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Do you have chronic pain?
Pain is a normal response to an injury and is usually short-lived (ie. days or weeks). Pain persisting for months, usually greater than 3 to 6 months, is considered chronic. If you have chronic pain, you can get help.
Is there any treatment?
Medications, therapeutic nerve blocks, exercise, acupuncture, local electrical stimulation, and surgery, are some possible treatments for chronic pain. Psychotherapy, relaxation, biofeedback and behavior modification may also be employed.
What is the prognosis?
Many people with chronic pain can be helped. The sooner you seek help, the better the prognosis. Generally speaking, pain treatment is more effective in the early stages of development. However, this does not mean that you cannot get help at any time.
What are some common pain problems that can be treated in the office?
- Back and neck pain, including herniated discs and spinal stenosis
- Cancer pain from tumors
- Chronic abdominal pain and pelvic pain
- Complex regional pain syndrome (formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD)
- Muscle and joint pain, myofascial pain syndrome
- Disorders of the nervous system, including shingles and trigeminal neuralgia (facial pain)
- Intractable spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries
- Pain associated with osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures
- Post surgical syndromes, painful scars
- Headaches and occipital neuralgia
- Post amputation phantom limb pain
One of the most common problems in treating chronic pain is that people wait too long to get help. This happens for a variety of reasons, but is usually because many people do not know where to turn. Find a physician in your area who specializes in the treatment of chronic pain disorders.
Learn more about the management of pain