How to Encourage a Family Member to See a Pain Control Specialist

It’s hard to see a family member in pain. It may also be difficult to predict how they would react if you suggested they see a pain control specialist. But if you think it’s time for your loved one to see a specialist, the following tips may help you have that conversation.

Understanding Their Struggle

A person who has lived with chronic pain for several months or longer may have sought treatment before and not found any relief for their pain. They might’ve also had surgery that didn’t alleviate the pain or made it worse. For people who have had this experience, seeing another doctor may not seem worth the effort. A pain control specialist, however, uses special treatments unique to their field of medicine to help patients feel better.

When talking to your family member, highlight some of the ways in which pain control specialists are different than general practitioners.

For example, at Integrated Pain Solutions:

• Our doctors have completed at least four years of residency training in anesthesiology (pain relief), in addition to their medical school education
• Treatment begins with the least invasive option, progressing to more advanced procedures if initial treatment isn’t adequately controlling pain
• We respect and listen to our patients – we treat people, not symptoms

Special Considerations

A few years ago, a Cleveland Clinic survey of 1,172 adult men found that 72% of respondents would rather do household chores than visit a doctor. So if it’s a male family member you’re dealing with, you may have to work a little harder to get through to them.

The reasons men may be reluctant to seek medical help are complicated and may relate to how they were raised, or their desire to be “strong” for their families. You might be able to help them understand that by seeking appropriate care and improving their health, they would be in a better position to take care of their loved ones and enjoy activities with their family members.

Offer to Go Along

Whether or not they’ll admit it, many people have some degree of fear about seeing a doctor and getting a diagnosis. Sometimes, just having someone to talk to on the way to their appointment can make the experience less intimidating. Offer to drive your relative to their appointment and reassure them that getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward feeling well again.