Everyone experiences pain at different times in life, but typically the pain starts to subside as an injury heals. In some situations, the pain lingers and even intensifies… making it a challenge to keep up with the activities each day because of the intensity of the pain.
If you are living with chronic pain, then it can feel debilitating and overwhelming to manage the symptoms. Too often, patients reach a point of exhaustion because they try many different treatments without success.
It can be frustrating to work with doctors and attempt various treatments only to achieve subpar results. If you are still living with the pain, rest assured, knowing that a pain management specialist might be able to assist with the results you need.
Distinguishing Between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain
Pain is one of the most common symptoms that can occur from many different types of diseases, injuries, conditions, and disorders.
Sometimes, the pain lasts a short time – known as acute pain. If you have an injury or are recovering from surgery, then acute pain will remain for a few weeks. Over time, the pain improves as you heal from the injury.
On the other hand, pain can last for months or even years. In this situation, it is known as chronic pain. Sometimes, a diagnosis can be identified, and doctors can pinpoint why you are experiencing pain. Other times, the diagnosis is a little more challenging,g and it can be difficult to understand why the symptoms are occurring.
When you are living with chronic pain, then it’s important to understand that these symptoms aren’t going to go away without professional support. At this point, it’s likely you will benefit from pain management services.
Pain Management 101: What to Expect
Visit a general practitioner, and you will find that treatment options are limited. Typically, a primary care physician can recommend medication to mask the symptoms. But they don’t have the experience to get to the root cause that is contributing to the ongoing pain.
When you have been working with a primary care physician without success, they will likely refer you to a specialist.
For example, if you have joint pain or an injury affecting the back, arm, or leg, you might see an orthopedic doctor. Or, if your pain is in the abdomen, you might be referred to an internal specialist.
The hope is that this specialist will be able to identify an accurate diagnosis. Then, a treatment plan can be designed to alleviate the pain and help you return to a normal lifestyle once again.
Unfortunately, there are times when these specialists are unable to help a patient find relief. This is the point when many people lose hope because they don’t know of any other options to pursue.
But there is hope! It doesn’t matter how many doctors or specialists you have visited, a pain management clinic can provide unique and new services that help with a variety of symptoms.
Will Pain Management Cure My Condition?
Unfortunately, some conditions are incurable, which means you will be managing the issue for the rest of your life. But just because you have a disease or condition causing ongoing symptoms doesn’t mean that you need to suffer indefinitely.
A pain management clinic can be a great resource because services are available to alleviate discomfort and help you enjoy the best life possible. With modern and innovative pain management solutions, our goal is to help you thrive instead of suffering through each day.
Pain management is more than just popping prescription medications to numb the symptoms. Instead, our team of specialists works with each patient to find the underlying issues. Then, we design customized treatment plans that get to the root of the issue.
It may not be possible to eliminate the pain completely. But with the right treatment plan, you will start feeling better and enjoy the benefits of higher function in all areas of your life.
Common Reasons for Visiting a Pain Management Clinic
Do you need pain management services? There are various reasons why patients choose to visit a pain management clinic.
- Joint Injuries and Arthritis: Different types of orthopedic injuries and arthritic conditions often result in ongoing pain.
- Back Pain: Limited mobility and ongoing pain relating to back injuries, sciatica, herniated disks, and more.
- Autoimmune Conditions: When the immune system attacks the body, it can cause ongoing pain. Examples include Crohn’s disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, etc.
- Chronic Pain Disorders: Certain disorders can result in whole-body pain, such as central pain syndrome or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
- Headaches: A migraine can be debilitating, but pain management techniques can help to minimize the effects of these severe headaches.
- Nerve Damage: Various forms of nerve damage can lead to symptoms such as pain, stinging, and tingling. Examples include sciatica or neuropathy from diabetes.
In some cases, a primary care physician refers patients to a pain management specialist. Other times, patients are not finding success with general medical care, so they take the initiative to find a provider who can provide the results they need.
What Makes a Pain Management Clinic Unique?
Generalized healthcare is often focused on symptom management, which means a doctor might give you a painkiller prescription to help you find relief from the pain. On the other hand, a pain management specialist takes the time to understand the diagnosis and get to the root issue.
Our goal is to not only help you find relief as soon as possible. But we also look at the treatments that will help you achieve longer-term results.
Typically, a pain management plan combines multiple treatments to help with both short-term and long-term relief. You might be using pain medication in the beginning, which alleviates immediate symptoms, so you can implement other treatments such as physical therapy and more.
Since pain medications often have negative side effects, we strive to minimize the use of pills whenever possible. Instead, there are options to implement other treatments, so you don’t need to depend on a prescription to get through each day.
Other services are unique and not available from general practitioners. Examples include joint injections, radiofrequency, and sympathetic nerve blocks.
Specialized Services from a Team You Can Trust
When you choose our pain management clinic, you can feel good knowing that our team has years of experience helping patients with a variety of chronic pain conditions. We know what works, and we always take the time to understand each patient’s unique needs and how we can support immediate and long-term results.
If you are ready for relief from chronic pain, then contact us at Kentuckiana Pain Specialists for comprehensive pain management services. We are located in the Louisville, Kentucky, area. You are invited to call our office at (502) 995-4004.