Chronic pain management

Chronic pain is a long-term pain sensation that can be a symptom of a disease or a disorder. Chronic pain management is a challenging task for medical and patient community. Pain is an induced neuro-sensation mechanism. The intensity of the pain may be sharp or dull and you can feel the pain in any of the organs in the body depending on the cause and origin of the pain. Chronic pain management is a vital part of the medical arena and the physician should assess the exact cause of the pain and the appropriate treatment for the patient depending on the chronicity. The causes of chronic pain are classified as ‘nociceptive’ and ‘neuropathic’. The nociceptive pain is the symptom of pain in deep, visceral and superficial tissues and nerves, whereas, the neuropathic pain is confined mainly to the peripheral nerves that causes pain or burning sensation in the hands or the legs. Chronic pain management is a multi-factorial component that needs bio-socio-psychological approach. The aim of chronic pain management is to provide relief to the patients, to allow them to do the daily activities, to improve the lifestyle and to give them a sense of well-being.

Causes of chronic pain

The causes of chronic pain will vary from one person to another. It can be caused by dreadful diseases or trauma or vitamin and minerals deficiency or even psychological feeling/disability.

Symptoms of chronic pain

Long-term pain that may be sharp or dull, constant and/or episodic, pain that can spread to the distant organs, lack of sleep due to pain and burning or numbness.

Diagnosis of chronic pain

EMG

Evoked potential studies (EPS, neurological and physical examinations such as sensory function tests)

Reflex tests and movement tests with pain monitoring

Radiological examinations such as X-ray to assess fractures, ligament problems, and tendonitis

MRI of the affected tissue or organ.

Treatment options and chronic pain management

Some of the common pain management strategies are medicine, cognitive-behavioral therapy, counseling, chiropractic approach, electrical stimulation, acupuncture and exercise. Other modes including medicines such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and Cox-2 inhibitors, anti-depressants, anti-migraine drugs, chiropractic therapy, nerve blocks, psychological approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy by a skilled clinical psychologist, medical and psychological counseling programmes, spinal cord and peripheral nerves stimulation by the tiny electrical pulses, deep brain stimulation, occupational therapy approaches, if needed, lifestyle modifications such as moderate exercises and avoiding sedentary lifestyle, medical marijuana treatment under the close supervision of a certified physician, neuro-rehabilitary therapies, physical therapies, surgical interventions, non-pharmacological and home treatments such as resting and compression with ice and hot packs and stimulation exercises, as directed by the physiotherapists.

Prevention 

There are no prevention methods for chronic pain and the symptoms are to be treated, according to the disease conditions.

Prognosis

Most of the causes of chronic pain are treatable and hence chronic pain management by the medical and supportive therapies is feasible and useful. So the prognosis of chronic pain is usually good for most of the patients.

When to see a doctor

If you feel the current chronic pain management is not useful to treat your symptoms or if the symptoms get worse, you need to consult a physician right away.