Pain Management and IC

Guidelines to Evalute A Pain Center

1. The pain center should recognize the complexity of chronic pain; it's disruptive effect on your physical, emotional, social and vocational life, particularly by providing assistance for the depression which can accompany chronic pain.
2. Chronic pain treatment requires a comprehensive treatment program, combining medical and psychological support. It should train you to shake off the passivity that often accompanies chronic pain in order to regain control of the pain and your life.
3. The director of the program, usually an MD, should be certified in one of the specialties involved in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain.
4. A staff of professionals should be available full time. These generally include: a physical therapist, a psychologist, a registered nurse, a certified biofeedback therapist, a vocational counselor and nutritionist.
5. The center should be professional qualified to review your medical records and tests, perform additional tests when appropriate for diagnostic purposes, do physical examinations and set appropriate goals for treatment.
6. The program should be available to provide the following treatment services:
   Drug reduction or elimination as well as proper management of narcotics and tranquilizers
   Physical therapy and exercise
   Psychosocial therapy through individual and/or support group work
   Exercises to teach relaxation and reduce stress
   Behavior therapy for patients and families, to coach you out of your pain behavior and the cycles of negative thinking.
   Vocational counseling and rehabilitation
   A research program directed towards improving treatment and measuring its effectiveness
   An admission policy that requires referral from a physician who should be kept informed of your condition, consulted, and advised about recommended post treatment care.

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   (Adapted from the Chronic Pain Control Workbook, 2nd Edition - Dr. Nelson Hendler cautions that a prospective patient should be wary of anyone who makes exaggerated claims of success or prescribes a single type of treatment for all types of pain. He suggests that people seek out centers with academic affiliations, as these centers tend to have greater access to research.)