Doctors define chronic pain as pain that continues for at least three months. The more you understand this problem, the more effectively you can pursue care from a Houston pain management specialist. Let’s examine key points about chronic pain, from causes and symptoms to diagnostics and treatment strategies.
Causes of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can stem from either physical or psychological causes. Physical causes of chronic pain include:
- Injuries and trauma which can start as acute pain and then keep sending pain signals after the initial damage has healed.
- Chronic medical problems such arthritis, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain syndrome.
- Nerve damage that produces painful problems such as sciatica, cervical radiculopathy, and trigeminal neuralgia.
You may also suffer from chronic pain if you struggle with the following psychological challenges:
- Emotional stress and trauma from a past assault, accident, or devastating personal loss.
- A mental health disorder such as depression and anxiety.
- Central sensitization, in which alterations in the nervous system lower your pain threshold and make you more sensitive to pain signals.
Symptoms of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can manifest itself through various symptoms. The pain itself may feel sharp, dull, burning, shooting, squeezing, or throbbing in nature. It may plaque you continuously, or it may attack you in bouts or waves. The pain may also lead to associated symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, weakness, mood changes, and loss of appetite.
Diagnosing Chronic Pain
A Houston specialist in pain management will administer a physical examination and ask about your medical history to diagnose your chronic pain. Other diagnostic techniques may include MRIs, X-rays, nerve conduction and muscle activity tests, and evaluation of your balance and reflexes. You may also need to provide blood, urine, and spinal fluid samples.
An accurate diagnosis can prove critical because chronic pain may point toward a serious underlying condition that requires immediate treatment. A confirmed, indisputable diagnosis can also prevent doctors from dismissing your pain as fictional or imaginary.
Treatment Options for Chronic Pain
While some chronic pain conditions respond well to a single treatment modality, others benefit from a comprehensive, multimodal approach. Today’s specialists offer such advanced treatment methods as:
Epidural steroid injection: This technique involves the injection of steroids and analgesic drugs into the epidural space next to the spinal cord. This procedure can bring you months of pain relief at a time. risks include - Rhizotomy: Rhizotomy uses heat, chemicals, or surgical tools to deaden the nerve relaying your chronic pain signals. It sees frequent use for degenerative spinal conditions, trigeminal or peripheral neuropathy, and joint pain. Side effects such as numbness may occur.
- Spinal cord stimulation: An implanted or external device emits electricity to interrupt pain signals to/from the spinal cord. It works for spinal pain, heart pain, neuropathy, and postoperative pain. The implant requires surgery.
- Ketamine infusion – Doctors can administer an anesthetic called ketamine intravenously to ease post-operative or neuropathic pain. It may elevate heart rate or blood pressure in some individuals.
Lifestyle Changes for Chronic Pain Management
In addition to medical treatment, a pain management expert can recommend specific lifestyle changes to optimize your wellness and make you less sensitive to chronic pain. You may benefit from dietary and nutritional changes, strategies to help you get a better night’s sleep, stress management strategies such as yoga and exercise, and a greater reliance on social support from your family, friends, colleagues, or community groups.
Coping Strategies for Individuals with Chronic Pain
Even with the most powerful array of pain management treatments at your fingertips, chronic pain can remain an ongoing annoyance that makes you feel stressed, frustrated, or sad. Fortunately, you can employ various coping techniques to maintain your morale and resilience.
Pain management, support groups, and professional counseling can all help immensely. Even as you seek assistance from others, you can also help yourself by developing an emotional self-care routine and practicing calming mind-body techniques such as deep breathing and meditation.
You Can Conquer Your Chronic Pain
Chronic pain might seem like an unbeatable foe. However, comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, state-of-the-art treatment, and the right blend of lifestyle changes and coping strategies can help you regain your quality of life. Take control by contacting a Houston pain management specialist to seek professional guidance and explore your treatment options.
