Chronic pain is a severe problem that affects 11.2 percent of the adult population in the United States. Many people try to suffer through chronic pain, hoping it will get better or afraid to deal with the problem.
However, the crucial thing to realize is that there are so many effective treatments available for chronic pain today. As a result, there are ways for you to find relief no matter the origin or type of chronic pain you’re experiencing.
At The Spine and Pain Center of California, Dr. Navin Mahallavaram is available to offer you many of these effective treatments, and our other providers provide many chronic pain care programs and information as well. Let us help you start to heal from chronic pain.
Chronic pain 101
It’s critical to be aware of the criteria for chronic pain so that you may know if this is indeed your situation. Acute pain is something many people deal with for a short time due to an injury or sickness, but chronic pain is different.
This type of pain often gets worse instead of better with time, and it usually lasts longer than three months. It is considered to be different from the pain that would occur during a normal healing process. Chronic pain can occur in several places on your body, including but not limited to
- Back (especially low back)
- Neck
- Joints
- Head (as in chronic headaches or migraine)
Seven treatments for chronic pain
If you think this is your situation, there are many options for your treatment and recovery. You do not need to live with chronic pain.
1. Injections
One of the best treatments for chronic pain is injection therapy, which we provide here at our office. The injection usually contains an anesthetic and a steroid. Together, these will help numb the pain and reduce inflammation. It’s a very effective treatment that can provide you with enough relief to continue with further treatment options.
2. PRP
PRP (or platelet-rich plasma) is a type of regenerative medicine that is helpful for treating chronic pain. It utilizes your own blood, so there is minimal risk of infection. PRP is extremely helpful for treating injuries, especially those in the soft tissue and muscles.
3. Alternative treatments
Several alternative treatments can be helpful in conjunction with some of the more physical treatment options. For example, many people benefit from therapy, which can help with mindfulness and relaxation techniques that allow you to cope with chronic pain. Acupuncture and massage therapy are two other excellent options.
4. Lysis of adhesions
This treatment focuses on scar tissue formation after an injury, which can often be the cause of severe, long-term pain. It helps to destroy this scar tissue to minimize the experience of pain.
5. Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses an electrical current to damage the nerves constantly experiencing pain while leaving the surrounding nerves intact. This treatment is usually employed when more conservative options aren’t working.
6. Spinal cord stimulator trials
A spinal cord stimulator sends constant waves of electricity into the spinal cord to minimize the experience of chronic pain. This is another option that might be used later in your treatment plan if others aren’t working. The final stage is associated with an implanted device, so the trial gives you the chance to determine if this treatment works for you before the actual implantation.
7. Lifestyle changes
Another way to assist the medical treatments for chronic pain is to consider making certain changes to your lifestyle. Determining how to manage stress better — or even removing some stressful situations from your life — could play a big part in helping you heal. If your diet, exercise, and sleep habits can also be improved, making these changes could go a long way toward helping you too.
Begin your treatment for chronic pain
You deserve to feel safe, healthy, and free from pain. Fortunately, there are many available options for treating chronic pain. We will work with you to find the options that best suit your specific needs.
Make an appointment today by calling our Fremont or Pleasanton, CA office. You can also book an appointment online.
