What does a pain medicine doctor do?
A pain medicine doctor is a doctor who specializes in long-lasting pain. They use medicine, injections, nerve treatments, and rehabilitation to reduce it.
Last updated November 11, 2026
Find pain medicine doctors near you
When people see one
- Back or neck pain that lasts for months
- Nerve pain, such as pain after shingles
- Pain that continues after an injury or surgery has healed
- Your regular doctor has run out of options for pain control
How it differs
Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor: A physical medicine doctor focuses on restoring movement and function. A pain medicine doctor focuses on treating the pain itself, often with injections.
On 2027 Colorado plans
Do you need a referral? On some plans. 37 of the 148 2027 plans need a referral from your primary care provider to see a specialist: Kaiser Permanente's 29 plans (you may self-refer to certain specialists) and Denver Health (Elevate)'s 8 plans (self-referral allowed for OB-GYN and outpatient mental health care). The other 111 don't, according to each plan's 2027 summary of benefits. Confirm in the plan's summary of benefits.
What a visit costs (the plan's filed "Specialist Visit" benefit, in network, before any extra savings on silver plans):
- Bronze: $100 to $140 a visit on 10 of 56 plans; on the other 46, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
- Silver: $50 to $90 a visit on 44 of 58 plans; on the other 14, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
- Gold: $50 to $90 a visit on 26 of 30 plans; on the other 4, you pay toward your deductible or a share of the bill.
In-network care costs less. Out-of-network visits on an HMO or EPO usually aren't covered except in an emergency.
In Colorado
Public records list 310 pain medicine doctors at 208 Colorado locations.
- El Paso County: 37 locations
- Arapahoe County: 29 locations
- Denver County: 21 locations
- Adams County: 19 locations
- Jefferson County: 18 locations
- Larimer County: 15 locations
Counties with the fewest: Rio Grande (1), Rio Blanco (1), Pitkin (1), Montezuma (1), Logan (1). 38 counties have none.
Questions to ask the office
- Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor?
- Which 2027 plans and network names do you take?
- Do injections need prior approval from my insurance company?
- Is the office part of a hospital? Hospital-owned clinics can add a facility fee.