Persistent pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks is identified as chronic pain. Chronic pain may contribute to depression, stress, and anxiety, all of which may potentially reduce your quality of life. Pain can prevent you from performing your daily activities and enjoying your favorite things in life. Likewise, it can make you more prone to irritability and cause you to lose motivation. Thus, you should seek help from a pain management specialist if you have chronic pain.
Pain Management Techniques
Knowing the type of chronic pain you have is essential to determine the treatment you need. Listed below are some of the most common treatment options your doctor may recommend for your chronic pain.
Biofeedback and Acupuncture
Biofeedback is a noninvasive treatment that makes use of electrical sensors. These sensors show information about your heart rate, temperature, sweating, and blood pressure. Through this technique, you can learn to control your body functions. Biofeedback serves as a good treatment option for abdominal pain.
A similar treatment option is an acupuncture, an ancient healing technique from traditional Chinese medicine. Sterile needles are used to stimulate specific points in the body. Acupuncture can help treat shoulder, arm, and wrist pain as well as back and abdominal pain.
Lifestyle Changes
Sometimes, the pain you experience may come from your lifestyle choices. By identifying these factors, your provider can help you create a personalized treatment plan that modifies these choices. Some good examples of lifestyle changes are regular exercise, wearing proper footwear, weight management, and dietary changes. These changes may significantly improve your pain symptoms.
Pain Medication
Medicine may also play an essential role in pain management. Pain management doctors may prescribe medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, or steroid injections. Relaxants, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants, may also help.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) & Stem Cell Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma therapy and stem cell therapy both have considerable potential for treating injuries and boosting healing. These therapies are usually used to treat chronic pain associated with sports injuries, but it is not limited to just that. PRP makes use of platelets from your blood. It is processed in a centrifuge before being injected into the injured area. Stem cell therapy is similar to PRP but makes use of stem cells drawn from your bone marrow or fat tissue.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are used to treat pain from diseased or damaged nerves. It makes use of fluoroscopy to help your doctor pinpoint the location of the pain. The treatment requires local anesthetic before your provider guides the needle to the affected area. There are different types of nerve blocks: costovertebral block, lumbar sympathetic block, medial branch blocks, and celiac plexus block. Your doctor will choose one based on the type of pain you are experiencing.
Pain Management in Texas
With convenient locations in Austin, Cedar Park, and Marble Falls, Texas, the experts at Balcones Pain Consultants are ready to serve you. No matter what kind of chronic pain you are experiencing, we have state-of-the-art tools and resources to diagnose and treat you.
Want to be pain-free? Contact us now at (512) 834-4141, or request an appointment online.
