Chronic Pain Treatment by Dr. Vivek Loomba

Chronic Pain is a severe type of pain in comparison to acute pain. It typically lasts for around 3 to 6 months. Chronic pain is the worst to handle as it interferes with your daily activities. It is treated with a multidisciplinary approach where a combination of therapies, medicines, and diagnoses are applied for effective treatment. It can appear in any part of the body and is one of the most common causes of sickness in a majority of the population.

Causes of Chronic pain

Chronic Pain can be caused by several factors from injuries and diseases. The most significant causes of chronic pain include –

• Arthritis or joint pain
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Cancer pain
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Neurogenic pain. 
• Scar tissue pain
• Broken bones
• Nerve Damage
• Muscle strain and sprain
• Surgery

Chronic Pain can affect people of all ages. However, it is most prominent among women that have migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and bladder pain syndrome. Based on the research and studies, it is directly linked with physical and mental health which affects nerves and glands in the body causing severe health conditions to occur.

Symptoms of Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain can affect a person’s social, physical, and daily activities which can reduce productivity to a mass extent. The pain can lead to long-lasting symptoms such as –

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Poor sleep
• Alcohol abuse
• Fatigue or Tiredness
• Irritable
• Loss of stamina and flexibility
• Suicidal thoughts
• Muscle aches
• Burning pain

These medicines are quite addictive and patients frequently feel the need to take the medicine whenever they witness a similar situation can occur in the future. These make them dependent on drugs even after no symptoms and their successful pain management treatments.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask you to do imaging tests for a proper diagnosis if you’re experiencing pain for a prolonged period of time. The imaging tests you need to perform are –

• CT or Computed Tomography – It uses special X-rays to get a detailed picture by scanning areas of the body.

• MRI or Magnetic Resonance Imaging – It uses powerful magnetic fields to get the inside picture of organs and body structures.

• X-Ray – It uses high-energy beams to take pictures of bones, tissues, and organs.

Treatments

A wide range of therapies, treatments, or medication options are provided for chronic pain –

Our healthcare professionals will recommend some new therapies from –

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) – It is specifically focused on changing negative thoughts in patients that aggravate depression, anxiety, and emotional difficulties. Therapy helps in replacing negative thoughts by emphasizing care with definite objectives or goals. 

• Occupation Therapy – It is a branch of therapy that focuses on physical, sensory, or cognitive areas for intervention in your daily life activities. 

• Physical Therapy – Physical therapy involves exercise, massages, and treatments for reducing pain by improving muscle and joint pain.

Other effective treatments provided by doctors are –

• Acupuncture – Small thin needles are inserted into the skin for targeted points on your body.

• Hypnotherapy – It is a treatment in which mind-body intervention is applied to create focus and increase stability in treatments.

• Relaxation – In this techniques used are massage, meditation, and guided imagery.

Medications recommended by healthcare professionals to treat chronic pain are –

• Anticonvulsants – Medications used to treat seizure pain.

• Muscle Relaxers – They can help to reduce pain and muscle spasms in the body.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – Helps to reduce pain, and decrease inflammation or high fever.

• Opioids – It is addictive and helps in reducing pain for short periods of time.

• Sedatives – It helps with anxiety or insomnia.

• Marijuana – It relieves pain related to nerve damage or inflammation.

• Topical products – They are basically creams or gels that you rub on the skin for joint pain relief.

Chronic pain is a serious health condition that should not be ignored or else it will cause severe effects on your health. Talk to your professional doctor or specialist for information based on your specific diagnosis. Managing pain as early as possible can help in leading a productive and healthy life.