Chronic Pain Treatment Options


Chronic Pain

The answer to beating chronic pain isn’t one size fits all, so for those who are suffering sometimes it’s hard to find the right mix of treatments to help them get rid of pain. Chronic pain can develop from many different sources including an underlying disease or disorder, injuries such as a car accident, arthritis, and it can even develop from no known source. Here is a list of different treatment options in hopes that you can find something new that may help you relieve pain.

Medications:
There are many medications that can help ease the pain. Since pain often comes from some sort of inflammation within the body, NSAIDS, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen are good choices. Other medications options include patches and creams, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and opioids. Talk to your doctor about what they believe is the best fit for your particular situation, as not all drugs may be a good fit.

Treatment to the nerves:
For some, the nerves are constantly sending signals of pain to a specific part of the body. A physician can go in and inject an anesthetic that essential ‘blocks’ the nerves from sending those signals, which is called a nerve block. A radiofrequency ablation is where the physician goes in a heats the tissue of the nerve in an attempt to decrease pain signals.

Injections:
There are many different injections that can help ease pain. Medication is injected into the area where the patient is feeling pain. Examples of some injections include trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, lumbar sympathetic blocks, prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections.

Therapy:
Therapy comes in many forms. Physical therapy is a great way to help you slowly build your muscles to increase flexibility and function of a part of your body that is dealing with pain. Massage therapy is effective in helping to work out your tense muscles and get you back to a more relaxed state. Psychological therapy is a great way to help you work out any stress and depression, which is a very common side effect of life with chronic pain.

Alternative Medicine:
There are other options to help you manage your pain. It’s important that you only see someone who has been fully trained in their field. Acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, yoga, and meditation are a few options available for someone looking for a complimentary treatment.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/chronic-pain-relief-new-treatments
https://www.asra.com/page/46/treatment-options-for-chronic-pain

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