It doesn’t matter if you are living with chronic or acute pain: all you can think about is how to get relief as soon as possible. Unfortunately, pain can be quite devastating, and it is a reality that many people must live with throughout their lives.
An effective pain management plan not only reduces pain but improves a patient’s function at home and work. The goal is to relieve the symptoms as much as possible. Even if there isn’t a cure for the pain, treatments are available to help you get back to the activities that you used to do.
Personalized Pain Management Treatment Plan
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all pain management plan. Every patient is unique and should work with a pain specialist to find the ideal treatments for their individual needs.
Not only do you need to think about the effectiveness of the treatment, but safety is also a top priority. Relying on opioids or other substances can be dangerous and addictive in the long run.
When you schedule a consultation with the pain management specialist, your doctor will want to know about the following:
- Your medical history
- Other treatments that you’ve tried
- How your daily lifestyle is affected by the pain
- Your goals for pain management treatment
Typically, patients work with a team of doctors to determine function goals. Then, a treatment plan is designed to alleviate immediate pain and help the patient maintain the desired level of function going forward.
Understanding the Type of Pain
One of the reasons the pain management doctor will ask about your symptoms, occurrences, and the duration of the pain is because they need to know what type of pain you are dealing with. Then, the ideal treatment plan can be designed.
Pain and associated symptoms fall into two categories:
- Acute Pain: High-intensity pain that sets in suddenly. Usually, there is a known cause for the pain, such as surgery, injury, or accident. It’s common for this pain to subside as the injury heals.
- Chronic Pain: The other type of pain is chronic, which means that it lasts for at least 3 months or more. There are a variety of causes of chronic pain, such as inflammation, injury, disease or illness, medical treatment, or even unknown reasons.
The pain management treatment is very different depending on whether a patient is dealing with acute or chronic pain. For example, with acute pain, typically, the most intense treatments are needed in the beginning, then the pain starts to subside within a week or two. On the other hand, chronic pain requires ongoing care and management.
Common Pain Management Treatment Options
Most standard doctors that you visit with will recommend common, non-opioid treatments, such as:
- Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Oral medications such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen). Or, sometimes topical ointments can be helpful, such as lidocaine.
- Prescription Medications: Prescription-strength pain relievers can be used. Or, there are times when doctors recommend medications for seizures or depression because certain products have been found to help with the relief of chronic pain.
- Therapy Services: Physical therapy and occupational therapy can be helpful modalities to strengthen the body, reduce pain, and improve the range of motion.
- Weight Loss and Exercise: Sometimes, pain is aggravated by excess weight on the body. For example, if a person is obese, then losing weight with diet and exercise can be an effective way to reduce pain in the hips, knees, and ankles.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: When pain needs to be managed, it can be helpful to use a psychological approach to help patients understand how to address physical, emotional, and behavioral responses to both stress and pain.
These pain management treatments can help with immediate relief at times. But many patients find that conventional treatments aren’t enough to help them reach their pain management goals. If you are still looking for answers, it might be time to visit a pain management specialist to explore other types of services and treatments.
Other Pain Management Therapies
The benefit of visiting a pain management clinic is that we use a variety of treatments that are different than what you can access through a primary care doctor. Our team of pain management specialists focuses on pain treatments specifically, and we have a variety of options so that every patient receives a personalized treatment plan.
Some of your pain management therapies might include services such as:
- Medications: Even though the goal of pain management is to reduce a patient’s reliance on pain medications, there are times when it makes sense to use drugs at the beginning of a treatment plan. Not only does the medication reduce the pain so other therapies can be used, but the anti-inflammatory benefits can also be helpful to jumpstart the treatment plan.
- Single Injections: Certain types of injections can help by reducing a person’s reliance on oral medications. These injections are carefully targeted into the affected area. For example, steroid injections can be helpful for reducing inflammation in a joint, while nerve blocks are sometimes necessary to numb the nerve temporarily so it can reset.
- Injection Combos: One option is to use multiple medications in the injection, with a pain reliever for immediate relief as well as anti-inflammatory medication to reduce swelling and help with long-term benefits.
- Pain Pumps: When ongoing, localized medication is necessary, a pain pump can be a good option. This treatment involves the placement of a small pump that releases pain medication in the targeted area on a timed basis.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: This treatment uses modern technology that has probes to stimulate the affected nerves with heat. The nerve function can be changed using radiofrequency ablation because it stops the pain signals from moving to the brain.
- Other Pain Management Therapies: There are many other therapies and treatments that your doctor might discuss as part of your treatment plan. Examples include therapeutic massage, acupuncture, physical therapy, and anything else that improves the quality of life by reducing the stress and pain you are experiencing.
Talk to a Pain Management Team for a Personalized Treatment Plan
Find peace of mind in knowing that you don’t have to live with pain for the rest of your life. If conventional medical treatments aren’t working and you are ready to find relief, then reach out to our skilled team of pain management specialists for more information about available services.
Kentuckiana Pain Specialists is here to assist with comprehensive pain management support for patients of all ages. These alternative treatments are available for anyone living in or near the Louisville, Kentucky, area. Call us to book an appointment: (502) 995-4004.