WHAT IS CHRONIC PAIN?

There are two different types of pain, acute and chronic. While acute pain diminishes and eventually disappears as the body heals, chronic pain persists for a long period of time. An injury or disease can cause chronic pain, but sometimes there are no obvious medical causes for its occurrence.

PAIN MANAGEMENT:

Pain management is the rapidly evolving medical discipline, dedicated to the reduction of pain. This branch of medicine treats chronic pain as a disease, no matter what the cause, which allows patients to take advantage of the latest medical advances. The primary goal of pain management is to minimize pain, since complete pain alleviation is not always possible. Other goals include improving function, and increasing quality of life.

CHOICES FOR TREATMENT:

With proper treatment, those who have experienced chronic pain can live normal, full lives. Popular treatment options include:

• Medication-Due to recent advances in medicine, a wide variety of medications are available to manage chronic pain. Medication may be prescribed in addition to other treatments.
• Epidural-This procedure most commonly used for childbirth pain is now used to treat chronic pain. During this process, pain medication in injected into the space around the spinal cord through a catheter.
• Spinal Cord Simulators-These implantable medical devices are inserted around the spinal cord, utilizing electrical impulses and magnets to alleviate chronic pain.
• Nerve Blocks-When a group of nerves causes pain in a certain region, these nerve-numbing substances can be injected into the affected area.
• Physical Therapy-Physical therapists are skilled rehabilitation specialists. Physical therapy can help to alleviate chronic pain through treatments such as pain-relief exercises and heat/ice packs.

PAIN DOCTORS:

Pain management specialists are doctors who focus on the treatment of chronic pain, and who understand its complexities. Medical doctors from other disciplines such as anesthesiologists and neurologists may also specialize in pain management. These doctors concentrate on what causes chronic pain, and which treatments will be the most effective in minimizing it. In recent years, specialists have gained a better understanding of why chronic pain develops, and have the access to treatments that can provide relief.

GET DIAGNOSED:

Chronic pain, once considered to be psychological, is now accepted as a very real, physical condition that can be managed. Once an appropriate diagnosis is given, a patient can gain access to specialized treatments that can begin to minimize the pain immediately. Consulting several different specialists may be helpful in treating all aspects of the chronic pain.