Published by Commons Clinic. [Web version](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/) Reviewer names are abbreviated. Patient reviews describe individual experiences. Review counts describe source records, not unique patients or clinical outcomes; the acquired snapshot may not include complete platform histories. Clinical education and patient accounts do not replace a consultation. Pain management # Persistent pain: build a plan around the life you want back When pain continues, you deserve a careful assessment and a plan you can use. Good care makes room for daily life, practical goals, and honest conversations about what remains uncertain. Published by Commons Clinic · Updated October 20, 2026 · 5 min read [Questions to ask ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#consultation-questions) [Patient experiences ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#patient-experiences) In this guide 1. [Tell the story beyond the pain number](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-1) 2. [Ask for a working explanation you understand](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-2) 3. [Choose goals that make progress visible](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-3) 4. [Give every part of the plan a purpose](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-4) 5. [Make coordination concrete](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-5) 6. [Start a conversation with our pain specialists](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-6) 7. [Compare a combination of options with one treatment](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-7) 8. [Include the people who help you function](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#guide-section-8) [Go to your consultation questions ↓](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/#consultation-questions) ## Tell the story beyond the pain number Pain lasting or recurring for more than three months is commonly described as chronic pain. It may be linked to an identifiable condition, involve a more complex pain process, or include both. These distinctions should help organize care; they should not make your experience feel less real. Describe the activities pain has changed: sleeping, caring for family, working, walking the dog, or seeing friends. Explain what you have already tried, what helped a little, and what caused problems. A clear account of your life is useful clinical information, even when an imaging report cannot explain every symptom. Sources: [NICE NG193: Assessment of chronic pain](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193/chapter/recommendations) ## Ask for a working explanation you understand A working explanation should connect what the clinician has found with what you feel, while leaving room for uncertainty. Ask what has been reasonably excluded, what still needs evaluation, and which changes would prompt another look at the diagnosis. It can help to say, "I understand we may not have one simple answer. What are the main contributors you think we can address?" That invites a practical conversation without asking anyone to pretend certainty. If an explanation does not make sense to you, ask the clinician to try different words or draw it. ## Choose goals that make progress visible A pain score is one measure, but it cannot describe a whole day. Pick one or two activities that would make life meaningfully easier. You might want to prepare a meal with fewer pauses or manage a short outing without losing the rest of the day. Then discuss how to measure change, what effort the plan requires, and when you will review it. Keep goals adjustable. A step that is manageable for one person may be too demanding for another because of work, fatigue, caregiving, cost, or another illness. Those limits belong in the plan. ## Give every part of the plan a purpose Ask what each recommendation is meant to change. A medication review, a movement program, a procedure, or support for coping with pain should each have a reason. If several options are discussed, ask which one comes first and how the result will influence the next choice. Clarify the burden as well as the possible benefit: appointments, transport, out-of-pocket costs, home practice, unwanted effects, and time away from work. Ask what would lead you and the clinician to continue, adapt, or stop an option. Avoid leaving with several disconnected suggestions and no way to judge them. ## Make coordination concrete Ask who oversees the whole plan and which clinician manages medicines, rehabilitation, procedures, and new symptoms. Keep one current treatment list that you can bring to each visit. If recommendations conflict, ask the teams to resolve the conflict rather than trying to decide between them yourself. Agree on the next contact and how to get help between appointments. A flare deserves instructions that are specific enough to use: whom to contact, what information to send, and what changes require urgent assessment. The plan should be understandable to a partner or caregiver if you want them involved. Sources: [AAPM&R: About Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation](https://www.aapmr.org/about-physiatry/about-physical-medicine-rehabilitation) ## Start a conversation with our pain specialists At Commons Clinic, Dr. Evish Kamrava offers chronic and acute functional recovery consultation as part of physical medicine, rehabilitation, and interventional care. Dr. Michael Port practices diagnostic and interventional pain management. Their different backgrounds can help you frame the kind of assessment you are seeking. Before a consultation, write a short timeline and your two most important goals. Bring previous treatment records rather than relying on memory. Read patient accounts for clues about communication and follow-through, then use the visit to decide whether you understand the proposed plan and feel comfortable asking the difficult questions. ## Compare a combination of options with one treatment CDC patient guidance describes several nonopioid approaches, including physical therapy, psychological treatments directed at coping and function, and selected medicines or interventions. The suitable combination depends on the pain condition and your circumstances. Ask which part of the plan addresses movement, which addresses sleep or coping, and which aims to reduce a particular symptom. Tell us if travel, cost, side effects, or previous experiences make an option difficult. A realistic plan should explain what each component contributes and how you will judge its value. Sources: [Nonopioid Therapies](https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/manage-treat-pain/nonopioid-therapies.html) ## Include the people who help you function Johns Hopkins describes chronic pain rehabilitation as a team effort that may involve rehabilitation clinicians, therapists, nurses, and behavioral health professionals. Their roles differ, so more appointments alone do not guarantee coordination. Ask who brings the recommendations together and how changes will reach the rest of your team. If you want a partner or caregiver involved, explain what help you need and what information you want shared. Make the next review about meaningful activities as well as pain intensity, so progress reflects your life. Sources: [Chronic Pain](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/chronic-pain) Make the most of your visit ## Questions to bring to your consultation Choose the questions that matter most to you. Bring them along, and ask us to explain anything that is unclear. - What is your working explanation for my pain, and what remains uncertain? - Do any findings need further evaluation before we focus on treatment? - Which daily activities should we use to judge progress? - What is each proposed treatment meant to change? - What are the likely burdens and unwanted effects? - Who coordinates recommendations and medicine changes? - What is the plan for a flare or a new symptom? - When will we decide to continue, change, or stop an approach? - What does each part of this plan contribute beyond reducing a pain score? - Which clinician will reconcile recommendations if my therapists and prescribers suggest different next steps? - Can we choose one functional goal and one sleep or coping goal to review together? ## Sources & further reading - [NICE NG193: Assessment of chronic pain](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng193/chapter/recommendations) - [AAPM&R: About Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation](https://www.aapmr.org/about-physiatry/about-physical-medicine-rehabilitation) - [Nonopioid Therapies](https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/manage-treat-pain/nonopioid-therapies.html) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Updated April 25, 2024 - [Chronic Pain](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/chronic-pain) Johns Hopkins Medicine We use these medical sources to help explain your options and prepare you for a conversation with our team. Our guides feature our own clinicians; patient reviews describe individual experiences. [Read as Markdown](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/persistent-pain-care-plan/index.md) Meet our team ## People behind your care. [**Evish Kamrava, MD** Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Management](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/evish-kamrava-md/) [More about Evish Kamrava ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/evish-kamrava-m-d/) [**Michael Port, MD** Pain Management, Anesthesiology](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/michael-port-md/) [More about Michael Port ↗](https://commonsclinic.com/physicians/michael-port-m-d/) Explore our clinicians, then talk with us about your symptoms, goals, and the care you need. Patient experiences ## Experiences, *in their words.* Hear from patients about our clinicians, the conversations they had, and the support they received. Excerpt > Prompt , sensitive, and thorough. A. Greenblat Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: August 10, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/103544472560360278465/place/ChIJi_9WeE-7woARVE5YYjWvq60) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Evish Kamrava, MD On the care experience: thoroughness Excerpt > Time spent with Dr Port was thorough and detailed and a plan was made moving forward D. Dice Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: April 15, 2026 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/108431460319222418569/place/ChIJGZNjz326woARe-3UIeMPwJI) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Michael Port, MD On the care experience: The reviewer reports a thorough visit and a forward plan, not pain relief or a specific diagnosis. Excerpt > More recently Dr Port saw me related to pain management, all is going according to plan. A. Porath Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: December 19, 2025 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/110400819718142417120/place/ChIJGZNjz326woARe-3UIeMPwJI) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Michael Port, MD On pain management. Excerpt > His expertise, skill and knowledge with the help and experience of skilled nursing staff makes me always return for the pain management I need. L. Aletter Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: March 31, 2025 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/102772265096811460326/place/ChIJGZNjz326woARe-3UIeMPwJI) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Michael Port, MD On the care experience: staff and team support Excerpt > Of course, it is best not to need a pain management doctor, but if you do Dr. Kamrava is your best choice. S. Alexandra Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: November 7, 2024 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/110717494469679674116/place/ChIJi_9WeE-7woARVE5YYjWvq60) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Evish Kamrava, MD On pain management. Excerpt > Dr. Kamrava is the absolute best pain management physician in Los Angeles P. Brown Rating: 5/5 · Source: Google · Date: November 7, 2024 [Reviewer’s Google activity](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/113535568995097979811/place/ChIJi_9WeE-7woARVE5YYjWvq60) Source link type: reviewer place Attributed clinician: Evish Kamrava, MD On pain management. Keep exploring ## Your next *good question.* More guidance to help you understand your options and plan your next step. Pain management ### [Epidural injections: what to ask before you schedule](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/epidural-injection-questions/) An injection should come with a clear purpose: which symptoms it is meant to help, how you will judge the response, and what comes next. Here is how to have that conversation. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/epidural-injection-questions/) Pain management ### [Facet blocks and radiofrequency ablation: understand each step](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/facet-block-radiofrequency-ablation/) A joint injection, a diagnostic nerve block, and radiofrequency ablation answer different questions. Understanding the purpose of each step can make a pain consultation much more useful. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/facet-block-radiofrequency-ablation/) Pain management ### [Trigger point injections: when a muscle-focused treatment makes sense](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/trigger-point-injections-questions/) A tender muscle spot can be part of a larger pain problem. Before an injection, ask what the clinician is treating and how any relief will support a useful next step. [Read the guide](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/articles/trigger-point-injections-questions/) Meet the clinicians ## Explore your *next conversation.* [![Evish Kamrava, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/evish-kamrava-m-d.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/evish-kamrava-md/) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Pain Management ### [Evish Kamrava, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/evish-kamrava-md/) Santa Monica · Long Beach – Douglas Park · Westlake Village [Meet Evish Kamrava](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/evish-kamrava-md/) [![Michael Port, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/assets/michael-port-m-d.jpg)](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/michael-port-md/) Pain Management, Anesthesiology ### [Michael Port, MD](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/michael-port-md/) Marina del Rey [Meet Michael Port](https://commonsclinicreviews.com/physicians/michael-port-md/) ## Publisher & attribution Commons Clinic Reviews is operated by Commons Clinic. 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