Physicians who get special training in treating all kinds of pain are pain management specialists. The reasons for pain may vary from person to person. The pain may be a result of injury, chronic conditions, surgeries or nerve damage.
What Is Pain Management?
Pain management may be simple or it can be complex depending on the reasons of pain. To manage pains, like chronic pain, is a challenge for both pain management specialists and the patient. The main goals of pain management are:
- To increase flexibility and mobility
- To decrease pain
- To helps in decreasing medical complications of pain
- To provide relief to patients
- To restore physical, social and emotional functions
What Does Pain Management Specialists Do?
A pain management specialist approaches the problem from every angle and recognizes the complex nature of pain. They minimize pain instead of eliminating it. These specialists improve the functions and increase the quality of life of the people who suffer. Pain management specialist uses various medications and techniques like nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulators, and similar treatments to help reduce pain.
Specialty Areas
Pain management specialists have certification in one of the following specialties.
1. Neurology
In this specialized field, a neurologist focuses on treatment and the diagnosis of the spinal cord and brain. The common cause of chronic pain is spinal cord related injuries and diseases.
2. Anesthesiology
Physicians who administer anesthetics are Anesthesiologists. Anesthetics are substances that eliminate or reduce the sensitivity of pain. To treat acute and chronic pain some, anesthesiologists go through additional training in pain management.
3. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
To address painful conditions, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors use a wide variety of nonsurgical treatments. These painful conditions are related to the musculoskeletal and nervous system. They recover patients’ quality of life by increasing function and decreasing pain.
Roles of Pain Management Specialist
A pain management specialist has special training in treatment, evaluation, and diagnosis of types of pain. Pain can occur due to a variety of disorders that may include acute pain, cancer pain or chronic pain. The different causes of pain can be surgery, nerve damage, injury, metabolic problems like diabetes, etc. Pain can also occur without any specific reason. Roles of Pain Management Specialist include:
- Having in-depth knowledge about the physiology of pain
- Calculating complications of the patient’s pain
- Conducting specialized tests for diagnosing conditions of pain
- Prescribing the medications of pain problems
- Performing procedures like nerve blocks, spinal injections, etc
- Getting ongoing training to get knowledge of medications as new and complex drugs, techniques, and technologies become available every year
1. Non-Drug, Non-Surgical Pain Management
These kinds of programs include:
- Physical Therapy – These techniques help in correcting secondary problems of pain. Treatments include; Exercise, awareness, posture and to improve body mechanics. It helps to increase flexibility and strength.
- Massage Therapy – Massage Therapy helps to manipulate soft tissues.
- Movement Therapy – It works by muscle movements and pain management specialists advise patients to do yoga and tai chi.
- Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Simulation Therapy – These kinds of therapy can interfere with the body’s pain signals. It works by transmitting painless, mild electric shocks that pass through the skin to the source of pain.
2. Medications for Pain Management
For the treatment of pain, a pain management specialist can also provide medications:
- Muscle Relaxants – This type of medication helps the central nervous system relax. Different Muscle relaxants work differently.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs – These medicines block the chemical cascade that causes pain and inflammation in the body. Most common medication includes; aspirin and ibuprofen.
- Antiseizure Medications – These types of medications can treat nerve damage pain. It helps with interfering with the overactive transmission of pain signals to the brain.
3. Interventional Pain Management
Also by placing devices and injecting injectables, pain management specialists provide pain relief to the body. Some of the treatments are mentioned below:
- Epidural Steroid Injections – These injections take minimum recovery time and their benefits include reduction of nerve inflammation and pain in the spine.
- Joint, muscle/tendon injections – For joint and tendon injections, patients should be under ultrasound guidance along with different medications.
Conclusion
As pain management specialists, we can help you with pain to get back to normal life. We know what the causes of your pain are and if you have any diagnostic needs. To give a visit to our clinic for an experienced pain management specialist, simply call at 646-862-5555. Book an appointment with our Pain Management Doctor for further guidance about your pain.
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