The web can be a very good place for information, but one has to be careful at which places they look for info. There are many commercial based sites that try to sell products based on your search criteria. Other sites are the equivalent of an infomercial for a medical practice or institution, while some may simply be a personal blog. Various organizations also sponsor sites, and some are very good, while others are pushing their philosophy toward a certain problem as the only true solution. The best sites seem to try to explain the science behind a problem and explain the variety of solutions available.

The sites that I have found the best are sponsored by the government or large medical organizations. For instance, the Mayo Clinic has a huge amount of information on a variety of topics. They write informational pages on various topics, like medical problems, the typical history, diagnostic studies that may be needed and treatment options. Other good places to look for factual information include insurance companies, health organizations, medical groups, and large universities. Many of these places have fact sheets available on topics of interest that are good reference material. The U.S. government also sponsors information, often from the National Institutes of Health, on a variety of issues.

Then there’s the gray area source of Wikipedia. Generally this source can is an excellent place for information and entries are written by top notch experts on a disease, however, it can be also written by someone who actually has no medical background and just decided to write an article for the site. The information found on this site should be verified with other sites and not be taken as a sole source of data.

The Internet and Chronic Pain

The internet can provide an excellent resource of information for the self motivated person. I have found it useful for baseline information about various pain conditions. I also use it as a resource for patients who want more information on certain topics, like exercises for low back pain. Youtube also has videos that demonstrate a variety of things from exercises to surgical procedures.

Cellphones have brought the internet to the palm of the hand. For a quick definition or piece of information it can be wonderful. Medical providers can find a variety of references for free that help make diagnoses, identify medications and there uses, and for dosing information. That said, reliable and free information in app form is hard to find. iPhone apps are a huge business, but I’ve found no beneficial free exercise apps for patients with chronic pain. There are some inexpensive apps for exercise, but read the reviews first to see if they are going to be helpful for your situation.

The internet is like the Wild West from long ago. There are many very good sites and areas to find educational information about a variety of conditions. The better sites are free and often sponsored by large medical institutions, such as the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, other not-for-profit organizations or the U.S. government. Some doctors are also prolific writers and work at trying to educate their patients through the web. Unfortunately, in the pain world, there are also some terrible sites that are forums to gripe about a condition, and the doctors who “know nothing.” The internet can often be a very good starting place for information. It is also a good place to develop questions such that you can have a good discussion with your doctor about what to do next in your management.