Everyone feels pain at some point in their life if not a chronic one! Be it injuring your toe fingers, pulling a muscle, pinching a nerve, headache, etc. Pain is simply your body’s way of alerting you about something going wrong. While most cases of pain are short-term and go on their own, some cases can be chronic and long-term. A headache that lasts a few hours may not be a matter of concern but the headache that keeps repeating requires attention. Similarly, when it comes to musculoskeletal or neurological pain, the ones that go away in a few days are usually not of a major concern.
Pain that stays and pain that your body sustains for 3 months or longer is a matter of serious concern. In such cases, you must seek medical attention at the earliest for quick treatment and recovery. At Indiana Neurology and Pain Center, we have a team of pain specialists who can assist with your problems and provide long-term pain relief solutions. In this blog, we will help you understand all about chronic care management and the way forward with it!
What is termed chronic pain?
In simple terms, chronic pain is pain that lasts for 3-6 months or even longer. It can affect any part of the body and is a sign of something serious with the body’s functioning. The reason could be the pinching of nerves, an underlying health concern, neurological disorders, etc. Anyone suffering from chronic pain must seek immediate medical attention to know the underlying cause. Usually, doctors recommend combination treatment. It includes medication, physiotherapy, lifestyle changes, exercise, a healthy diet, etc. In severe cases, the patients may have to undergo interventional therapies for long-term pain relief. If you are looking for chronic care management services, INPC is there to assist you!
What is chronic care management?
Chronic pain can be quite frustrating. Not only does it affect you physically but can also limit your capabilities of performing daily activities. In the long run, it can also affect your mental health. Pain specialists may recommend the best pain management treatment for chronic pain. All the practices that target pain relief are a part of chronic care management. Most of the cases involve physical therapy and medications. Some may also include minimally invasive treatments like steroid injections. To know the best treatment for your case, you must consult a pain management specialist. At Indiana Neurology and Pain Center, we have a team of expert professionals who can assist you with the right treatment.
Symptoms of chronic pain
Chronic pain can cause discomfort and hinder the daily activities of a person. It can restrict physical movement and may also interrupt basic mobility. Symptoms may also differ from one person to another. Some of the common symptoms of chronic pain that lasts 3 months or longer may include:
- Body or headache
- Burning sensation in the muscles
- Shooting pain in a body part(s)
- Stiffness of muscles
- Stinging or throbbing pain
- Anxiety disorders due to persistent pain
- Feeling fatigue most of the time
- Troubling falling asleep or remaining asleep for longer
- Mood swings due to pain and discomfort
- Loss of interest in sexual activities
These are all common symptoms and consequences of sustained musculoskeletal or neurological pain.
How is chronic pain diagnosed?
If you can relate to multiple symptoms of chronic pain and if the symptoms last 3-6 months, seeking medical attention is the best decision. An expert can provide you with a conclusive report on your condition. You may wonder how chronic pain is diagnosed. Well, there can be numerous diagnoses involved, like:
Verbal diagnosis
Your pain specialist may ask you certain questions regarding your problem. It may include questions like:
- For how long are you in pain?
- When did the pain start?
- Any memory of previous injury or trauma?
- What type of pain do you feel?
- Does pain exist throughout the day or increase while asleep?
- Have you undergone any treatment?
- Anything that worsens the pain?
Physical diagnosis
While the doctor asks you these questions, he/she may also physically diagnose you. The doctor may touch, press, or thump on the pain point to learn more about it. You may sit calmly as the physical diagnosis is usually never painful.
Blood tests
In some cases, especially when a chronic illness is suspected, you may be asked to undergo certain blood tests. Additionally, the doctor may also prescribe other tests. You may get these tests done at our clinic, Indiana Neurology and Pain Center, and present the reports to the doctor for further suggestions.
Diagnostic imaging
Your doctor may also ask you to undergo certain diagnostic imaging tests. These are done with the intention to get into details of the condition. There are broadly three types of diagnostic tests that you may have to undergo:
- CT scans
- X-rays
- MRI
Depending on the condition and need for diagnosis, the doctor may recommend one or more of these tests. Once you are done with the tests, you will have to present the reports to the doctor for further evaluation.
Treatment for chronic pain
Now comes the quintessential part, the treatment for chronic pain. After the doctor diagnoses your condition thoroughly, a treatment plan will be put into effect. There can be either one or a multimodal treatment plan in action. The purpose is to provide immediate, quality and sustained pain relief. Here are some of the common treatments for chronic pain management:
Chronic disease treatment
The doctor may recommend chronic illness treatment in case of any underlying disease like tumor, cancer, etc.
Medications
Medications are prescribed to the patient if the pain is possible to manage through certain medicines. It may involve combination medicines as per the condition of the patient
Physiotherapy
Physical therapy can reduce the condition to a great extent. However, it is equally true that not all conditions can find long-term relief from physiotherapy. Depending on your condition, the doctor may prescribe physical therapy along with medicines
Interventional therapies
For conditions that do not improve with physical therapy or medicines, minimally invasive therapies may be the next best treatment plan. These are usually outpatient department treatments so patients can get back home the same day. It may also involve the use of anesthetics to lower the pain during the treatment. Within a few days, the patient may expect pain relief that may last 3-6 months and even longer.
Conclusion
Chronic pain management is a daunting task for a patient. Dealing with the pain yet managing to follow a doctor’s prescription can be quite challenging. In such a situation, losing temper or hope can be normal. However, giving up is not an option. With consistency in treatment including lifestyle changes, exercises, and diet changes, it can be possible to improve the condition.
If you or someone in your family is suffering from chronic pain, make sure to get medical attention without any further delay! To get the best chronic care management, you may contact Indiana Neurology and Pain Center. We are always there to assist you for a pain-free life! At our clinic, we provide both RPM and CCM services. Through telemedicine services, we provide remote patient monitoring and chronic care management. Contact us today to book your appointment!
Read more: How INPC Treats Knee Pain through Physical Therapy