Patients who wish to see an expert in pain management can ask their physician to recommend a pain specialist. In some cases, patients may find these experts at a local pain treatment center. These may be referred to by several names, including pain clinic, pain management center, pain unit or pain service. In some cases, these facilities are attached to a hospital or medical center. In other cases, they are stand-alone facilities.

Services offered vary, so it is important for patients to find a facility that has the right expertise for treating their condition. A patient’s primary physician is usually the best resource for finding the appropriate pain experts. However, patients may als

• Call local hospitals or medical centers to find out if they are affiliated with a pain treatment center. If there is no nearby center, patients can contact their primary care physician, who may be able to make a referral to a local pain specialist. 
  
  
• Call local schools of medicine affiliated with nearby state universities or private colleges. Find out if these facilities offer pain treatment.
  
  
• Use the Internet to contact organizations such as the American Society of Anesthesiologists or the American Academy of Pain Medicine to find out more about potential local pain-management resources.

Before receiving any care, patients should be sure the prospective pain specialist has the proper accreditation, preferably from a national organization such as the American Board of Anesthesiology or the American Board of Pain Management. Patients should also contact their health insurance company to see which costs will be covered.

The goal of therapy is usually to improve the quality of life and to reduce pain if possible. Before treatment begins, clients should be allowed to state their desired outcome. A pain management program should also include:

• Use of a pain analog scale before and after treatment. This is a pain assessment technique in which patients describe their pain on a scale of zero to 10, with zero representing an absence of pain and 10 representing unbearable pain.
  
  
• Establishment of measurable goals and regular review of a patient’s progress toward achieving those goals.
  
  
• Interaction and communication between the therapist and the patient. The patient should be allowed to offer feedback about the therapy.