Chronic pain is a painful condition that lasts more than a period of 12 weeks. It is very different from acute pain. Acute pain is prompted by the body’s reaction to an injury or damage to the tissue.
Chronic pain occurs due to various factors, such as inflammation or nerve injury. It can also signal an underlying medical illness like cancer or fibromyalgia. The pain impacts a person’s capacity to do usual tasks negatively.
A multidisciplinary approach, combining counseling, medication, and physical therapies, optimally treats chronic pain. To manage the pain well, understanding what triggers it is crucial. An effective pain treatment plan can be designed only after addressing the root cause. Our pain management physician is experienced in this.
What Causes Chronic Pain in Individuals?
There are various factors behind the occurrence of this type of pain. The primary ones are:
- Injuries: Sprains or fractures lead to chronic pain. Patients usually find their injury healed, but the pain still persists long after that.
- Medical conditions: Conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis make you experience chronic pain.
- Surgery: Certain surgeries cause complications such as infection or nerve damage. It is another significant factor contributing to chronic pain post-surgery.
- Lifestyle factors: Chronic pain can also occur due to poor lifestyle choices, such as lack of physical activity and poor posture. Besides, stress and anxiety are other factors leading to chronic pain or worsening the pain caused by other factors mentioned above.
- Genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to chronic pain. A genetic mutation impacts how the nervous system interprets pain signals, causing chronic pain.
Treatment Options for Patients with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can severely disrupt the daily lives of individuals. But many treatment options are there to control pain and manage it better.
- Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antidepressants offer significant pain relief. NSAIDs help decrease inflammation, providing pain relief. For those with mental illnesses like depression, antidepressants help in managing chronic pain.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy works by enhancing mobility and minimizing pain. Advanced physical therapy program strengthens the muscles of the individual through appropriate exercises under the supervision of a professional. Other techniques for pain management include manual therapy techniques, like joint mobilization and massage.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT: This form of psychotherapy alleviates chronic pain by modifying the thought process of patients.
- Nerve blocks: Nerve blocks inject appropriate drugs into the nerves of the patient. These medications numb the affected area and thus minimize pain. This is a good option for those experiencing pain because of nerve injury or damage.
- Acupuncture: In acupuncture, thin needles are inserted into certain body points. It triggers the natural pain-relieving means of the human body to enhance the general well-being of the patient.
- Mind-body therapies: These include yoga, medication, and exercises like Tai Chi for improving balance and strength. These kinds of practices help the patient sleep better and thus improve their body’s pain-bearing capacity.
- Surgery: Surgery becomes essential to treating chronic pain in certain cases. Surgical interventions include nerve decompression, joint replacement surgery, or spinal cord stimulation.
Chronic pain is a severe health illness. Untreated pain can adversely impact the everyday life of a person. If ignored, it not only gives you physical pain but also damages your mental health. Many people start developing symptoms of depression because of it.
It is essential to recognize the symptoms of this pain and get yourself treated at a reliable pain management center. Advanced Pain Care is Texas’s leading chronic pain management clinic. If you are struggling to manage the pain and want to regain the quality of your life, contact an Advanced Pain Care facility in Texas near you today.
