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General4 Services To Expect From A Pain Management Clinic

A pain management clinic has specialists who can determine and treat various kinds of pain problems. This includes back pain, chronic pain, and other pains you may be experiencing. No matter the type of pain, you can find treatment at a pain management clinic.

However, various pains require different treatments. That’s why you need to visit a licensed practitioner to identify the leading cause of such pain. In addition, you can get any of the services below based on the physician’s recommendation.

1. Physical And Neurological Examination

As mentioned, the first step to treating pain is knowing its root cause. While others are easy to detect, some chronic pain may require an additional medical examination. Doctors from pain management clinics like Saint Louis Pain Consultants will run neurological and physical examinations as well as assess your medical history.

A pain management doctor will also interview you to further validate the suspected cause of pain. This will be an in-depth patient evaluation wherein you need to share the following details:

  • Previous and current treatments
  • Activities that may be triggering pain
  • Description of the pain
  • When and how the pain started

In addition, the physician will also check your motor and sensory capabilities and vital signs. To help assess these things, they may have to conduct any of the following:

  • Discography: This test will replicate the leg and back pain to evaluate the structural integrity of the intervertebral discs. They may have to examine it through a CT scan or x-ray after injecting a contrast dye on the suspected discs.
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: If cancer is suspected of causing the pain, they’ll measure tissue changes at the cellular level. They will use small amounts of radioactive isotopes, also known as radionuclides, for this test.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It’ll show details of soft tissues and bones for musculoskeletal evaluation. This power imaging tool will help check if the pain is coming from bones or muscles.
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: This is also a powerful imaging tool that provides a clear anatomical view of specific areas of the body through cross-sections or slices.

2. Medical Pain Management

If, after evaluation, they require you to undergo long-term medications, then medical pain management may also be available in such clinics. You may need this because chronic pain may lead to serious health problems when left untreated. It can even affect the quality of your life since you may not be able to move with ease without feeling pain. Thus, your pain medication doctor may prescribe you Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Although these drugs will not permanently remove the pain, they can moderate it. This is so by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase—COX-1 and COX-2—in your body when released during tissue damage.

While NSAIDs are safe when taken in the proper dosage, you still need to visit a pain management clinic to monitor possible side effects. The doctor may also help prevent addiction or dependency on such drugs by ensuring that you’re taking the proper dosage.

3. Physical Therapy

Another pain treatment is undergoing physical therapy. You can also have this as an alternative if you want to avoid taking in NSAIDs. However, you have to consult your pain management doctor to ensure that your condition can handle such treatment.

Here, the treatment aims to make your ankles, knees, and muscles more stable and stronger. They’ll teach you to avoid hurting yourself by showing you the proper techniques when performing daily activities or sports. This includes knee pain exercises to strengthen your knees, among others.

4. Acupuncture

Some pain management clinics also offer acupuncture. While this is an ancient Chinese medicine, some still use it to manage pain. That’s because acupuncture aims to redirect the qi or chi—natural energy of the body. The acupuncturist will use pressure, heat, and needles to specific points of your body. These points will invigorate your qi since most pain comes from life imbalances or blockages.

And studies show that people with chronic pain may find this a good option. However, one may undergo regular acupuncture to make it effective.

Conclusion

If you feel pain and it’s already affecting your daily activities, then it’s best to visit a pain management clinic near you. The earlier you detect the cause of your pain, the more chances of preventing it from worsening. Your pain management physician will recommend the best treatment for your condition after a thorough evaluation. You have to follow the recommended treatment to manage, if not treat, the cause of pain.

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Digital Health Buzz!

Digital Health Buzz!

Digital Health Buzz! aims to be the destination of choice when it comes to what’s happening in the digital health world. We are not about news and views, but informative articles and thoughts to apply in your business.

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