Acute pain is often dismissed as something to handle alone with over-the-counter meds. However, treating it properly is essential to faster healing, reduced bodily stress, and — most importantly — preventing acute discomfort from turning into a life-altering chronic condition.
While some issues only require a “team of one” (like a primary care doctor or a specialist), research shows that for more complex pain, a multidisciplinary approach leads to superior outcomes and lower costs.
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“A comprehensive pain management team often includes a primary care physician for overall care and prescribing medications,” says Bryan Marascalchi, MD, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “And then, depending on the injury, pain physicians, physical and occupational therapists, mental health providers, nurses, rehab specialists, and even nutritionists.”
Your primary care provider (PCP) usually leads this team, but specialized programs are emerging. Transitional pain services and comprehensive interdisciplinary pain management practices at academic hospitals now exist to bridge the gap between acute post-op pain and the possibility of more complex chronic pain, says Dr. Marascalchi.
Here’s a closer look at who may be on your acute pain care team, and how their specialty can help you.
Primary Care Physician (PCP) Your primary care physician acts like a quarterback, serving as the point person for your initial care. PCPs may be internists or family physicians, and may diagnose an injury, prescribe early treatment and then, if necessary, refer you to a specialist. For example, for someone with acute pain caused by lower back pain, a PCP may recommend a consultation with an orthopedic specialist or neurologist.
Pain Management Doctor This medical specialist has a background in a primary area of medicine (anesthesiology, neurology, internal medicine) as well as additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of painful medical conditions. A pain management physician may both prescribe and administer medicines, often as injections in the joints, spine, nerves, and muscles.
Nurse The role of this professional is vast and varied, and may include gathering your health history, giving information about an injury and its care, managing doses of medication, monitoring vital signs, and working with a physician or pain management specialist.
Physical Therapist (PT) After the initial pain from an injury or operation is treated, there may be ongoing issues with a patient’s ability to move and function. This is where a physical therapist comes in. A PT can provide exercises and hands-on therapy to help you restore mobility.
Occupational Therapist (OT) In the case of acute pain, an occupational therapist’s job focuses on the restoration of function by teaching techniques to perform tasks without pain. An OT may set weekly goals after an injury or surgery, develop a routine of exercises, and introduce assistive devices for regaining skills. OTs may also teach how to dress more easily, cook and do chores in ways that protect healing, reduce strain, and allow for breaks to rest and recover.
Therapist or Psychologist Acute pain doesn’t typically lead to a serious mental health condition, but it might become a concern if the discomfort lingers and becomes chronic, says Stefan Kertesz, MD, a pain management specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine in Birmingham. That said, dealing with any level of pain can impact one’s emotions. A therapist or psychologist can step in to offer talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy that may include coping mechanisms to ease negative thinking, breathing and relaxation exercises, and mindfulness techniques.
Pharmacist You know a pharmacist fills drug orders, but this professional can also help check for potential interactions with any other medications you’re taking as well as explain dosages and side effects, especially if opioids are a part of the recommended pain relief plan.
Nutritionist Because acute pain is temporary, your diet may not need changing in any specific way. But good nutrition can help with pain and inflammation in the body by speeding the healing process and building the immune system. A nutritionist can offer shopping and cooking tips and meal plans that may improve your diet and overall health.
The Takeaway
- Teamwork makes the dream work. Depending on the cause of your pain, a group of professionals may be your best bet to help you heal better and faster.
- Pain management is customized. The doctors and therapists assigned to help with a hip replacement may not be the same group for someone who’s had a mastectomy; depending on your injury and health status, the right team will be assembled.
- Healing is both physical and mental. A multidisciplinary approach to acute pain management is fully supportive, managing your medications, mobility, mood, and more.
