Pain Management Strategies for Work-Related Injuries: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Workplace injuries can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and ability to engage in normal daily activities. Many injuries, unfortunately, lead to chronic pain and long-term disability, making quality pain management a necessity.
Read on for information about how injured workers can take steps toward effective pain management over the long run.
Metro Healthcare Partners, a group of leading pain management doctors in Brooklyn, NY, would like to share some details about the power of a multidisciplinary approach to pain management.
What Is Pain Management and What Is a Multidisciplinary Approach?
What is pain management, and what is a multidisciplinary approach?
Pain management is a type of medical treatment that addresses long-lasting or chronic pain that results from a workplace injury. The treatment focuses on reducing physical pain and helping a patient adapt to limitations that they face after a disabling injury.
The multidisciplinary approach to pain management provides a patient with care from a team of healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines. The collaboration is a proven method of addressing the complex nature of pain and how professionals help patients manage it.
Through cooperative teamwork, multiple healthcare professionals can address the various issues presented by chronic pain. A multidisciplinary plan of care addresses the physical side of pain and its causes, as well as the psychological and emotional impacts of longstanding pain.
One primary goal of a multidisciplinary approach is to equip patients with effective, lifelong strategies for handling pain that they can use along with their healthcare team.
Building a Multidisciplinary Pain Management Team
The multidisciplinary approach to pain management centers on a team made up of experts in diverse fields. While every patient’s individual condition and how they experience pain determines their precise plan of care, a multidisciplinary pain management team can include the following professionals:
Pain Management Physician
The team centers around a patient’s pain physician or specialist who leads the effort and oversees the patient’s comprehensive pain management care plan.
The lead physician performs a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s needs and accurately diagnoses the underlying causes of pain. The physician also manages medications and special procedures, such as spinal cord stimulation and nerve blocks.
Physical Therapist
The physical therapist helps the patient improve mobility, strength, and overall physical activity function. Physical therapy is a proven method of relieving many types of chronic and injury-specific acute pain. Physical therapy can include specialized and targeted exercises, manual therapy, and heat, cold, and electric stimulation treatments.
Nurse
The patient’s nursing team provides a critical link to education and support to them and their families. Nurses also play a crucial role in monitoring and managing medication.
Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist specializes in helping patients learn new work skills and ways to perform previous job skills in ways that manage chronic pain and improve function.
Other Professionals
Depending on a patient’s specific needs, other professionals may be part of the multidisciplinary pain management team, including:
- Chiropractic care
- Holistic therapy
- Weight loss
- Biodex balance program
- Geriatric care
- Advanced neurodiagnostics
Integrating Multiple Treatments Into Pain Management
The power of a multidisciplinary approach to pain management comes from integrating various treatment modalities. Pain involves a complex combination of physical conditions that requires treatment from multiple angles for effective treatment.
Every patient’s individual situation can require a different combination of therapeutic treatments from multiple professionals. Some patients may benefit most from a combination of physical therapy and chiropractic care, while others may need more intensive medication management in combination with other treatments to achieve positive outcomes.
A patient’s care team will work together under the leadership of their pain care physician to develop a plan that provides the right combination of treatments for their case.
Better Pain Management Outcomes Through a Multidisciplinary Approach
There are several ways in which a team-focused approach to multidisciplinary pain management is better than receiving similar care from professionals who are not working together. The power of teamwork adds substantial value to the treatments provided.
Communication is the key to the process. Metro Healthcare Partners has created an infrastructure for patients to communicate effectively with their healthcare team. Just as important, the pain management team is in constant contact with each other concerning the patient’s progress and ongoing care. Studies have shown that patients receiving multidisciplinary pain management care have decreased pain, improved physical function and mobility, and improved overall quality of life.
Schedule an Appointment with Metro Healthcare Partners
If you live in Brooklyn or anywhere in the NYC region and are asking, “Is there a multidisciplinary approach to pain management near me?” Metro Healthcare Partners is available to assist.
Their team of professionals can help develop a thorough pain management plan of care if you are suffering from a work-related injury. We invite you to read more about our services, including our comprehensive guide to pain management after an accident or injury.
If you are ready to take control of your pain, call Metro Healthcare Partners today at (718) 395-9781 for an appointment. Doctors listed in our directory accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Pain Management for Work-Related Injuries FAQs
Will I Need Pain Management Permanently?
You may need long-term pain management therapy because some workplace injuries lead to chronic pain which is a lifelong condition. With effective pain management, patients can often enjoy many everyday activities and a good quality of life.
Will I Ever Be Able to Self-Manage Pain?
Some patients can self-manage pain to a large degree in the long term through the skills they learn during multidisciplinary treatment. In many cases, some level of co-management is necessary after the first period of professional pain management.
Why Is Exercise Important to Pain Management?
Exercise is important to pain management because targeted movements can reduce many types of pain while increasing flexibility and strength. Most patients find that guided exercises improve their mood and relieve the stress and frustration that often accompany workplace injuries.