Published February 8, 2021
Do you know what to do if you're injured? We asked Dr. Bart Gatz, who explains what he calls the pain treatment pyramid.
When you first feel pain after an accident or injury, you may not realize how serious it is. If it becomes clear over the next hours and days that it's more than you thought, it helps to think of your treatment as a pyramid. Here's how Dr. Gatz describes it.
Level 1: Rest and over-the-counter relief
"When someone mentions that they were injured in a personal injury accident, I start off by telling them to picture a pain treatment pyramid," says Dr. Gatz.
The pyramid starts with rest and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. Rest is often what the body needs to heal, and with help from over-the-counter medication, this should almost always be the first line of treatment.
Level 2: An EMC consultation
The next level is a medical follow-up. "If the pain doesn't alleviate, the second step of this pyramid would be to follow up with us by obtaining an Emergency Medical Condition (EMC) consultation," says Dr. Gatz. The consultation establishes the right diagnosis and the best course of treatment.
An accurate diagnosis is the foundation every care plan is built on. Under Florida law, an EMC consultation may also be required to receive the full scope of your insurance benefits. Learn more about EMC consultations.
Level 3: Ongoing care
The third and final level is ongoing care. "As a result of this consultation, the last step of this pyramid would be to further recommend chiropractic care or physical therapy to assist," Dr. Gatz says. Besides easing pain, the goal at this stage is a faster recovery that avoids surgery.
The key to lasting relief
Is there a secret to avoiding long-term pain? Dr. Gatz's main advice: get proper treatment right away. The sooner you're seen, the sooner you have a treatment plan and are on the road to recovery.
From consultation to treatment plans to ongoing therapy, our goal is to get you the right treatment and help you get well. If you have questions about pain relief or what to do after an injury, reach out for a consultation any time.