Pain doctors can treat both short-term pain or pain that has become chronic. There are many forms of short-term and chronic pain conditions these doctors treat and they employ a wide range of methods to do so. This usually involves a combination of medicine and procedures. 

While some chronic pain conditions can be overcome with the right kind of treatment, other conditions may be life-long; the doctor in this case focuses on helping the patient manage their pain as much as possible. 

Conditions 

Pain doctors typically treat pain that can be categorized by one or more of the following: 

Tissue Injuries 

Damage to the soft tissue can result in chronic pain. This is often caused by damage to the nerves or some form of chronic inflammation following an injury. 

● Peripheral Neuropathy: This is a condition in which nerve damage from an injury, infection, toxin, or even diabetes causes the nerves to malfunction. Symptoms usually occur in the hands and feet and take the form of numbness, tingling, and burning sensations, as well as weakness. 

● Rheumatoid arthritis: This is a condition that affects the joints, causing them to become swollen, hot, and painful. This usually manifests at the wrist and in the hands. ● Myofascial Pain Syndrome: This is a problem of the fascia – a connective matrix of tissue that holds the muscular system and the skin together. Myofascial pain syndrome often results in sensitive points developing in the muscles, as well as transferred pain to areas of the body that may seem unrelated to the disorder. 

Head, Neck, & Spine Injuries 

● Herniated Disc Syndrome: The discs between the spine are comprised of a soft inner nucleus surrounded by a hard outer shell. The nucleus provides cushioning between the vertebrae, but pressure or a weakening of the discs can cause the nucleus to become forced out through a tear in the outer layer. This portion of the nucleus then puts pressure on the spinal nerves, resulting in pain, stiffness, tingling and numbness in the limbs. 

● Degenerative Disc Disease: Often occurring with age, DDD is a condition in which the discs of the spine lose their cushioning potential. Fragmentation and herniation are also common. Pain usually occurs in the neck or lower back. 

● Spinal Stenosis: This is a condition in which the spinal canal or neural foramen narrows, putting pressure on the spinal cord and its nerve roots. This can result in stiffness, pain, numbness, and weakness in the arms and legs. 

Other Pain Disorders 

● Phantom Limb pain 

● Headaches and migraines 

● Sprains and strains 

● Cancer pain 

● Fibromyalgia 

● And more 

Pain doctors can employ a number of treatment options to manage chronic pain. These usually involve medical injections, medication, and various surgical procedures. 

Treatment for chronic pain is rarely a one-off scenario; treatment plans often require a number of visits and on-going therapy. The ultimate length of time required for the treatment to be fully effective depends on the person and the severity of their condition. 

If you are experiencing chronic pain, contact your local pain doctor for a consultation.