Direct Primary Care

What It Takes To Be A Pain Medicine Doctor?

Updated on: March 22, 2024

Whether you specialize in oncology, pediatrics, you name it – pain management is a valuable subspecialty to have under your belt. If you put yourself in the shoes of your patients, there is a unique sense of assurance that comes with knowing your physician is a pain medicine doctor.

Being a pain medicine doctor elevates the level of patient care you extend. Therefore, it is beneficial for disease diagnosis and crafting health management plans for your patients.

How Do I Become a Pain Medicine Doctor?

So far, there is no existing residency training program to be a pain medicine doctor.

Physicians become pain medicine doctors by completing a different residency program, such as anesthesiology or physical therapy and rehabilitation. Afterward, physicians undergo a one-year subspecialty training in pain management, referred to as a fellowship.

Finally, physicians must pass a board exam authorized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to become pain medicine doctors.

Most pain medicine doctors specialize in orthopedics, neurology, physiatry, or anesthesiology.

Pain Management Certification for Physicians

Physicians become pain medicine doctors by undergoing a one-year subspecialty training in pain management, referred to as a fellowship. Finally, physicians must pass a board exam authorized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to receive their certification as pain medicine doctors.

What Do I Have to Do to Set Up a Pain Management Clinic?

While many pain medicine doctors incorporate pain management in their daily practice, some physicians are interested in setting up clinics focused on pain management. In this case, it is best to check what the state guidelines are in your area before setting up shop.

Each state has its guidelines defining who can practice in a pain management clinic.

Some states require board certification for all practicing pain medicine doctors in the clinic. Some states only require the physician-owner of a pain management clinic to be certified. Other states do not require board certification at all, for as long as the practicing pain medicine doctors meet a required number of credits of pain management education per year.

Many other states currently do not have any pain management clinics and pain medicine doctors' policies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1.What are pain management doctors called?
Ans:

Pain management doctors are also called pain specialists or pain doctors. These doctors typically specialize in anesthesiology, and they have an M.D. or D.O. degree.

2.Are pain management doctors anesthesiologists?
Ans:

Yes, pain management doctors are typically anesthesiologists.

3.Do pain management doctors diagnose?
Ans:

Pain management doctors diagnose patients with several medical conditions that can contribute to either acute or chronic pain.

4.Is pain management worth it?
Ans:

Pain management is definitely a very valuable resource for patients with severe, acute, or chronic pain problems.

5.What do pain management doctors look for in urine tests?
Ans:

Pain management doctors typically use urine tests to look for any illicit substance use or to demonstrate compliance with controlled substances like narcotics. These urine studies are also used to diagnose bladder infections.

6.What is a pain management doctor?
Ans:

A pain management doctor is a physician with specialized training in anesthesiology, that can help manage chronic pain and acute pain. They are capable of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of several kinds of types of pain.

7.What to expect from a pain management doctor?
Ans:

One can expect a thorough evaluation of acute pain or chronic pain from a pain management doctor. A thorough evaluation includes running multiple blood tests and imaging studies to diagnose the medical condition and develop a treatment plan to help reduce the pain.

8.What can pain management do for me?
Ans:

A pain management doctor can help diagnose and treat acute pain and chronic pain. Treatment strategies include but are not limited to oral and intravenous pain medications, procedures like epidural steroid injections, intra-articular injections, etc.

Published on: February 13, 2022