understand its coverage for pain management services before contacting a clinic. 

If your policy requires a referral, talk to your primary care doctor. They’ll likely refer you to a specialist if you don’t show any improvement under their care. Pain specialists have the expertise and resources to handle chronic pain. 

Some pain management facilities require patients to obtain referrals from their primary physicians before they can be treated. Referrals allow the clinic to understand the patient’s medical history and any underlying conditions that may affect their pain management. This information helps the clinic to provide effective and safe treatment based on the patient’s unique needs.

Contact your chosen clinic and confirm whether you can self-refer beforehand to save time. If you can, schedule an appointment yourself to get to the root of your pain. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we accept both self-referrals and referrals from primary physicians. You can always pay out-of-pocket if your insurance policy doesn’t cover self-referrals. 

When To Ask for a Referral

Seeing a pain management specialist is necessary if your pain affects your ability to conduct daily activities like walking or working. This may signify a serious underlying condition. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we’ll diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan to help restore your normal body function. 

Go to a pain specialist if you’re dealing with chronic pain. Chronic pain is any pain that lasts longer than a few months despite your adherence to pain-management medications and your primary physician’s recommended therapies. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we’ll conduct a thorough evaluation to identify the root cause of your chronic pain. We’ll then administer effective treatment to help prevent over-dependence on pain medication.

An appointment with a specialist is also necessary if you experience pain radiating to other body parts. This may result from nerve damage. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we have experience treating conditions caused by nerve damage like neuropathy. We’ll recommend treatments like spinal cord stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation if our tests show you’re suffering from nerve damage or pain.

What To Expect From a Pain Management Clinic

Pain management centers provide a wide range of services tailored to each patient’s individual needs. Here are some services you can expect from St Louis Pain Consultants:

• Pain evaluation and diagnosis: This involves assessing one’s medical history and conducting a thorough physical examination. We’ll conduct imaging studies like X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to identify the underlying cause of your pain. 
• Medication management: We’ll prescribe medications to help manage your pain and monitor their effectiveness to determine whether to implement alternative treatments.
• Interventional procedures: We offer interventional procedures like epidural steroid injections and radiofrequency ablation to manage pain. 

Visit St Louis Pain Consultants for Effective Pain Management 

St Louis Pain Consultants is a leading pain management clinic specializing in interventional pain management. Our specialists are board certified, so rest assured you’re in the right hands despite your condition. Contact us for an individualized treatment plan.