If you have chronic pain due to fibromyalgia, herniated discs, carpal tunnel, or another ongoing condition, then your doctor may refer you to an integrated pain management clinic like Inland Pain Medicine. These are medical facilities dedicated solely to the management of pain. They generally employ an array of specialists, from chiropractors, to dietitians, to acupuncturists, all of whom use their own modalities for the ongoing reduction of your pain.

IPM is an effective, ongoing choice for many patients. But it is a bit different from the standard doctor's office experience. As such, you may wish to review this overview so you know what to expect.

Evaluation

The first time you visit an IPM clinic, you can expect to spend a significant amount of time working with various practitioners so they can evaluate your condition, your pain, and your lifestyle. You're probably used to doctors spending a few minutes with you at each appointment. This will be different; you'll spend plenty of time talking to professionals and having your concerns addressed. 

At this evaluation, a dietitian will often talk to you about your diet. They may have you record what you eat for three days for a more accurate record. You may also be given blood tests and asked to perform various stretches and exercises to assess your mobility.

Plan Implementation

Based on your evaluation, the practitioners at the IPM clinic will create a treatment plan for you. This plan will generally involve treatments from multiple disciplines. For example, you may be asked to meet with a dietitian for nutritional counseling every 2 weeks, and also see a chiropractor for spinal adjustments weekly. Or, you may be scheduled for weekly acupuncture appointments, monthly massages, and a one-time session with an aromatherapy specialist. Every patient's prescribed course of action is different, which is the beauty of having so many modalities under one roof.

Follow-Up

Every so often, you will meet with the practitioners at the IPM clinic to discuss how your plan is working. They'll assess your pain and listen to your feedback, and then they can make changes to your plan as needed. If you feel a certain treatment isn't offering much relief, they may nix that treatment from your plan and include something different instead. The goal is to fine-tune your plan over time until the plan works perfectly to manage your pain.

IPM is an excellent choice for those with chronic pain. The continual re-evaluation and follow-up makes it personal and easily personalized. 

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