Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Types Of Treatment Available From A Tampa Pain Management Clinic

By Marissa Velazquez


When someone suffers from ongoing pains that a general practitioner cannot manage very well, a different solution is required. Most people with this problem will visit a Tampa pain management clinic in order to see a doctor who specializes in this field. The clinics available to a patient living in this area will be specified by the person's general doctor, and a reference letter will be written. The patient can then make an appointment.

Sometimes people feel anxious when they have to see a doctor they have never met before, or visit a medical facility where they have not been to in the past. A bit of information about the place, however, can help to calm the nerves. Knowing what to expect is helpful. When you are visiting an institution of this variety, it is best to get there quite a lot earlier than your scheduled time of visitation. There may be a few patients waiting for the doctor, and they will work on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The hospital will need information from you, and you will therefore have to complete some papers. This is usually only necessary the first time you go. The papers will require details of your medical insurance and your personal information (date of birth, place of residence, name etc.). You may also have to list things like the medicines you are currently taking.

The first visit that you have at the facility is very important because a number of assessments will be done. You should assist the nurses and doctors by bringing along any relevant details regarding your condition. For example, you may have had x-rays done in the past that could be presented to your new doctor.

Quite a lot of questions will need to be answered upon our first visit. A nurse will usually see you first, and attend to finding out all this information. You may have to answer questions about your medical history, allergies and medicines that you have taken in the past. It is maybe helpful to make a note of these before you go to the hospital. The nurse will also do a general examination, recording temperature, blood pressure etc.

The nurse will ask questions about the painfulness of your condition. She might ask that you indicate on a drawing of a body where your pain is located, and will ask if you are also suffering from additional problems, such as fatigue or nausea. Once all this information has been obtained, you will be ready for your consultation with the doctor.

Your new doctor could advise various remedies for your condition. The different types of medicines that are commonly prescribed are those with antidepressant, anti-inflammatory and anti-seizure indications. There are also times when pain-blocking injections are used. A patient will have to come back to the hospital to have these injections on a regular basis, but they do work well for some time. Some exercises can help too.

If none of the above-mentioned treatments bring sufficient relief, the doctor may suggest various surgical options. Some surgeries include the insertion of an infusion pump or a spinal cord stimulator. If you feel that the medications that your general physician can prescribe are not sufficiently dealing with your condition, then it is a good option to go to a Tampa pain management clinic for further assistance.




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