Pain Clinics Overview
If you are among the people suffering from
chronic pain,
a full and active life may seem like an impossible dream.
But don't give up. If the pain
treatment you
have tried doesn't provide relief,
a pain clinic may help.
A pain clinic is a health care facility that
focuses on the diagnosis and management of chronic pain.
Some specialize in specific diagnoses or in pain related to
a specific region of the body. Also called pain management
clinics, pain clinics often use a multidisciplinary approach
to help people take an active role in managing their pain
and regaining control of their life. These programs are
focused on the total person, not just the pain.
What does our pain clinic do?
Although pain clinics differ in their focus
and offerings, most involve a team of health care providers
that can help you with a variety of strategies to manage
your pain.
Our health care providers include Dr Rohit
Agarwal, a dedicated and qualified MD who specializes in non
surgical pain management. We also have a team of physical
therapists. Together, they will put together a pain
management plan for you.
Strategies for Pain Relief and Management
At a pain clinic, your therapy plan will be
tailored to your specific needs, circumstances, and
preferences. Depending on the cause of your pain, treatments
may include one or more of the following:
Medications-
In many cases, patients are prescribed
treatment before receiving other forms of therapy.
Medications for pain may include:
· Non-aspirin
pain relievers. These
drugs, such as acetaminophen(Tylenol),
relieve minor pain and are sometimes combined with
other drugs to provide greater pain relief.
· Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Available
over the counter or by prescription, these drugs --
including ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
-- are used to treat pain and inflammation.
· Corticosteroids. Available
only by a prescription, these cortisone-like drugs are used
for more severe inflammatory conditions.
· Opioid
pain medications. These
morphine-like drugs are often prescribed short term for
acute pain or for cancer pain. Occasionally, doctors
prescribe them for chronic, non-cancer pain.
· Antidepressants. Originally
designed to treat depression, these drugs can be useful for
relieving certain types
of pain.
Antidepressants
may also promote sleep, which can be difficult when you are
in pain.
Often,
medications alone aren't enough to treat chronic pain.
Other treatments may be more effective than
medications, and medication may be more effective when
combined with other treatments. Other available treatments
offered by pain centers may include:
Injections. Local
anesthetics, sometimes combined with a corticosteroid, may
be injected around nerve roots or into muscles and joints to
relieve irritation, swelling, and muscle spasms.
Nerve blocks.
If a group of nerves, called a ganglion or plexus, causes
pain to a specific organ or body region, injections with
local anesthetics may be useful for blocking the pain in
that area.
Physical and aquatic therapy. A
physiatrist (doctor specializing in rehabilitation medicine)
or physical therapist may prescribe a specially tailored exercise
program to
increase function and decrease pain. Other physical therapy
options at pain clinics may include whirlpool therapy,
ultrasound, and deep-muscle massage.
Electrical stimulation.
The most common form of electrical stimulation used in pain
management is transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
(TENS), a technique that uses a small, battery-operated
device to stimulate nerve fibers through the skin. Other
implants for pain control use medicine, heat or chemicals.
Acupuncture. This ancient Chinese
practice involves inserting very thin needles at specific
points on the skin to relieve pain.
Psychological support and counseling. Although
pain is a physical sensation, many people in pain suffer
emotionally with feelings of anger, sadness, and
hopelessness. Dealing with unrelenting pain can affect your
ability to hold a job, maintain a home, meet family
obligations, and relate to friends and family members.
Psychological support, along with medical treatment, can
help you manage your condition.
Relaxation techniques. In
addition to counseling, mental
health
professionals
can teach you self-help techniques such as relaxation
training or biofeedback to reduce stress and relieve pain.
Surgery. Although
sometimes surgery is clearly necessary to relieve a problem
that is causing pain, it is often a treatment of last
resort. If pain has not responded to any other treatment,
surgery on certain nerves may offer relief and allow you to
resume normal activities.
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