How Will My Treatment Differ If I Go To The ER Rather Than A Pain Clinic?

Dr. Knox Todd answers the question: 'Differences Between ER And Pain Clinic?'

By
Knox Todd, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Pain and Emergency Medicine Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center
November 13, 2008, 5:12 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: How Will My Treatment Differ If I Go To The Emergency Room Rather Than A Pain Clinic?

Answer: Those with chronic or recurrent pain are often treated by pain specialists or primary physicians. And the treatment one receives in those clinics is different than what we expect to give you in an emergency department.

In the emergency department, we concentrate on treating pain quickly, ruling out threats to life. But our job is not to manage the long-term treatment of your pain, or make decisions about medications that you may be taking for a long time. Ideally, we will work with your doctor, either in primary care or in the pain clinic, to arrive at a treatment that's the best for you.

Next: How Do I Find A Doctor Who Will Help Me With My Pain Problems?

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