Does pain interfere with your daily activities? If so, then you are one of the millions of Americans who need pain management treatment. There are so many pain management treatment options available, but blindly choosing one of them won’t necessarily provide the best relief from your pain. Your treatment should specifically target your unique condition and extenuating circumstances. Consulting with a pain management specialist can help.
What Is Pain Management?
When you feel pain, consider it your nervous system telling you that something is wrong. It can either be:
- Acute pain –occurs suddenly due to an injury, disease, or swelling
- Chronic pain –lasts for weeks or even years and sometimes may have no obvious cause
Pain, no matter the type, can hinder your daily activities. Fortunately, you can manage it with the help of your pain management doctor. Any quality pain management plan will involve several different treatment options, depending on your condition, as well as its cause and severity.
What Are Your Treatments Options?
Pain management treatment often includes the following options:
Medication
Over-the-counter medicine is available for all kinds of pain. Depending on the type and cause, antibiotics, muscle relaxers, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help. Stronger prescription medications often cause side effects or complications if you don’t use them correctly. Therefore, it’s important to always follow your doctor’s instructions when it comes to medications.
Injections
Another pain management treatment is injections. Your doctor can administer numbing agents and anti-inflammatory medicines directly into your body. There are numerous types of interventional pain management injections, and they differ based on where and how they’re administered and what they contain. Numbing agents block pain signals from reaching your brain. Steroids and other medications are used to relieve aches and pain due to inflammation.
Bone cement is another type of injection used for pain management, specifically for pain caused by spine problems. Two procedures make use of this type of injection: vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is another innovative injection approach to healing and pain management. It involves using platelets drawn from your own blood to accelerate your body’s natural healing process in a specific body area to relieve pain.
Nerve Signal Disruption
Certain implants make use of technology that disrupts nerve signals to the brain. If a pain signal doesn’t get to the brain intact, it is not interpreted as pain and your suffering is relieved. One example of this is spinal cord stimulation (SCS).
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a pain management treatment used for back, neck, and hip pain. During the procedure, your provider uses a minimally invasive approach to target nerve ends to stop pain signals before they can begin.
Physical Therapy
Your provider may use different forms of therapy for pain management. Physical therapy involves correcting your posture and performing strengthening exercises. It can also include heat, ice, and massage to help manage the pain.
How to Find The Best Pain Management Treatment Options for You
Your pain management specialist can help evaluate your pain and its underlying cause in order to choose the pain management treatment that is the best for you. The evaluation may include a physical exam and a series of tests, such as blood work, X-rays, CT scans, and/or an MRI.
During this assessment, it is vital to work with your doctor. Be honest with them when giving your medical history. Cooperate with them during the physical exam, and be sure to undergo the different tests they order for you.
Once your doctor has all this information, they will start creating a pain management plan specific to your condition. When your provider goes over the treatment with you, don’t be afraid to ask questions.
You can also express your preference for another option. Each treatment has its benefits and risks, so talk about it with your provider.
Pain Management Treatment Near Me in Melbourne, FL
Pain can really put a damper on your day. It is even worse when the pain lasts longer than you’d like. If you’re looking for a medical clinic for pain management near you, look no further than Central Florida Spine & Pain in Melbourne, Florida.
Our very own Dr. Nicholas Giordano is a board-certified interventional pain management doctor. He has a reputation for helping people overcome the symptoms caused by spinal injuries and disorders. Rest assured that you will receive the best pain management treatment for your pain.
To schedule an individualized consultation, call Central Florida Spine & Pain at (321) 802-5021. You may also fill out our convenient online request form to book a visit with pain management doctors near you.
We look forward to being your partner in attaining a pain-free life.
