Chronic pain can be devastating if you aren’t able to find coping techniques and management strategies to help you live with it. Even with surgery, some pain is so pervasive and long-lasting one might still feel the effects after a surgical intervention.
Although there are varying types of chronic pain, there are multiple ways to manage it that don’t involve dependence on medicines you’d rather not take or investing time and risk in optional surgeries. If you’ve been told that surgery is your only option or if your prescriber can no longer offer you medications to help you cope with pain, contacting a pain management specialist could be the next step.
What Pain Management Specialists Do
Generally, pain management doctors focus on helping people live their lives to the fullest and most comfortably with their pain. Treatments could be available to help patients reduce their pain. These treatments can also offer people solutions to help support their pain tolerance and engage in the activities they love with the least amount of discomfort possible.
People may be referred to pain management specialists after another provider has been unsuccessful in helping eradicate their pain. Your doctor or surgeon may refer you to pain management if:
- You are at least six months post-surgery, and the discomfort is still life-interrupting.
- Medications have been unsuccessful in helping you tolerate pain, or your tolerance for medications has increased so that they are no longer effective.
- You have trouble maintaining a lifestyle recommended by your care provider to help you manage your pain.
- (Note these are not the only parameters.)
Seeking the care of a pain management team allows you access to innovative treatments that a primary care physician may not be able to provide.
Chronic Pain Treatments
According to Dr. Brandon Claflin, a board-certified pain management doctor in Tulsa, OK, there are numerous treatments available for individuals who suffer from chronic pain. Many of these treatments don’t involve the use of medications or invasive procedures but are able to give longer-lasting relief.
Some of the most research-backed, promising treatments include the following:
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a mildly invasive procedure in which a doctor uses a needle and radiofrequency to disable a nerve from communicating a pain signal to the brain. This is an in-office procedure, and you’ll be given local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. The entire radiofrequency ablation process takes about 45 minutes and can give you pain relief for six months to a year.
Epidural Injections
Injections of anesthetic medications and/or cortisone can help reduce inflammation and provide pain relief for several months. These injections are mildly invasive but provide long-lasting relief for people experiencing chronic pain.
Nerve Studies
Some patients may benefit from a complete nerve study. This allows your doctor to target the specific nerves that are causing you pain and address your pain at its source. This can be a better way of handling chronic pain because it offers a more localized treatment that is oftentimes more effective.
There are several formats for nerve conduction studies. Some are more invasive than others. A pain management specialist can tell you more about what study might work better for you.
Other Ways to Cope
Dealing with chronic pain is a multi-pronged task. A care team of pain management specialists (perhaps along with physical therapists and mental healthcare professionals) can help you deal with the long-term mental effects of chronic pain.
In addition, it’s a good idea to stay involved and active with your peers. Finding a yoga practice that targets people who suffer from chronic pain, or a support group where you can talk openly and safely about your pain can be extremely helpful.
The Outlook
According to researchers, the spinal pain market should reach $14.11 billion by 2031. This surge represents an uptick in nerve disorders and chronic low back pain among the elderly. The good news for sufferers is that this means new means of treatment can be tested and released. That gives doctors even more ways to target pain and help chronic pain sufferers live a more comfortable life.
If you’re struggling with chronic pain, consider reaching out to a pain management specialist. Get the specialized treatment you need and learn about different ways to mitigate your discomfort and lead a happier, fuller life. You can learn to live with pain, but you can also get relief.
