How to Change Pain Doctors Without Appearing to be Doctor Shopping

In a previous article we discussed the importance of having a trustworthy pain management doctor, and how to change physicians if necessary. However, when you’re thinking of changing physicians, you have to be careful about appearing to be doctor shopping. In this article, we will talk a little bit about doctor shopping, and how to find the right physician for your situation.

What is Doctor Shopping?

Doctor shopping is the process of visiting multiple physicians in the hopes of attaining second opinions or numerous prescriptions. There are two sides to doctor shopping – one bad and one good. Let’s start with the bad.

First off, visiting numerous doctors to get multiple prescriptions filled is a terrible practice. It is a waste of the physician’s time, and also illegal. That being said, doctor shopping is not entirely bad. It can be very useful in gaining second opinions and if your ultimate aim is simply to find a physician you trust.

Visiting a pain doctor is an important decision, and doing your research before deciding on a physician is instrumental in finding the right provider. As long as you’re not intentionally wasting the physician’s time, or trying to obtain multiple prescriptions, doctor shopping is a useful method for finding a physician to treat your condition or injury. Researching doctors online, asking other providers about specific doctors, and even scheduling appointments to see if you mesh well with a provider are all totally fine practices.

Minnesota Pain Management Clinic

Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN has been treating Minnesotans for pain conditions and injuries for over two decades. Our providers specialize in treating acute and chronic pain resulting from a variety of conditions and injuries. Feel free to check out our provider bios, or drop us a line to see if our clinic is a good fit for you. Contact us today at our Edina clinic and set up your appointment with one of our skilled, experienced Minnesota pain doctors. We treat patients throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs.