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Diagnosing Source of Chronic Pain is Key to Outcomes
Author: | Friday August 29, 2008
Dr. Ronald DeMeo believes the best pain management doctors are very good diagnosticians.
Taking on the Challenge
Diagnosing Source
Of Chronic Pain is
Key to Good Outcome
The challenge of accurately diagnosing the cause of chronic pain and restoring patients’ quality of life is part of what drew Ronald F. DeMeo, MD, to dedicate his medical practice to interventional pain medicine.
“Most patients come to us for help after having several physicals and surgeries under the care of other well-trained professionals, but their pain had continued because, somewhere along the line, something had been missed,” said Dr. DeMeo, who has treated patients at his Coral Gables, Fla., office since 1995.
Finding what others may have missed is a task Dr. DeMeo embraces.
"The best pain management doctors are very good diagnosticians," he said, noting the importance of considering factors that are unique for each patient, including history, personal habits and education.
"There also are many non-verbal clues, including behavior and clinical signs, and that is where a personal 'hands-on' approach is helpful."
Dr. DeMeo’s educational background includes one of the first fellowships in interventional pain management at the Baylor College of Medicine. He remained after his training as an assistant professor in the departments of Anesthesia and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
"I always enjoyed direct patient care and, in addition to pain research, I had an interest in studying the musculoskeletal system,” Dr. DeMeo said. “Pain medicine was a relatively new field, and there were and are groundbreaking opportunities in the specialty.”
Today, he sees a transition to more outpatient programs for pain treatment and an associated tendency to focus on the cause and treatment of a specific area of pain.
Like most physicians, Dr. DeMeo says good communication with adjusters and case managers is vital to ensuring positive patient outcomes. This is particularly important when handling time-sensitive workers’ compensation cases.
“The best pain management doctors
are very good diagnosticians.”
"Adjusters understand that I will tell them the facts as they are, and if say that an individual has a pain problem that can be treated, they understand that we need to move forward,” Dr. DeMeo said. “Time is of the essence when working with injured workers.”
In the workers’ compensation field, pain management specialists currently are among the major providers of pain care. "We want to continue to grow in that area,” Dr. DeMeo said.
Although he enjoys the intellectual challenges of pain medicine, Dr. DeMeo said he most appreciates the reward of restoring patients’ quality of life. "We appreciate our ability to make a meaningful, positive difference every day in people’s lives,” Dr. DeMeo said. “It’s a great feeling."
Ed. Note: Meridian Pain and Diagnostics is located in Coral Gables, Fla. The physician team includes Ronald F. DeMeo, MD, and Deborah Westergaard, MD. Both are fellowship-trained, have a board-certified subspecialty in pain medicine and are certified by the American Board of Anesthesia. To learn more, call 305.448.6166 or visit www.meridianspine.com.
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