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Complex Regional Pain Syndromeicon-print

Working With Your Provider

While CRPS is mysterious and often not diagnosed properly, there are health care providers who understand and know how to treat it. The most important member of your health care team is you. Your role is to learn as much as you can about CRPS. Ask questions and work as a team member with all the health care professionals who are treating you. Members of your health care team may include:
 

  • Primary care provider
  • Pain medicine doctor
  • Anesthesiologist
  • Neurologist
  • Physical and occupational therapists
  • Psychotherapist such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker
  • Surgeon

Ask your primary care provider (PCP) to give you some names of pain medicine doctors, clinics and centers. Or search the National Pain Foundation Provider Directory to find names of doctors, clinics or centers in or near your town.
 

Pain Medicine Doctor

Find a doctor who is board-certified in Pain Medicine by the American Board of Pain Medicine or holds a special certificate in Pain Management from the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Ideally, the pain medicine doctor should work in a recognized pain clinic that includes several types of treatment. Remember that such clinics are not available in all areas of the country. Be aware that many doctors and other health care providers call themselves pain specialists, but may not be as well-trained or experienced in treating chronic pain conditions.
 

Pain Medicine Clinics and Multidisciplinary Centers

"Multidisciplinary" means that the clinic or center contains a number of different doctors, nurses, therapists and other health care providers. A pain clinic or center can provide medicine and non-medicine services in a single location. This allows you to go to only one place instead of a number of different locations for therapy.

Make appointments with a number of pain doctors, clinics or centers. "Shop around" and compare the results of each interview until you are completely satisfied that your choice of a pain management doctor, clinic or center is the best one for you.