Pain management involves diagnosing and alleviating long-term chronic pain through medication and pain-blocking procedures. Physicians, nurses, and technicians can specialize in pain management through certification and residency programs. Background checks and licensing may be required for pain management jobs that involve controlled drugs. Medical assistants and technicians gain experience in hospitals and clinics, and the size of a pain management clinic determines the number of available jobs.
Pain management is a specialty of medicine that works with patients to observe and alleviate long-term chronic pain. Patients can experience pain as a symptom of many different types of illnesses and injuries. Physicians who work in pain management often prescribe and administer medications to help with the patient’s pain. Pain management doctors may work in hospitals and clinics that focus on pain relief. Clinics need nurses who are familiar with pain management and medical technicians who operate diagnostic equipment.
Physicians specializing in the field usually complete a residency focused on pain management, while nurses and technicians can also earn certification. Others who work in pain clinics, such as radiologists and licensed practical nurses, usually do not receive additional certification in their field, although it is possible to obtain pain-specific training. The nursing certification process generally requires a nurse to pass the test and complete a defined number of hours working with pain clinic patients.
Pain management is a process that may involve first diagnosing what is causing pain for a particular patient. Long-term pain can seriously debilitate people and their lives; therefore, if possible, pain management works to provide the patient with as much relief as possible. The pain management process may involve administering pain blocking procedures to certain areas of the body. It can also include doctors who issue prescription drugs to patients who need them. Because some of the drugs given to patients are part of a controlled group of drugs prescribed in some regions, pain management jobs may require background checks and licensing by regional authorities.
Physicians from many different types of medical specialties can choose to complete a fellowship and receive pain management work. As pain can be caused by all regions of the body and affect both mental and physical processes, it is possible to first complete a residency in a variety of areas, including neurology and psychiatry. Because some of the medications administered by pain management jobs involve completing a physical procedure for a person while they are under anesthesia, many anesthesiologists choose to work in pain management.
Medical assistants working in pain management jobs often gain experience working in hospitals or general practices. Technicians employed in pain clinics include radiographers and x-ray assistants. The size of a pain management clinic often determines the number of jobs available, as not all clinics are capable of having their own diagnostic equipment.
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