Title for Pain

We were initially called algologists until someone discovered that term refers to one who studies fungi and algae

I have always hated that term. As a former microbiologist/virologist, I found that term confusing. Anyways, it's nice to see others insomiacs like me at this hour.....surfing on painrounds.

lol...ho ho ho...too funny!

What do you call someone who studies leeches and parasites?

The state Bar Association?

there was an article published in Pain Medicine Newsletter (AAPM throw-away rag) last year that proposed the term "algiatrist." This too sounds too corny.

I'm still happy with "needle jockey" myself

Why don't we just call ourselves economists? Nobody understands what we do and it doesn't seem to matter when we're wrong.

gorback said:

Why don't we just call ourselves economists? Nobody understands what we do and it doesn't seem to matter when we're wrong.

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ha ha ha.. i will have to remember that...

mille125 said:

ha ha ha.. i will have to remember that...

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As with PM&R, choosing a name the public has no understanding of will not assist us in marketing or de-mistifying our field, so I vote no for any name with Greek or Latin etymologies.

"Pain", to me, invites every PCP in the neighborhood to dump all their pure medication management cases on you, and "comprehensive pain", although we know what it means, does nothing to solve the dumping problem.

Interventional spine is too limited, as it suggests a pure "needle jockey" practice.

Interventional spine and comprehensive pain is probably best, but is also probably too complicated.

So at the end of the day, I don't have a good answer - anyone have any suggestions? To me, ENT (as opposed to otolaryngology, which no one can pronounce or understand) has it right, but I don't see an equivalent in our field.

Ok, so there are no votes for "economist" and all of the Latin and Greek terms are out.

I'm afraid that leaves us with "pain management specialist", aka PMS.

Better order your vanity plates early. I think there are certain advantages to having "PMS" on your license plate. For one thing, the other drivers will probably give you a lot of space.

Physiatrist should be called Neuromuscular Orthopedics and Rehabilitation (NOM NOM NOM NOM)

As for Pain Specialists why not just call them "Interventional Pain Management". No other doc that masquerades as a pain doc can call themselves interventional.

MSKmonky said:

Physiatrist should be called Neuromuscular Orthopedics and Rehabilitation (NOM NOM NOM NOM)

As for Pain Specialists why not just call them "Interventional Pain Management". No other doc that masquerades as a pain doc can call themselves interventional.

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I believe our field should be called "Interventional Pain Medicine"...not "management".

So we should be specialists in Interventional Pain Medicine.

My patients call me their "pain doctor."

When I give talks I get introduced as a "pain specialist."

I think that the official title is, "algiatrist" which is so obtuse....

Some days colostomy bag sounds most appropriate.

I prefer the title of "I don't care how much oxycontin they gave you in South Florida for Fibromyalgia" MD. It helps ferret out the seekers, a little long the sign but worth it.

Coming from a neuro perspective, algiatrist of algologist or whatever is sort of lame.

If "endovascular surgical neuroradiologist" will pass for brain interventionalists, then perhaps "Neurointerventional Pain Specialist" or just "Pain Neurointerventionalist" could work for spine interventionalists (which we are sort of).

Plus it sounds sort of cool and gets the message across...

1) my patients think of me as their "pain doc"
2) i make sure I market myself as a "non-surgical spine specialist" to PCPs
3) in the yellow-pages, i am a "non-narcotic spine doctor"
4) i consider myself to be a "diagnostic detective who gets the scraps from all other sub-specialties"
5) my son thinks of me as "superman doc"
6) my goverment thinks of me as "deep, deep wallet doctor"

lobelsteve said:

Dealer-stabologist

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in most areas, just "Dealer" is appropriate