A pain medicine doctor specializes in diagnosing, treating and managing pain and a range of painful disorders. A pain medicine doctor cares for the health needs of people with acute pain, chronic pain, and cancer pain. Because pain is complex and covers a wide spectrum of conditions, pain medicine doctors specialize in both the physical and mental aspects of pain management.
A pain medicine doctor typically:
Evaluates your medical history and any test results you have
Performs a physical exam
Evaluates your answers to pain questionnaires
Orders and interprets laboratory tests, imaging exams, neurologic exams, and muscle and nerve studies
Diagnoses and treats herniated discs, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, cancer pain, migraine headaches, diabetic neuropathy, sports injuries, and burn pain
Prescribes medications
Orders physical therapy, electrical stimulation therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and counseling
Performs therapeutic injections and nerve blocks
Refers you to an appropriate surgeon if necessary
A pain medicine doctor may also be known as a pain medicine specialist, pain management doctor, or pain medicine physician.
There are 974 specialists practicing Pain Medicine in Texas with an overall average rating of 3.9 stars. There are 303 hospitals in Texas with affiliated Pain Medicine specialists, including Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital, Baptist Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.
