Medical and technological advances have made pain more manageable today than ever before. However, in many instances pain goes untreated, undertreated or mistreated. Some people believe that they must live with their pain. Some fear that complaints will not be taken seriously or that adequate pain remedies are not available. Others are afraid to request pain medications for fear of becoming addicted, even though this seldom occurs when medications are used properly under a physician's supervision.

In addition, many doctors have had little training in pain care and may be unaware or not fully informed of treatments that can help to relieve pain. Some doctors may also have misconceptions about pain management, such as believing that pain medications are likely to cause addiction and therefore cannot be prescribed to patients who need them.

It is important to seek advice from a pain physician earlier in the course of your pain. You should not be embarrassed about your pain or afraid to voice your concerns out of fear of appearing weak or complaining. Pain that goes untreated may worsen other health problems, delay recovery and interfere with healing. Untreated pain worsens not only overall pain control, but also the your qualify of life. Therefore, it is important that you seek out proper care and not give up until you find an effective method of pain relief.

Those who wish to see an expert in pain management can ask their doctor to recommend a pain specialist. In some cases, you may find these experts at a local pain treatment center. These may be referred to by several names, including pain clinic, pain management center, pain unit or pain service. In some cases, these facilities are attached to a local hospital or medical center. In other cases, they are stand-alone facilities.