What happens at your first pain management appointment?

I was super stressed thinking they would directly do some painful procedure on my back. But it was actually just a very detailed discussion about my MRI scans and daily pain levels. They just sit down and plan a customized treatment like physiotherapy or mild medicines.

Hey, don't worry at all! They will just ask you to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10 and discuss what makes it better or worse. It is very conversational, so make sure to carry all your past prescriptions and reports so they have the full picture.

They will check your blood pressure first because chronic pain can sometimes push your BP levels up. The specialist will look at your overall lifestyle, posture, and suggest some light exercises. They are very careful to not prescribe anything that clashes with your other regular medicines.

They might suggest some nerve tests or new scans, so ask them clearly about the expenses beforehand. The consultation fee for pain specialists can be high, so check if your insurance covers these specialized OPD visits. Plan your budget for long-term physiotherapy if they suggest that.