As someone who deals with chronic pain, it can be so debilitating. I want to complain, but then don’t want to be accused of just being a crybaby and overreacting, or being told that my pain is nothing compared to what other people go through. In addition to being physically challenging, it has mental components as well. I’m lucky that my physical pain usually gets minimized after physical therapy, whereas many people aren’t that lucky.
I tried going to a pain clinic but spent the appointment crying because I wasn’t heard, and the doctor said there was nothing he could do to help me, despite my knowing that he had many options. Others, fortunately, have much better experiences with pain clinics, and they can be life savers.
Chronic pain is a daily reality for many people living with disabilities. Unlike temporary pain from a sprain or a fracture, chronic pain doesn’t go away. For many people, this can affect their ability to spend time with family, work, and enjoy hobbies. Ultimately, this can affect both mental and emotional well-being.
Understanding how chronic pain works and exploring effective ways to manage it can help you find relief and enjoy the activities you normally love. In this article, we’ll discuss common causes of chronic pain and treatment options. Then, we’ll wrap up with how an interventional pain management doctor can support patients with disabilities in long-term comfort.
What Is Interventional Pain Management?
Pain management is the process of treating and relieving pain to improve a person’s quality of life. Pain can come from injuries, illnesses, or chronic conditions, and while it’s technically a physical symptom, it can affect mental health, work, and daily routines.
Pain management looks at the big picture to help people regain control and get back to doing the things they love. It can include different methods of pain relief, depending on the type and severity of the pain.
What Disabilities Can Cause Chronic Pain?
Some disabilities can cause chronic pain as a side effect, while others are considered disabilities specifically because they almost always cause chronic pain.
Disabilities that can lead to chronic pain include the following:
- Arthritis: This condition causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Fibromyalgia: This condition causes widespread pain, fatigue, and sensitivity. Even light touches can feel painful for those living with this condition.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spine can result in nerve pain or muscle spasms that don’t go away.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS damages the nerves, leading to muscle pain, cramps, and burning sensations.
- Chronic Migraines: Recurring severe headaches can disrupt daily life and cause nausea or vision problems.
How Pain Management Helps Disability-Related Chronic Pain
No two people’s pain is the same, which is why interventional pain management always requires a customized approach. Your Bartlesville pain management doctor can thoroughly assess your pain and come up with a treatment plan that targets the pain from multiple directions.
Read on to learn a few pain management methods that can help with chronic pain from disabilities.
At-Home Care
Many pain management doctors start off by giving you some practical tips you can use to lessen your pain at home. Simple techniques like using heat or ice packs, gentle stretching, or practicing relaxation exercises can help ease discomfort.
Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also provide quick relief for mild pain, although they typically won’t work for severe pain. Your doctor might also recommend tools like ergonomic pillows, braces, or massage devices to reduce strain and help you feel more comfortable between doctor’s visits.
Medications
Medications are often a key part of pain management, and they can treat a wide range of pain, including disabilities like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
- Over-the-counter drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain, inflammation, and fever. For example, ibuprofen can reduce inflammation, and acetaminophen is generally used to soothe headaches.
- Prescription medications (like muscle relaxants) target specific types of pain.
- Nerve pain can be felt by just about anyone but is common with disabilities like MS or diabetic neuropathy. For nerve pain, doctors may prescribe antidepressants or anticonvulsants, even if you don’t have depression or seizures. In severe cases, a pain management doctor might prescribe opioids, but only under close supervision.
Non-Surgical Interventions
Non-surgical interventions can provide effective relief for chronic pain without the risks or recovery time associated with surgery. Techniques like physical therapy can help strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, and reduce strain on painful areas.
Interventional procedures, including corticosteroid injections or nerve ablations, may also be used to target specific nerves and interrupt pain signals to the brain. Complementary treatments like acupuncture or chiropractic care might also help with your pain, but it’s important to only see providers you trust.
Frequent Adjustments
One of the biggest benefits of interventional pain management is the ability to change your treatment plan as needed. Pain levels and triggers can change over time, so follow-up appointments help your doctor identify what’s working and what needs adjusting.
This can further help them fine-tune therapies, whether that means changing the dosage of some medications, exploring new interventions, or adding complementary treatments. They can also give you plenty of opportunities to share what’s been working and what hasn’t.
The Bottom Line
Managing chronic pain can be tough at first, but with the right support and care team, you can find what works for you. By exploring non-surgical interventions, at-home care, and using medications responsibly, interventional pain management can help many people with chronic pain related to disabilities.
Regular follow-ups and adjustments to your treatment plan can help make sure your treatments change when your pain does. The overall goal of interventional pain management is to reduce pain, but it goes much deeper than that. When you look at the big picture, pain management is really about enjoying life, spending quality time with loved ones, and prioritizing your overall health.
