Now depending on what type of insurance coverage you have will determine how you can select your doctor. When I first went to pain management I had an HMO and had to have a referral from my doctor and then have it OK'd by the insurance company who then required that the doctors office set up the initial appointment for me. What a pain in the butt that was as you had no real say in when or who you could see, a giant crap shoot IMHO. However the amount I had to pay per visit was a cheap $20 co-pay with no limits on visits.
Now I am covered by a PPO and I can choose any doctor I want and do not need a referral from my primary doc. All I need to do is be able to prove a medical need, which I think I can do. What I did was call the insurance company and find out who they covered as "in network" and then I researched the doctors they gave me.
Basically with a PPO you have an "in" and "out" of network coverage and depending on how yours is set up there is a deductible that has to be met before they will start to pay their part which is then at a percentage. My deductible is $250 per year and once that is met I am covered at 90% of the visit cost by insurance (I pay 10%) until I have paid $2000 out of my own pocket during the year. If I should happen to hit the $2000 mark I am then covered at 100% with no co-insurance payment. I know it can be frustrating but the plus side is that I can pick and choose my doctor, any doctor and I do not need to see my primary care doctor first. If the doctor is out of network the deductibles remain the same but I am covered with an 80/20 instead of 90/10.
Now once you have selected your doctor it is time to read up on them and see what if any credentials they might have or if they have any complaints filed against them. There are several websites out there but the one that I have used in the past is Health Grades and while it is a pay service they are very detailed. You can also use your states medical licensing body which you can find through Doc Finder. Knowing more about your doctor before you see them will help you feel more at ease, or at least it does for me. If you are seeing a doctor for pain management you will most likely be seeing an anesthesiologist especially if you are going for something in regards to the spine.
Once you have determined which doctor is right for you then you should come up with a list of questions about your illness/injuries. You should also bring with you a list of all your medications both prescribed and over the counter. This will help your doctor determine any interactions if they decide to prescribe anything for you. You should also not be afraid to ask questions about the meds they prescribe to you or offer alternatives. I have had to do this with my personal doctor and some of the muscle relaxers they had me on as after almost a year on it even a max dose did nothing for me.
Now the above is not a complete idea of what you should be doing before you see a doctor but I found this and thought this would be a good addition to this post. I got it from WebMd and they have some great ideas on what you should be doing when deciding to see a doctor.
Article Here
Pain medicine doctors are experts at diagnosing the cause of pain and then treating the pain. Anesthesiologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons most frequently specialize in pain management. Pain treatment specialists also can be pain specialty-trained psychiatrists or physiatrists. Heres more about these specialists:
* Anesthesiologists: These doctors are often the leaders of a team of other specialists and doctors who work together to help manage pain. The team may include orthopedists (doctors who deal with the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system), nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical or rehabilitation therapists, and others.
* Neurologists: Doctors who diagnose and treat diseases of the nervous system.
* Neurosurgeons: Doctors who perform surgery on the nervous system.
* Psychiatrists: Doctors who specialize in the treatment and diagnosis of mental diseases and behavioral abnormalities.
* Physiatrists: Doctors who specialize in physical medicine, which is a branch of medicine that deals with the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of disease by physical means including manipulation, massage, and exercise.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Doctor
The following are some guidelines to consider when choosing a pain specialist. Select a doctor who:
* Is knowledgeable about pain and pain treatments
* Listens well
* Seems honest and trustworthy
* Encourages you to ask questions and allows you to disagree
What to Expect When You See a Pain Specialist
Pain medicine doctors will work closely with your primary care doctor to assess the cause of the pain and find an appropriate treatment option. Most likely, the pain specialist will perform a complete physical exam. In addition, the doctor will ask you to describe the pain you are feeling in detail, explaining where it hurts, how long it has been hurting, and what worsens or alleviates the pain.
How Is Pain Treated?
Research has led to the development of newer, more effective treatments for people who have pain. Many techniques previously used specifically to make surgery and childbirth less painful now are being used to relieve other pain symptoms. Most kinds of pain have become treatable through methods including medications, nerve blocks, physical therapy, electrical stimulations, surgery, and psychological support.
Learn more about pain treatments.
View the full table of contents for the Pain Management Guide.
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