“When should I start thinking about pain management?”
I'm 35, and I believe I have chronic neck pain. I usually take ibuprofen to help manage it, but it's just not helping at all. Should I start thinking about pain management therapy?
2 Answers
You have many options available to you:
-Visit your primary care physician
-Visit an orthopedic surgeon
-Visit an Interventional pain management physician
-Visit a Neurologist
I don't recommend seeing a spine surgeon initially.
Klee S. Bethel, MD.
-Visit your primary care physician
-Visit an orthopedic surgeon
-Visit an Interventional pain management physician
-Visit a Neurologist
I don't recommend seeing a spine surgeon initially.
Klee S. Bethel, MD.
You should be certain about what you are dealing with before embarking upon a pain management referral. Your primary care physician should start the investigative process using plain x-rays of the cervical spine, possibly followed by an MRI. You need to establish an objective diagnosis; pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Physical therapy should then be undertaken depending upon the results of those studies. Finally, if there has been no resolution, pain management may be considered. I hope this helps! Good luck!
