7 Questions to Ask a Sports Injury Doctor for Effective Treatment of Chronic Pain

If you’re looking to get fit and healthy, exercise is the way to go! One of the best ways to get moving is to play sports—not only does it encourage teamwork, but you’ll get all the health benefits without the mundane gym routine. 

If you actively play sports,  there’s a chance you’ll encounter an injury at some point in your life. The first thing you want to do is talk to a sports injury doctor so you can alleviate any associated chronic pain. But what if you aren’t sure what questions you should be asking? 

Well, then you’ve come to the right place! 

Keep reading to find out the 7 questions to ask a sports injury doctor to find pain relief. 

1. What Type of Sports Injuries Do You Treat?

The demands for each sport predisposes a person to specific injuries. The injuries sustained in a football game are doing to be different from those in tennis. Sports injury doctors are going to be knowledgeable about specific injuries that occur with each type of sport. 

For example, basketball players are prone to ankle sprains or jammed fingers. Soccer players are more susceptible to foot fractures or concussions. If you’re looking for chronic pain relief, you’ll want a doctor that understands the different types of injuries and knows how to treat them.

2. What Is Causing My Pain?

If you know where your pain is coming from, you’ll understand the exact problem. You might often feel pain in one part of your body, but the source is from another area. When you ask your sports injury doctor about the cause of your pain, you’ll be more informed about your condition and can continue to look for more resources. 

The right sports injury doctor in Phoenix can take a look at your conditions and start getting you on the right path to recovery. 

3. Have You Seen This Before?

It is important to understand your doctor’s credentials and build trust. One of the best ways to do this is by asking if a physician has seen your type of injury before. You don’t want to worry about an inexperienced sports injury doctor providing the wrong treatment; this can cost you a lot of time and money.

There’s a chance your reason for chronic pain is common, and the doctor can share treatments that have worked on other patients. This is also a great question to ask because it can reassure you that other people have had this type of pain. If your syndrome is rare, the right sports injury doctor will be able to educate you about it. 

4. How Much Experience Do You Have?

Although there are plenty of doctors who are new to the medical industry and do great, you’ll want an experienced doctor if you’re suffering from chronic pain. It doesn’t need to be an uncomfortable question; it should be additional reassurance that you’re getting the best help possible.

You can ask how many patients they treated in their past, how many years the doctor has been managing sports injuries and the success rate of treatments. This will give you an idea of what to expect, and if anything seems suspicious, you can look for someone more qualified

5. How Long Before Until I Can Play Again?

It’s understandable that you want to hit fast-forward on the healing process and get back to doing what you love. That’s why it’s good to understand the timeline of your treatment. In addition to asking about recovery times, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about test results and treatment outcomes. 

This will help you understand your treatment better, and you’ll be able to start counting down the days that you can return to your sport.

6. What Are My Treatment Options?

The first step to pain management is knowing what the right treatment is. There are many options available for treating chronic pain, and you’ll want to ask your doctor about all the different options. Be sure to understand each treatment’s pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision. 

Once you’ve made that decision, you should feel confident in your ability to follow that treatment plan. The goal is to heal as efficiently and comfortably as possible. The right doctor will help make that happen.

7. How Much Will My Treatment Cost?

32% of American workers have medical debt. With that said, it’s no surprise if you want to be cautious about how much your treatment might cost. The last thing you need when you’re checking the mail is a surprise bill that you thought was already paid.

Instead of anticipating the worst, be sure to ask your doctor how much treatment will cost. As with most medical procedures, these charges will vary from one physician to another. Be sure to understand the cost so that you can focus on healing as opposed to the finances.

Your sports injury doctor should be transparent about all the costs. You can also ask about any financing options that might be available. 

What to Ask Your Sports Injury Doctor

Any physically demanding activity is going to make you susceptible to injuries. Playing sports is no exception. Don’t let it deter you from continuing something enjoyable and beneficial! It’s important that you have the right sports injury doctor when the inevitable does happen so that you can be back on the field (or court) as quickly as possible. 

As you talk to your doctor, be sure to ask these 7 questions that will give you better insight into your injuries. Before you know it, the pain will be gone, and you’ll be ready to work up a sweat. 

If you’ve ever had a sports injury and are starting to feel some chronic pain, don’t ignore it! Contact us to book an appointment and start feeling better today. 

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  1. […] you’ll be able to put weight on it again should be one of the first questions to ask your sports injury […]

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