Chronic Pain Treatments

It is possible to have chronic pain that is either minor or severe. The discomfort recurs frequently but subsides between outbursts.

The period between these remissions decreases as the severity of the condition increases, marking a transition from acute to chronic illness. Chronic pain can be of varying natures, such as:

• Neuropathic pain: Pain caused by injury to the nervous system. Potential signs include sensitivity, numbness, tingling, or an ache.
• Phantom pain: Occurs after amputation and can be very real. So, even though your missing limb isn't physically present, you still experience the ache from it.
• Central pain: Pain in the central nervous system is common, usually due to infarction or other issues affecting the brain or spinal cord. The central nervous system is constantly experiencing the pain of varying intensities. People experiencing central pain often describe it as a burning, aching, or pressing pain.

By understanding how their patients experience discomfort, doctors are better able to make an accurate diagnosis.

The duration of remission from chronic pain varies from patient to patient and is directly related to the underlying reasons. These signs and symptoms may go away for a time, only to reemerge at a later age.

Attacks sometimes come with minor discomfort, throbbing, or burning sensation. However, there may be moments of relief after or between attacks. In addition to continuous pain, the patient may also feel sudden, intense pain lasting only a few seconds or minutes.

There is currently no remedy for chronic pain, unlike acute pain. With a doctor's guidance, there is a wide range of treatment options to choose from after a diagnosis has been made.

Surgery is often the last resort after all non-invasive treatments have been exhausted. The severity and frequency of attacks can be mitigated with the help of certain medications.

In cases of persistent pain or when using the other available drugs (NSAIDs) would cause too many unwanted side effects, surgery may be considered.

Pain can also be treated with percutaneous treatments. During these treatments, a needle is inserted into the skin with the aid of imaging guidance to help the surgeon know exactly where to insert it.

• A neurectomy can also be done by severing the nerve's outer branches, which carry pain signals. Over time, the nerves may heal, bringing on a recurrence of the pain.
• Radio-frequency lesioning can be done by administering heat to the affected nerve through a needle to prevent it from transmitting pain signals. It is also known as radio-frequency ablation, which entails destroying the afflicted nerve.

If you have side effects or ineffectiveness of your prescribed medication, consult with your doctor for advice and treatment options. To avoid allergies or to worsen the condition, it is important not to self-diagnose or self-prescribe medicine.