February

Pain Management

Pain management is the treatment for chronic pain and can cover a wide range of conditions. There is a complex range of pain and pain management treatments. Chronic pain can be caused by the result of surgery. Other causes of chronic pain are headaches, chronic diseases, arthritis, auto immune disorders. A doctor is required to adequately setup a pain management program to help manage a patients pain. Medical staffing for pain management can include a physical rehabilitation specialist, a psychiatrist, neurosurgery, and internal medicine doctor.

Pain management can be controlled by spinal cord stimulators, nerve blocks, physical therapy, and medications. The focus is not to stop the pain but to minimize the pain, this is because in most cases the pain can not be totally stopped. Improving quality of life by increasing mobility. When a patient goes to a pain management clinic they will receive an evaluation for treatment. Psychotherapy is sometimes used to learn new coping skills to help ease the pain of chronic pain. Effective long term pain management often requires a management team.

Treatments may include one or more of the following:
Surgery
Injections
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Physical Therapy
Medication
Psychiatry
Biofeedback
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Stress Relief
Relaxation Techniques
Prescription Drugs

Patients may also benefit from chiropractors, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists. Working together such a team of professionals can create a pain management package to suit an individuals needs. Often medications are prescribed for short term pain or for long-lasting, ongoing pain. The spinal cord stimulator is an implantable medical device that sends electrical impulses near the surface of the spinal cord.

Other forms of pain management may include, pulsed radiofrequency a direct introduction of medication used to target specific areas of pain in the body. An intrathecal pump is used to deliver small amounts of medication to the spinal fluid.

Acupuncture is also a form of pain management that involves the use of needles into specific points on the body to treieve pain. The use of acupuncture is often used for headaches, knee pain, facial pain, neck and lower back pain.

Cognitive therapy is used as a way to reduce stress and increase relaxation and is helpful in chronic pain reduction. Biofeedback is also based on behavioral therapy and has success in reducing chronic pain. Hypnosis is also used in the reduction of pain for some patients.

The nervous system increases pain sensations from illness, injury and other factors. Relaxation techniques help the nervous system decrease the pain sensations. Keeping inflammation down in the body also decreases pain. Inflammation is actually one of the root causes of pain. Always eat a proper diet, avoid sugar, and drink plenty of water. In addition to your pain management treatment you can do simple things like reading, create art, write or put together puzzles to channel your thought processes keeping your mind off of your pain. Get plenty of sleep. Keep a positive attitude about life and your pain management treatment.

Disclaimer: All information on our News and Health Tip pages are provided as general information only. Please, seek out medical advice and call your physician if you have any concerns or questions.