The Benefits of Pain Management

Over 50 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain conditions, but not everyone seeks help with pain management. Every type of pain condition demands a specific type of treatment plan. And sometimes you cannot manage pain on your own. You need a pain management specialist to give the proper care you need to ease your pain. 

In this article, you’ll learn the basics of pain management, why you need it, and a few approaches to managing chronic pain. 

Let’s get right into it.

Why You Need Pain Management

You need pain management to free yourself from suffering and improve your life. Chronic pain can lead to more problems when left untreated. It can affect your mental health and increase the cost of your healthcare. 

Who needs pain management?

Anybody can benefit from pain management. Pain is a common symptom of an injury, disorder, or disease. Common health conditions that require pain management include the following:

• Arthritis
• Muscle and Joint Injuries
• Autoimmune disorders
• Back injuries
• Facial pain
• Headaches
• Hip and leg pain

If you have one of these conditions, you’re a good candidate for pain management services. 

How Pain Management Works

Pain management is figuring out the cause of pain to find the best treatment. A pain management specialist is a doctor who will help you create an effective pain management plan to ease your pain.

Pain management typically involves three steps:

• Evaluation – Finding the root cause of pain is essential to successful pain management. When you visit your doctor, he will give you a physical check-up and ask you some questions to diagnose your condition.
• Diagnosis – The doctor will then look into your medical records to determine the cause of your illness. He may request some laboratory tests such as blood and stool samples, MRI, or X-ray. 
• Treatment – When your physician has reached a diagnosis, he will sit with you to create your pain management plan. There is an appropriate treatment for each type of pain.

An appointment with a pain management specialist could take about an hour. The length of your treatment will depend on the pain you are suffering from and its underlying cause.

Can Chronic Pain Be Managed?

There are different types of pain. Acute pain is the sharp, sudden pain you would feel during an injury.  It doesn’t last long and eases up with home remedies. When the pain persists, it becomes chronic pain.

Chronic pain is stubborn pain that lasts for more than six months. Untreated injury or disease usually causes this type of pain. Lower back pain is a kind of chronic pain caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.

Approaches to Managing Chronic Pain

There are different ways to manage chronic pain. The type of pain management technique your specialist will recommend depends on the cause of your pain. To get the best results, your specialist may recommend a combination of approaches. This may include home remedies, medication, and treatment at a facility. 

Below is a quick list of some approaches to managing chronic pain.

• RICE Method – The letters stand for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. It means applying ice or cold compress to reduce swelling and pain while resting. 

• Regular Exercise – Activities like yoga, Pilates, tai chi, swimming, and walking can help relieve chronic pain. It also promotes mental health.

• Pain Medication –  Depending on the type of pain you are suffering, your doctor may also prescribe you take pain relievers. Some over-the-counter drugs are also available. 

• Meditation – Relaxation techniques can help reduce pain by managing your emotions. Guided imagery, hypnosis, body awareness, and mindfulness meditation are a few ways to train your mind to relieve stress due to chronic pain.
• Lifestyle Change – Sometimes, all it takes is a change of habits to improve your condition. A healthy lifestyle may not only relieve pain but even cure your illness.

You cannot avoid pain, but you can manage it and enjoy your life. Various health conditions and illnesses cause pain. You will need a pain management specialist to find the appropriate treatment for your chronic pain.

Let Regen Doctors Help Ease Your Pain

Our friendly Regen doctors are ready to help ease your pain. Contact us to schedule a consultation so we can identify your pain management plan.

Don’t let pain take its toll on your life. Get in touch with us today to get started.