When you are looking to find the right clinician for your healthcare needs, it takes some time to investigate what your need is and who is the best possible clinician you can find to help you in your need. As you seek to find your next right clinician, consider this two-step approach:
Step One:
Evaluate the Pain
Step Two:
Evaluate the Right Clinician
It is very important to take some time and contemplate what your pain might be. Sometimes, it is very difficult to evaluate our pain because we feel it all over or we can’t quite localize the pain because it comes from a lot of different sources.
Here are some good questions to ask yourself when you are trying to move forward in Step One.
Evaluate the Pain
What hurts? And where does it hurt?
What time of day do I notice my pain most often? Or is my pain occurring all day long?
Is my pain something that requires immediate attention and is it impairing the quality of my life?
Or am I suffering with chronic pain that I really need to address?
Is my pain intolerable?
Is my pain causing me to engage in destructive behavior?
Is my pain causing me to worry too much?
Do I hurt in multiple ways and it is difficult to assess my pain?
What does my body tell me about my pain?
What does my mind tell me about my pain?
When you generally have a good handle on your pain, then you can make a better determination of who might be the right clinician. Here are some questions to consider for Step Two.
Evaluate the Right Clinician
Does my clinician understand and specialize in dealing with my pain?
Does my clinician share a similar worldview about why my pain is occurring and where my pain comes from?
Does my clinician offer compassionate caring about my pain and takes my pain seriously?
Is my clinician willing to listen to me talk about my pain and to help me assess my pain well?
Do I believe my clinician can help me with my pain and getting the best relief possible?
Is my clinician affordable? Does my clinician help me utilize my insurance?
Is my clinician offering me insight and hope about my pain?
Was my clinician recommended by someone I trust?
Is my clinician giving me practical strategies to handle living with my pain?
As you apply this two-step approach, consider these questions before seeking healthcare. If you truly take the time to evaluate your pain, you stand a much better chance to find the right clinician who can give you the relief you need.
