9^th International Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Conference

Pain Management Specialist

To a certain extent, medical practitioners have always been specialized. Specialization was common among Roman physicians. The system of modern medical specialties evolved gradually during the 19th century. Informal social recognition of medical specialization evolved before the formal legal system. The subdivision of the practice of medicine into various specialties varies from country to country and is somewhat arbitrary. Currently, there is no single field of medicine or health care that represents the preferred approach to pain management. Indeed, the premise of pain management is that a highly multidisciplinary approach is essential. Pain management specialists are most commonly found in the following disciplines: Physiatry (also called Physical medicine and rehabilitation), Anesthesiology, Interventional radiology, Physical therapy. Specialists in psychology, psychiatry, behavioral science, and other areas may also play an important role in a comprehensive pain management program. Selection of the most appropriate type of health professional - or team of health professionals - largely depends on the patient's symptoms and the length of time the symptoms have been present.