What is pain management?

Pain is a common indication, revealing that something is problematic with the human body. Physicians comprehend that pain is your body’s way of altering a discomfort, disease or injury that requires prompt medical intervention of pain management specialists. Depending on the cause, the pain may last for a short time (acute pain) and go away, away or for years (chronic pain). Some of the major conditions that lead to painful concerns are arthritis, nerve damage, back injuries, facial pain, endometriosis and migraine headaches . At Avicenna Clinic, the specialists analyse, evaluate and offer comprehensive pain management treatment tailored according to the needs of the patients, assuring much-needed relief from pain.

What are the types of pain management?

Counselling and Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and biofeedback are helpful psychological therapies that train the mind by changing its reaction to pain or chronic physical discomfort.

Exercise

Pain management specialists often design holistic exercise regime, including walking, swimming, tai chi and yoga that supports mental health, improves posture and enhances overall health and well-being.

Hands-on Treatments

Patients suffering from pain benefit from a combination of physical therapies or hands-on treatments such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), acupuncture and massage.

Medications

Taking your medical history and lifestyle into consideration, our certified pain management specialists may prescribe medications in form of anti-inflammatory drugs for swelling or muscle relaxers to relieve spasms that reduce the discomfort.

Who may benefit from pain management?

Back pain

Back pain is a rising concern that affects people at some point or the other. Often, it may not have a simple cause, and occur due to a combination of the following factors:
  • Lack of Exercise stiffens the spine and makes the muscles weak
  • Poor Posture
  • Sprains or Strains on muscles
Treatments for back pain are based on the symptoms and the cause, which is why specialists at Avicenna Clinic carefully assess every patient to determine best the healthcare solution that will allow you to return to your normal activities.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a painful condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve (running from the lower back to the legs) is inflamed.. The nerve is responsible for controlling muscles of both lower limbs . Common causes of sciatica are:
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Pelvic Injury or Fracture
  • Slipped Disk
  • Tumours
  • Piriformis Syndrome
The severity of sciatica pain varies from patient to patient, where in some cases it may be a tingling sensation while in extreme cases it may affect the mobility of a person. Different non-surgical and non-drug treatments are useful for treating sciatica. However, in a few cases, pain management specialists may recommend epidural or nerve root injections.

Inoperable Cervical and Lumbar Disc Problems

Inoperable or degenerative cervical and lumbar disc problems trigger a wide range of pain and discomfort around the neck and lower back that radiates to the hands and the legs. It may be accompanied by weakness or numbness in the affected area. The condition is more likely to occur in patients over 30s to 40s years of age, with middle-aged individuals being at a higher risk.

Cervical disc problems are caused by nerve impingement or compression, and the type of nerve compressed dictates the symptoms of the affected patient. Usually, the C4 and C5 discs lead to weakness in muscles of the upper arms, shoulder pain or regionalized pain, whereas C6 and C7 discs trigger a numb sensation, pain radiating to arms and weakened grip of hands.

Lumbar disc problems, typically at L4 and L5 levels radiate pain to the legs, affecting their movement and strength. Since cervical and lumbar disc problems are sometimes inoperable, pain management specialists provide conservative treatments to effectively manage and relieve pain.

Neck Pain

Neck pain is often a result of abnormalities, injuries or inflammation of muscles, ligaments or bones that support the neck. Many often experience stiffness or pain occasionally due to overuse or poor posture usually such pain may be relieved on its own within a few days.

If you are suffering from neck pain that stays consistent for over a week or is accompanied by multiple symptoms, then it’s important to seek medical attention. There are several causes of neck pain. It can be due to muscle strain or tension or more serious conditions such as heart attack or meningitis.

To treat neck pain, pain management specialists may recommend imaging tests such as an MRI scan, X-Ray scan, Electromyography or Lumbar Puncture to determine the cause and make an accurate diagnosis.

Cervical disc problems are caused by nerve impingement or compression, and the type of nerve compressed dictates the symptoms of the affected patient. Usually, the C4 and C5 discs lead to weakness in muscles of the upper arms, shoulder pain or regionalized pain, whereas C6 and C7 discs trigger a numb sensation, pain radiating to arms and weakened grip of hands.

Lumbar disc problems, typically at L4 and L5 levels radiate pain to the legs, affecting their movement and strength. Since cervical and lumbar disc problems are sometimes inoperable, pain management specialists provide conservative treatments to effectively manage and relieve pain.

Joint Pain

Joint pain may affect the spine, knees, hips, feet, shoulders or the hands. The pain may be constant or might go and come back again. In most cases, joint pain causes soreness and stiffness. . It impairs t of joints, limiting an individual’s ability to perform day-to-day tasks. People who are at high risk of developing joint pain are:
  • Those who are overweight
  • Suffering from stress, anxiety or depression
  • Repeated or excessive use of muscles
  • Have handled previous injuries or
  • Are suffering from arthritis or associated medical condition
The treatment options for joint pain are based on the cause, severity of symptoms and age of the patient. After an in-depth evaluation, the specialists may suggest exercises, topical treatments, weight loss or supportive aids like an orthotic device, cane or brace to manage the pain.

Muscle and Soft Tissue Pain

Soft tissue and muscle pains are often get exhibited when the ligaments or tendons experience trauma. It can either be acute or chronic. Often, the pain is a result of sudden injuries, for instance, spraining the ankle while playing a sport or may occur gradually due to overuse. Even though soft tissue pain can happen in any part of the body, the knees, wrists and ankles are prone to it. Common conditions that cause muscle and soft tissue pain are:
  • Joint Capsule Tear
  • Damaged Tendon Sheaths
  • Ligament Tear
  • Retinaculum Tear
  • Sprained or Twisted Joint
A wide range of treatment modalities is implemented for treating soft tissue and muscle pain. Pain management specialists at Avicenna Clinic review the medical history and perform a physical examination to create a personalised treatment plan that involves conservative healthcare practices and medications (only if required).

Pain from Nerve Damage

Nerve pain or neuralgia affects the nerve, primarily those that carry sensation to the brain. It feels different from usual painful conditions. An affected patient may complain about a stabbing or a shooting sensation that at times might feel like an electric shock. The symptoms of nerve pain can either be mild, moderate or chronic. The causes of nerve pain are:
  • Improper supply of blood to the brain
  • Injury to the spine or brain
  • Deficiency of Vitamin B12 and Thiamine
  • Stroke
  • Cancer Medications
  • Trapped Nerves
  • Multiple Sclerosis
For treating nerve pain, specialists address the underlying cause and then formulate a complete management plan. Non-drug treatments such as relaxation techniques, exercises and acupuncture or painkillers are often useful in easing the pain directly.

Shingles

Shingles are painful rashes that occur due to viral infection. It may affect any part of the body and often appears in the form of blisters. The shingles virus, also known as varicella-zoster hampers spinal nerves, leading to inflammation. Though shingles in itself are not life-threatening, but they can be extremely painful. It is integral to consult with a pain management specialist if:
  • The rash and pain have affected your eye, if left unaddressed it may cause eye damage
  • The patient has a known history of a weakened immune system due to prevailing conditions such as chronic illness, use of medication or cancer.
  • There is a widespread rash on different body parts with unbearable pain
Vaccines tend to lower the risk of developing shingles. While early treatment shortens the lifecycle of the virus, thus decreasing the chance of complications.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a condition that triggers musculoskeletal pain. This is accompanied by mood disorders, sleep, memory issues and fatigue. The condition amplifies painful sensations in the body, affecting the way your brain interprets non-painful and painful signals. Often fibromyalgia co-exists with related conditions like migraine (or other types of headaches), depression, anxiety, painful bladder syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Generally, treatment for fibromyalgia includes self-care strategies and medications. Here, pain management specialists emphasize minimizing symptoms in order to improve overall health and well-being. As, no one treatment would work for all, specialists evaluate the specific symptoms of patients, and their concerns and then structure a treatment plan for cumulative effect.

Post-Operative Pain

For major surgeries, you may be aware that anaesthesiologists use anaesthesia, and monitor during a heart operation, knee replacement or any other organ. After the procedure, you might experience pain, called post-operative pain. This is unpleasant and annoying, that if left unaddressed can turn into chronic pain- lasting for months or in some cases years.

In fact, improper or poor management of post-operative pain can slow the recovery process after an operation, making pain control solutions by specialists more critical than ever.

Our pain management specialists use conservative and pain-reducing medications such as non-opioids & opiates, developing a highly-detailed care plan for a positive outcome.

Sports Injuries

Sports injuries occur when exercising, playing a sport or performing repetitive physical activities. They can affect anyone and are not limited to sportspersons and athletes. Workers who perform repetitive work suffer from tennis elbow, tendinitis, shoulder injuries and muscle sprains. Many factors increase the risk of sports injuries among individuals:
  • Jumping or running on hard surfaces
  • Lack or improper use of exercise techniques
  • Playing the same sport for a long period
  • Overtraining, especially athletes or sportspersons who train consistently for way too long
  • Not wearing the proper guarding equipment while playing a sport
  • Suffering from anatomy that affects flexibility
  • Consumption of medications that are linked to tendon rupture or tendinitis.
Pain management specialists often recommend R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) for mild sports injuries. It relieves pain, decreases swelling and protects from further injuries. If the pain is severe, the specialist may prescribe over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications. Additionally, alternative physical therapies, osteopathy and physiotherapy aid in the recovery process.

Worries about Use of Pain Medication

Prescription pain medications are potent drugs. They may have a higher risk than OTC medications. This often worries patients about their side effects or addictive nature. Thankfully, acetaminophen, opioids or NSAIDs that are usually prescribed by a qualified doctor is safe if consumed in limited amounts.

At Avicenna Clinic, our pain management specialists offer guidance, ensuring you are able to manage pain without experiencing any severe side effects.

In case you experience any complications after taking pain medications, book an appointment or contact us for an immediate consultation. Always be honest and let the specialist know about sleep problems, nausea, constipation or any other side effect that you may face due to pain medications.

FAQ's

When should I consult with a pain management specialist?
Book an appointment with a pain management specialist at Avicenna Clinic when:
  • You have been suffering from pain and discomfort that is getting worse with time
  • You are feeling depressed or anxious about the pain.
  • You are having trouble falling asleep due to the unbearable pain.
  • You are not able to practice for an upcoming sporting or athletic event because of the pain.
Are there any risks of pain management treatments?

Every pain management treatment approach is different, and so are the risks involved. Consult with the specialists about complications or side effects before beginning a treatment plan.

 
Is pain management medication needed for effective treatment?

Not necessarily; for mild or acute pain, the specialists may design a non-drug treatment plan, helping you feel better without the need for medications. While in extreme cases, medications may be prescribed.

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Avicenna has specialists across a number of clinical areas, reinforced by an excellent support team, providing integrated diagnostic and treatment services