About 50 million American adults are struggling with chronic pain, leading to $80 billion in lost wages every year. Chronic pain could impact your mobility and quality of life without treatment. You might require costly surgery if you neglect the root cause of the problem for too long.

Before that can happen, choose pain management doctors in Northern Colorado. An experienced team can determine the root cause of your pain. With their pain management techniques, you can regain control over your life.

Not sure how to narrow down your options for doctors? Read on for the tips you need for an effective search today.

Talk to Friends and Physicians

Searching for a pain management doctor online could leave you with hundreds of options to choose from. To streamline your search, turn to friends and family members in Northern Colorado. Ask if they can recommend a pain management specialist in the area.

If they can, ask questions about their treatment experience.

First, learn as much as you can about the practice. For example, you can ask how long the patient had to wait to see the doctor. Consider asking about the staff, office, and pricing, too.

Next, ask questions about the pain management doctors. For example, were they friendly and professional? Ask about their experience and expertise as well.

Gathering personal recommendations can help you build a list of doctors to research further. It can also help you determine which doctors to avoid. Ask each friend you speak with if they encountered any problems during their appointments.

For example, maybe there was an issue with scheduling or billing. Perhaps the doctor failed to listen to the patient's concerns and needs.

References from friends and family members will help you gather valuable insights into each doctor that likely aren't available online.

If your inner circle is unable to offer a referral, talk to your general healthcare physician instead.

Check Credentials

Once you have a list of options for doctors, look into each pain specialist's professional history.

First, determine where they completed their education. Confirm that they graduated from an accredited institution. Consider how long ago they graduated and completed their training, too.

During your search, try to find a doctor with years of hands-on experience. Consider how long they've owned their own practice as well. An established pain management clinic likely runs as a well-oiled machine.

A new business, on the other hand, might still experience operational issues like billing and scheduling. These problems might impact your experience as a patient.

You'll also feel more confident choosing a doctor with years of experience in their field. These specialists have a better understanding of different types of pain. They'll likely have an easier time diagnosing the problem and customizing your treatment plan.

Determine if the pain management doctor specializes in a specific problem or form of treatment. For example, you might want to find a doctor who specializes in helping patients with post-surgery pain. Maybe you need someone with well-rounded experience involving:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Joint pain
• Muscle injuries
• Nerve pain

Either way, consider your specific needs during your search.

Visit the doctor's Healthgrades.com listing to make sure their license is up-to-date as well.

Otherwise, check for any medical malpractice suits or disciplinary records. If they do have a disciplinary record, remove them from your list.

Read Reviews

You can also learn more about each pain management specialist by reading online patient reviews. You can visit the doctor's website to find their Testimonials page. Otherwise, check Healthgrades.com, Better Business Bureau, and Google Business online.

Prioritize finding a reputable doctor that other patients already know and trust. You'll have peace of mind choosing a specialist with a strong, professional reputation.

Pay attention to the complaints you find. For example, you might find negative reviews about the doctor's professionalism. Perhaps the majority of negative reviews revolve around delayed appointments instead.

Explore Their Services

There are over 204,550 pain management physicians within the US. However, not every physician offers the same form of treatment. Some physicians only offer one form of treatment, which might not help your unique situation.

To narrow down your options, consider the different pain management techniques each doctor offers. For example, you might consider:

• Cortisone injections
• Joint and bursa injections
• Medication management
• Peripheral nerve blocks
• SI joint injections
• Trigger point injections
• Botox injections
• Epidural steroid injections
• Kyphoplasty

During your consultation with the doctor, talk about the types of pain you're experiencing. Ask the doctor what treatment options they would recommend. Then, ask them to review the pros and cons of each treatment option.

The doctor shouldn't push you toward one technique or another. Instead, they should help you make an informed decision. If they're unable to explain why they recommend a specific treatment, remove them from your list.

Consider Pricing and Insurance

Ask each practice about the pricing for the services they offer. Requesting pricing from more than one practice will allow you to compare your options. Ask each practice what's covered within that estimate, too.

Next, consider your insurance coverage. Determine how much your insurance will cover (if anything at all).

Ask each clinic if they offer financing options as well.

Try not to make your decision solely based on price. Instead, use your notes to make an informed decision based on your goals and health. Choosing someone with years of pain management experience could prove worth the cost.

Schedule a Consultation

Before making a final decision, schedule a consultation appointment with two or three doctors on your list. Discuss the types of pain you're experiencing and ask the doctor how they can help.

During the appointment, pay attention to how the doctor speaks and acts. If they interrupt you, they're likely not listening to your concerns. Don't choose someone who rushes you out the door, either.

Afterward, take a moment to review your notes. Choose a doctor based on your distinct needs.

Choose Pain Management Doctors and End Your Pain Today

Learning how to choose pain management doctors shouldn't feel painful. Instead, use these tips to narrow down your choices. Then, choose a physician based on your needs and concerns.

Choosing the best doctor in Colorado will help you get rid of your chronic pain in the safest way possible.

Eager to get started? We're here to help.

Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

In the United States, about one in five people deal with chronic pain. Why, then, does fighting chronic pain often feel like a lonely battle?

One common answer is that persistent pain makes life exhausting. It causes stress that impacts both your personal and professional life. It affects everything, from your sleep to your hobbies.

Though eliminating pain is unlikely, you can reduce it enough to improve your quality of life. Unfortunately, you can also make your situation worse by sticking to poor habits or not doing your research.

Want to learn which chronic pain management mistakes you need to avoid? Here are six common examples and what you should do instead.

1. Toughening It Out

People new to chronic pain often don't take it seriously. Instead, they decide to toughen it out and see how they react to pain first.

In reality, you should visit your doctor as soon as you start feeling pain. Chronic pain doesn't go away on its own, and there's no point in downplaying it. Putting off a doctor's visit only means living with unnecessary discomfort.

Another thing you shouldn't do is chase away the pain with painkillers. This may numb the pain temporarily, but it won't help in the long run. Plus, the more painkillers you take, the more ineffective they'll become.

If you want the best care possible, consult a pain management specialist. They'll diagnose your condition and devise the most effective treatment plan for your needs. Of course, they can treat sudden pain issues as well.

Beyond seeking professional help, consider joining a support group. As mentioned above, more people suffer from chronic pain than you may think. Meeting them can be a big boost in learning how to reduce pain.

2. Holding Onto Stress

At the end of the day, chronic pain is a physiological issue. That's why stress and anxiety can intensify the pain by increasing your sensitivity to it.

The big issue with stress is that it's all but impossible to avoid. We all have different stress triggers, from financial issues to family problems. And since we can't live stress-free lives, we need to find ways to manage it.

Fortunately, there are plenty of natural remedies that help reduce stress. They include acupuncture, reflexology, and massages with essential oils. These methods take time to make an impact, but they do help.

Listening to soothing music can also do wonders for lifting your mood. Head to YouTube, and you'll find hundreds of streams and playlists for this purpose. When you get into it, this can be a great form of mental escape.

3. Avoiding Exercise

When you're in pain, working out may be the last thing you want to do. As far as pain management techniques go, though, exercise helps a lot.

For starters, exercising strengthens your muscles and lubricates your joints. On top of making you less vulnerable to pain, this helps you prevent injuries, control blood sugar levels, and keep weight down.

Exercising also releases natural brain chemicals known as endorphins. You likely know endorphins boost your mood, but they also alleviate pain. All you need to do is to put some work into getting your body to release them.

Make sure to pick an exercise routine that's right for you. There are many types of pain, and some physical activities may do more harm than good. Low-impact exercises like walking or swimming are a good start.

4. Making Medication Mistakes

Medications for pain can be a double-edged sword. They can be a big help in reducing pain, but only if you're using them as intended.

See, there's a reason why your doctor prescribes you pain medication. For about 30% of medicines, the time of day you take them is a key factor. If you don't follow the schedule, the medicine will be less effective.

Whatever you do, don't take prescribed medicines only when you feel pain. In most cases, this won't make the pain go away. Also, don't take painkillers to "get through" certain situations, as this is a slippery slope to walk on.

Want to make sure your doctor prescribes the right medication? Keep a journal where you'll note your daily pain level and the activities you did at the end of each day. Take this journal with you for every doctor visit.

5. Ignoring Meditation

Yes, we already talked about natural remedies for chronic pain. Still, deep breathing and meditation deserve their own spot on this list.

For many chronic pain patients, meditation will be the easiest way to reduce pain. This technique helps your body relax, making tension seep from your muscles. With some practice, it only takes a few minutes to see results.

There are many meditation methods, and most focus on repetition. One way to do it is to slow your breathing, ignore thoughts, and repeat a certain mantra. Consider taking a meditation class to help you with the basics.

Deep breathing is another relaxation technique worth trying. Find someplace quiet, position your body comfortably, then imagine a spot under your navel. Breathe into that spot, let the air fill your abdomen, then let it out.

6. Sticking to Unhealthy Habits

We all know that smoking, alcohol, and drugs are unhealthy. What you may not know is that they're detrimental to chronic pain patients in particular.

The main danger of smoking is that it prevents your body from circulating much-needed nutrients to your spine. Due to the reduced blood flow, your spine will age quicker and make you more susceptible to chronic pain.

Beyond smoking, there are many links between addiction and chronic pain. The less mobile you are, the more tempting drugs and alcohol may seem. Opioid painkillers can also be very addictive—and even deadly.

Other than avoiding the above products, consider improving your diet. An unhealthy diet can be a gateway to many chronic pain issues. Try switching to a low-fat diet rich in fruit, vegetables, cereals, and lean meats.

Avoid These Chronic Pain Management Mistakes

As any chronic pain patient will tell you, living with constant pain is harder than you may believe. That said, avoiding these chronic pain management mistakes will at least make sure you're not sabotaging yourself.

Are you seeking professional help to alleviate chronic pain? Our experts can create the perfect pain treatment plan for you! Contact us here to learn more about our services.