Chronic pain usually persists for over three months and comes in a wide variety of conditions such as pinched nerves, arthritic conditions, neuropathy, annular tears, facet joint syndrome, or herniated discs. The pain management providers at St Louis Pain Consultants offer personalized plans to reduce pain so patients can return to daily routines and activities. Here’s what chronic pain is and how it is treated:
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain can affect an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Meeting with a pain management physician can help patients identify the condition’s root cause. Types of chronic pain include migraines, back pain, knee pain, and neuropathic pain. If left untreated, chronic pain may lead to other conditions, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, or insomnia. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we offer various treatment plans to address multiple conditions, whether it is musculoskeletal, visceral, or inflammatory pain.
What Treatments Are Offered?
Treating chronic pain requires reviewing a patient’s medical history. A physical examination might also be necessary to determine the condition’s root cause. Here are the different types of chronic pain we treat:
Neuropathic Pain
Nerve pain may occur if the nervous system malfunctions or damage is present. This might include peripheral neuropathy or pinched nerves. Mononeuropathy or carpal tunnel syndrome can affect one or more nerves.
A physician can diagnose neuropathy by performing a history and physical exam. They will check patients’ reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation. Further tests include electrodiagnostic testing (EDx) to measure how fast and strong the nerves’ electrical activity is. Blood work assesses the body’s vitamin and mineral levels. This helps the physician check for electrolyte imbalances, thyroid issues, and exposure to toxic substances. Our team at St Louis Pain Consultants offers nerve stimulation as a treatment. We target pain-sensing nerves to help alleviate discomfort.
Musculoskeletal Pain
Patients with pain that affects the bones, joints, ligaments, or tendons may have degenerative disc disease. Discs act as shock absorbers and help with movement, bending, and twisting. Wear and tear on the spinal disc is a common cause of low back and neck pain.
We offer basivertebral nerve ablation to help target lower back pain. This minimally invasive, implant-free procedure supports the spine’s structure. Patients are put under anesthesia, and the process lasts about an hour.
Inflammatory Pain
Chronic inflammatory pain can be a response to tissue damage. Other conditions or short-term illnesses, such as arthritis, lupus, or an autoimmune disease, may also cause this pain. Infections like shingles can also cause chronic inflammation.
Facet injections are used to target specific joints that are causing pain. Arthritis or inflammation can be treated with a fluoroscope machine that allows pain consultants to see the joint. Targeted medication applications can offer faster pain relief.
Use a Pain Management Clinic Today
At St Louis Pain Consultants, we offer various treatments, including facet injection and nerve stimulation. We help diagnose and offer personalized plans to effectively treat the root cause of their condition. Contact us today and make an appointment to learn more about chronic pain and how we can help.
If you are living with chronic pain, seek help from St. Louis Pain Consultants.
We want to help remind you what life without pain feels like.
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