Organization of a multidisciplinary pain center.

Chronic pain is a complex, multifaceted experience that leads not only to disability and dysfunction but also to suffering and unrealized human potential. To be effective, a pain management center must be multidisciplinary in concept as well as practice. It must employ practitioners whose assessments are not restricted to specialty interests. They must communicate effectively with other specialists and cooperate to design and implement the best treatment program for each patient. The ultimate goal is rehabilitation of the patient to a more functional life despite residual pain. This may involve breaking the doctor-shopping cycle for those patients seeking cure, detoxification to more appropriate medications, addressing personal and family conflicts through counseling, assisting the patient in resolving socioeconomic problems, and, ultimately, teaching the patient to function more effectively within the bounds of any physical limitations.