What Is a Pain Clinic’s Goal When Treating a New Work Injury?
When a Patient visits a Pain Clinic, the primary goal is not just temporary relief but functional restoration and prevention of long-term disability. The treatment plan begins with a precise, multi-disciplinary diagnostic approach to identify the exact cause of pain, whether it stems from a sprain, disc issue, or nerve entrapment. Based on this, the pain provider implements a multimodal strategy that moves quickly past simple medication toward active treatments. This often includes targeted interventions like therapeutic injections to reduce inflammation, customized physical therapy to regain strength and mobility, and specialized bracing or modalities. By focusing on regaining a patient's pre-injury work capacity and providing thorough documentation of the Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) process, the clinic ensures the patient receives effective, evidence-based care aimed at a successful and lasting return to work.
Furthermore, pain providers are adept at managing the complex psychological factors often associated with chronic work-related injuries, offering behavioral health support to minimize anxiety and depression, which can severely impede the physical rehabilitation process.
