Pain Management Specialists

What causes chronic pain?

Chronic pain can be caused by many different issues, including injuries, surgery, disease processes or aberrations in the way the nerves behave. Diagnosis plays an important role in making sure the best approach is used to alleviate pain and related symptoms.

How is chronic pain diagnosed?

Determining the cause of chronic pain can be difficult in some patients, especially those with chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia or chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Diagnosis begins with a physical exam and a thorough review of symptoms as well as an in-depth medical history to look for possible pain triggers, like a previous accident or surgery. Diagnostic imaging tests like CT scans, MRIs or x-rays also may be performed. Nerve conduction studies also may be helpful in tracing pain to its original source. When the specific cause of pain cannot be determined, it's deemed “idiopathic,” which means the pain has an unknown origin.

How is chronic pain treated?

For years, the only treatments available for chronic pain were based on the long-term use of medications, an approach which often had serious consequences for general health and could even lead to addiction. Many pain medications became less effective over time, leaving patients with two options: Deal with symptoms or increase the medication dose, sometimes to unsafe levels. In recent years, though, advances in pain management techniques have resulted in several new interventions that use minimally-invasive approaches to block pain signals or to deliver medication directly to the site of pain so a lower dose is required to be effective. Injections to the space surrounding the spine can work to block pain signals and prevent them from reaching the brain. Infusion pumps and spinal cord stimulators are implantable devices that have proven very effective in helping patients manage long-term chronic pain without more aggressive approaches like surgery. Other options include radiofrequency ablation to deactivate painful nerves, interrupting signals so the cycle of pain is disrupted. At Pain Care Providers, the decision of which approach to use is made on a case-by-case basis to achieve maximum relief of symptoms and restore a better quality of life.