The Basics of Pain
At some point in their lives,
everyone experiences pain. In
many cases it is an indication that
there is something wrong. You are
the best judge of your pain. Pain can
range from mild and occasional to
severe and constant.
According to Vivek Barclay, MD, with the Laurel Pain Center, there are two types of pain—acute and chronic.
Acute Pain
Acute pain is usually sharp and begins suddenly. Acute pain serves as a warning of disease or a threat to the body. It may be caused by many things, including:
- surgery
- broken bones
- burns or cuts
- labor and childbirth.
Acute pain may be mild and last a moment, or it may be severe and last for weeks or months. Acute pain usually does not last longer than three months and disappears when the underlying cause has been treated. On occasion, however, acute pain may lead to chronic pain.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain persists despite treatment of the cause. Pain signals remain active in the nervous system for weeks, months, or years. Effects include tense muscles, limited mobility, a lack of energy, changes in appetite, depression, anger, and anxiety. Common chronic pains include:
- headache
- lower back pain/sciatica (pain down one or both legs)
- cancer pain
- arthritis pain
- neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to nerves)
- psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside)
- shingles
- neck pain that can radiate to arms and hands.
Treatment
Treatment of pain depends on the severity of the pain. There are a number of options for treatment of pain which include:
- drug treatments
- nerve blocks—epidural injections, sacroiliac joint injections, facet joint injections
- electrical stimulation
- physical therapy
- surgery
- psychological counseling
- behavior modification.
Some pain medicines are more effective when combined with other methods of treatment. You may need to try various methods to maintain maximum pain relief.
Pain medicine doctors are experts at diagnosing the cause of pain and then treating the pain. Anesthesiologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons most frequently specialize in pain management.
“Chronic pain should not be ignored. People who suffer from chronic pain miss out on so many parts of their lives. It’s the weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, and outings with friends that count. Relieving someone of chronic pain gives these things back. It gives them back their lives,” states Dr. Barclay.
