Chronic Pain Causes and Treatments
Oct 05, 2015
Pain comes in many forms and affects everyone at some point in their lives. Many people who experience pain get treatment and the pain goes away in a matter of hours, days, weeks, or months. People who experience chronic pain, on the other hand, are afflicted with recurring pain for an extended period of time. Here, we are going to examine chronic pain, its associated conditions, and some treatment options.
Because it is so subjective, pain is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. That being said, there are a few methods that physicians use to categorize pain. The most basic classification of pain is acute pain vs. chronic pain.
Acute pain is defined as pain that can be tied to a specific injury or condition and that lasts for a short period of time (3 to 6 months). By contrast, chronic pain is recurring (hence the name chronic). It may or may not be the result of a specific injury. Often times, chronic pain is very difficult to treat because its root cause can be hard to identify.
Here are some common conditions related to chronic pain:
These conditions can cause recurring pain in a single area, or throughout the body.
While most acute pain can be treated quickly and effectively, chronic pain is a different beast. Treating it often requires a multi-faceted approach involving various methods such as pain medication, injections, physical therapy, and possibly surgery. If you are experiencing chronic pain, contact a pain management specialist at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota to diagnose your condition and strategize options for treatment. No matter what your situation, there are methods for treating your pain. You don’t have to go through life in constant pain. Get the help you need today by making an appointment.