Red Flags to Watch for at Pain Clinics: What to Know

When it comes to managing chronic discomfort, compassionate, reputable pain clinics are critical. Patients deserve treatments that are thoughtful, individualized, and evidence-based. Unfortunately, some clinics prioritize procedures, prescriptions, or ultimately money, over genuine care. Here are key red flags to be aware of — and what to do instead.

Potential Red Flags

1. Pain Clinics that Push You Toward Injections or Excess Testing Before Exploring Your Preferences
   • While interventional approaches — like spinal or facet joint injections — can have a place in pain management, overuse may signal profit-driven care rather than clinical necessity. For instance, audits by the HHS Office of Inspector General revealed that Medicare overpaid millions for excessive facet joint denervation injections. Similarly, some clinics may push repeated urine drug tests without medical justification, potentially exploiting patients and insurance systems. Instead, look for a clinic that will offer a comprehensive, Complete Care plan that includes many tools from the medical toolbox, like physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and alternative relief options, like Medical Cannabis.
2. Pain Clinics that Ignore Your Medical History, Don’t Listen, or Offer Only One Type of Treatment
   • Effective pain care requires understanding your history, previous treatments, and personal goals. Clinics that dismiss this or offer only a single medication or route of relief tend to overlook safer, potentially more effective alternatives. A reputable universal-precautions approach includes thorough assessment, treatment agreements, and consideration of non-opioid therapies.
3. Clinics that Force Medication Tapering Without Supporting Alternatives
   • Tapering opioids can be important, but abrupt or rapid dose reductions can risk severe withdrawal, worsening pain, psychological distress, and even overdose or suicide, according to information released by the Ethical clinics taper gradually — typically 2 – 10 % every 4 to 8 weeks — and always pair tapering with alternative therapies and support to ensure comfort.
4. Rushed Visits & Lack of Follow-Up
   • Short, transactional appointments may suggest that the clinic values throughput over quality care. Best practices involve regular, scheduled visits — especially for patients at risk — alongside treatment agreements, monitoring, and open communication. If you get the same feeling in your doctor’s appointment as you do when the wait staff at a busy restaurant brings you the check before you finish eating, that’s a red flag.

Other Behaviors at Pain Clinics That Should Raise Concerns

In some cases, the behaviors of a pain clinic’s patient population can directly reflect the values of the clinic itself. The University of Michigan and other institutions list behaviors that may reflect underlying pain clinic issues — but warrant patient awareness too.

These red flag behaviors include:

• Patients requesting drugs by name, early refills, or from multiple providers.
• Losing prescriptions or doctor shopping.
• Refusing non-opioid treatments or to sign treatment agreements.

While these are typically used by clinicians to monitor risk of misuse and to reduce harm, a clinic with a reputation of being unconcerned with adherence or that openly tolerates such patterns may not prioritize safe, optimized care.

Hold Out Hope for Respectful, Trustworthy Pain Clinics

When seeking care, look for clinics that:

• Listen to your medical history and treatment goals.
• Offer balanced treatment options — traditional medication, alternative medicines, behavioral health support, surgical intervention as needed, etc.
• Use gradual tapering if needed, with ongoing support.
• Maintain scheduled, unrushed visits and take the time to understand your wants and needs.
• Avoid unnecessary testing or procedures.
• Respectfully involve you in developing your plan of care.

Lucky for you, this is exactly what we’re about at KindlyMD. Our integrated Complete Care model is designed to create custom, tailor-made treatment plans for patients who are ready to take their health into their own hands. Whether your ideal treatment regimen includes traditional prescriptions, behavioral health support, alternative medicine (like Medical Cannabis), or some combination of the three, we’ve got you. Your health, your way — really.

Schedule an appointment to visit the KindlyMD Care Team today at our clinics in Ogden or Salt Lake City. Isn't it time you got a fresh take on your pain management routine from an institution who genuinely wants you to feel better? Most major insurance plans accepted.