Chronic pain is a concept widely misunderstood by many people, even those who suffer from it. The term, itself, can be somewhat misleading, as it doesn’t totally emphasize the amount of secondary or tertiary problems that are associated with it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, chronic pain is “pain that lasts for over three months.”
The Cleveland Clinic lists several causes that range from arthritis or joint pain, which can happen by putting stress on the body for a continuous period, to headaches and fibromyalgia that may arise from external factors not involving physical debilitation.
Whatever the source may be, chronic pain leads to chronic problems. Not only does it involve physical discomfort, but it also includes anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, and a lack of energy. If left untreated, chronic pain can cause both physical and mental problems that continue for months or even years.
Luckily, the medical field has come a long way in providing treatment and resources to assist in living with chronic pain. It is important to note that even if chronic pain cannot be totally and absolutely cured, it can be managed to the point that living with a high quality of life is a reasonable expectation. Before knowing how to properly treat chronic pain, it is vital to recognize the source of it. This requires medical expertise. Even if you are pretty sure about the source of your chronic pain, it may be more complex than you realize. For example, you may know how you hurt your shoulder, but it is unlikely you will know if it will be most successful to treat the nerves in this area with an injection or if taking medication while being active in physical therapy will lead to the best results.
Dr. Raphael Jaramillo at the Relief Pain Clinic, who has a background in sports medicine, pain management, the spine, and is a physiatrist, is one of those experts. Dr. Jaramillo’s background is an indication of the multi-faceted expertise needed to treat conditions associated with chronic pain. Someone with this expertise will determine the best treatment without being overly invasive. It may be determined that a medication that targets the pain, along with a physical therapy routine, is the best solution.
Sometimes, the patient may need something more aggressive, such as a nerve block. A nerve block mostly involves an injection that stops the nerve from receiving signals from the pain. This can be used to provide long-term relief or is short-term situations, such as a surgery. One of the most common is an epidural, which has been used by many women during childbirth. Websites like John Hopkins Medicine will provide a detailed overview of nerve blockers, as these can be extremely complex and vary in both the type and necessary delivery.
While chronic pain is something that has the potential to increase overall health problems and decrease quality of life, finding the proper treatment can be the key to unlocking your body’s full potential in moving forward with success.