What is pain management? Who are pain management specialists?
Pain management is a rapidly growing branch of modern medicine that uses science to elevate acute and chronic pain. It focuses on diagnosing and treating the most painful ailments, including common conditions such as post-operative pain.
Pain management specialists or 'pain doctors' are medical doctors who evaluate, rehabilitate, and treat people with chronic pain. You can consult a pain management specialist in case of unbearable pain, or your primary healthcare provider may refer you to one if your pain is ongoing or significant.
Pain management specialists recognize the complex nature of pain and use a multifaceted approach to tackle the problem. Ideally, they use a patient-centric treatment plan, which may vary according to an institution's available resources. Presently, there are no established standards for the types of disciplines that pain management includes, which is another reason pain treatment treatments vary from clinic to clinic. Standard medical specialties in pain management are anesthesiology, neurosurgery, and internal medicine.
Standard diagnostic tests used in pain management
A pain specialist may undertake more than just a physical assessment; they may also perform standard tests to understand your condition better. Here are some diagnostic tests that pain specialists use:
- CT scan: Computed tomography scans utilize X-rays and computers to generate a cross-sectional body image. During the procedure, you will lie as still as possible on a table while it moves through a large, doughnut-shaped scanning device. Occasionally, your doctor may administer a solution into a vein before the scan to enhance the visibility of internal parts of the body. Most CT scans typically last between 15 minutes to an hour.
- MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging provides your doctor with clear images without using X-rays. This test employs a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to create detailed images. The duration of an MRI scan can range from fifteen minutes to an hour, depending on the number of images needed. Sometimes, the doctor might inject a contrast material to improve image quality. It's important to note that individuals with pacemakers or other magnetic-sensitive devices should avoid undergoing an MRI due to using magnets.
- Nerve blocks: These tests serve diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for managing pain. To numb the pain, your doctor will administer an anesthetic by injecting it into specific nerve locations. They may use an imaging test to locate the optimal needle insertion site. Your response to the nerve block can provide valuable information about the cause and origin of your pain.
- Discography: The pain management specialist performs this test on individuals contemplating back surgery or when additional diagnostic evaluations are necessary. The doctor injects a dye into the suspected painful disc during the procedure. The dye enables visualization of any areas of damage on X-ray images, aiding in diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Myelogram: Similar to discography, a myelogram evaluates back pain. The doctor injects a dye into the spinal canal to identify nerve compression resulting from herniated discs or fractures.
- EMG: Electromyogram enables doctors to assess muscle activity by inserting fine needles into the muscles to measure their response to electrical signals.
- Bone scans: Bone scans diagnose and monitor bone infections, fractures, and other disorders. The specialist injects a small amount of radioactive material into your bloodstream, accumulating in abnormal bone areas. Subsequently, a computer can pinpoint these specific areas of concern.
- Ultrasound imaging: Popularly known as sonography or ultrasound scanning, this non-invasive test employs high-frequency sound waves to capture real-time images of internal structures. It records the echoes of the sound and displays them as dynamic images.
Treatment options for pain management
Pain management specialists can use a singular approach or a combination of different treatment options to help manage your condition. The treatment’s goal could be to treat or manage the underlying cause of pain as a symptom. However, the degree to which the treatment works can vary from person to person, even if they’re experiencing the same type of pain. Pain management specialists generally begin with a minimally invasive option before trying the riskier ones.
Some of these treatment options include the following:
- At-home remedies: Some conditions causing pain involving injuries or muscle and soft tissue issues can be treated with the RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) method. Depending on your condition, the pain management specialist may also recommend heat and cold therapy. Additionally, they may advise some lifestyle changes like eating nutritious food or better mechanisms to manage stress. If you’re obese or overweight, they may also recommend taking up physical activity to help improve your life through exercise, walking, or swimming. Such activities can also improve your overall health and improve posture.
- Physical or occupational therapy: Physical therapy can help improve your body’s ability to perform physical movements. It is an excellent treatment option for specific conditions or injuries. Accordingly, occupational therapy can help one’s ability to perform daily tasks. It dictates how to move through the environment or use different tools to do the activities in a way that doesn’t cause pain or minimize it.
- Complementary medicine therapies: Some pain management specialists can also recommend complementary therapies to help treat pain. These may include acupuncture, massage therapy, aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, and reflexology.
- Medical procedures or devices: Pain management specialists can perform specific procedures to help alleviate pain. These may include spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). They can also include botox injections, nerve blocks, steroid injections, and radiofrequency ablation. Pain management specialists may also recommend surgeries like spine surgery if other treatment options fail to improve the condition.
- Medications: Your healthcare provider can also prescribe certain medications depending on the type of pain you are experiencing. The medications may range from over-the-counter medications to prescription drugs to help alleviate the symptoms. Some types of medications may include opioids, muscle relaxers, antidepressants, corticosteroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Who benefits from pain management?
The range of individuals who stand to gain from a structured pain management plan is broad and encompasses those experiencing acute or chronic pain due to various factors. Such a plan proves invaluable for individuals dealing with short-term pain, whether it stems from injuries or post-surgical recovery, as well as those grappling with persistent pain associated with chronic health conditions.
Pain manifests as a cardinal symptom across various ailments, from injuries to infections to chronic diseases. For instance, cancer patients often contend with pain stemming from the disease itself or its treatments. Similarly, chest pain, which can radiate to the arms, back, or jaw, frequently serves as an early warning sign of a heart attack.
A myriad of health conditions are diagnosed from their capacity to induce significant discomfort:
- Arthritis and musculoskeletal injuries: Various forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and gout, precipitate intense joint pain, while orthopedic injuries like frozen shoulders contribute to mobility limitations and stiffness.
- Autoimmune disorders: Conditions such as lupus and Crohn's disease trigger autoimmune responses, wherein the immune system attacks the body's tissues, leading to pain and inflammation.
- Back ailments: Herniated discs, sciatica, and other spinal issues are notorious sources of pain and mobility impairment.
- Chronic pain syndromes: Disorders like fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and central pain syndrome are characterized by pervasive, widespread pain throughout the body.
- Endometriosis: This condition, characterized by the abnormal growth of the uterine lining outside the uterus, elicits abdominal pain and menstrual irregularities.
- Facial pain: Conditions like trigeminal neuralgia and dental issues like abscessed teeth can cause facial pain.
- Headaches: Migraines and cluster headaches inflict debilitating pain in the head and neck region.
- Urinary tract issues: Kidney stones and interstitial cystitis provoke severe pelvic pain and discomfort.
- Nerve damage: Neuropathic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome manifest as pain, tingling sensations, and numbness stemming from nerve damage.
Pain management is a vital element of healthcare for individuals across diverse demographics, offering relief, restoration of function, and enhanced quality of life.
Acute pain vs. chronic pain
Physical pain is an uncomfortable or unpleasant consequence of something wrong in your bodily functioning. It can also result from an external factor like a sports injury.
Acute pain usually starts suddenly. It is a consequence of something specific. Two ways to identify acute pain are that it is sharp and does not last longer than six months. It goes away when your pain management specialist identifies and treats the underlying cause. Common causes of acute pain include surgery, fracture, labor, and childbirth. You can resume normal bodily functioning after acute pain subsides.
On the contrary, chronic pain is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months. It is generally consistent and not sharp. It can continue even after your pain management specialist has identified and treated the injury or illness that caused it, as pain signals persist in your nervous system for weeks, months, or even years following the healing process. You may suffer from chronic pain even with no past injury or visible body damage. Headaches, back pain, nerve pain, and arthritis are common conditions that lead to chronic pain.
Reasons to consult a pain management specialist near you
In almost all cases, chronic pain hampers one's daily functioning. It leads to stress and strain and can result in you suffering from additional health issues like fatigue, changes in appetite, dehydration, limited mobility, and sore muscles. Besides physical outcomes, it can lead to emotional effects like irritability, frustration, anger, and hopelessness, which might trigger various mental health issues. People suffering from chronic pain might also suffer from depression, anxiety, and a fear of re-injury that may, in turn, cause several obsessive-compulsive disorders.
If you face any of the issues mentioned above, seeking pain management near you will do wonders. The medications prescribed by a specialist can relieve physical symptoms of pain effectively. At the same time, they help with the emotional effects of the pain. Your doctor shall sketch a customized plan to permanently relieve you of the pain and help you resume efficient daily functioning.
How will your first visit to a pain management specialist be?
In your first visit with a pain management specialist near you, they will diagnose the specific cause of your pain. They shall also look for related or underlying conditions linked to the pain. Suppose your complaint is chronic back pain. In this case, your pain management specialist shall examine your posture and ask questions about your physical activities and daily work.
They shall investigate you for back-related conditions like a herniated disc or arthritis. They shall create a treatment plan post-diagnosis and suggest medicines to treat the disease. In some cases with complex diagnoses, they might recommend additional tests. They shall refer you to a physiologist for complementary treatment besides pain management in case of complicated treatment plans.
Finding the best pain management specialist in Elmhurst, NY
Untreated pain can hamper mobility and mental health issues, leading to more expensive health care bills than timely treatment. Using Zocdoc, you can start your pain treatment at the earliest. Zocdoc helps you at three stages—finding the best pain management specialists near you, checking and sharing insurance details, and booking an appointment.
Enter your location (Elmhurst, New York), specialty (pain management specialists), or symptom (back pain), and the preferred appointment date to find top-rated doctors. Each profile displays the doctor's educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, specializations, practice history, certifications, and spoken languages. It also informs you about previous patient ratings and reviews. You may further filter the pain management specialists nearby based on your unique case requirement and gender preference.
Zocdoc also helps make your insurance submitting process hassle-free by letting you filter pain management specialists according to those who accept your plan. Add your insurance carrier's name in the search query to utilize the feature. If you need clarification on your insurance plan details, Zocdoc's insurance detector can help you. You can use Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information pre-appointment. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs.
Once you select the best pain management specialist near you, click the book appointment option. You can instantly book a video appointment or an in-person visit for your first session. Look for a purple video icon on your doctor's profile, or filter the video appointment selection.
With Zocdoc, all appointment bookings are simple, secure, and free!
Chronic pain statistics from Elmhurst neighborhood in Queens County, New York State
The Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute reports that about 16 million adults in the United States, or nearly 8% of adults, deal with chronic or severe back pain. Back pain is the sixth most expensive ailment in the United States regarding direct and indirect medical expenditures, coming in at over $12 billion annually.
Arthritis is a collective term that describes over 100 chronic diseases and conditions affecting the joints and surrounding and connecting tissues. Elmhurst is a neighborhood in the Queens Borough of New York City, and according to the 2018 New York State Department of Health report, approximately 19.6% of residents had arthritis. The arthritis statistics for Queens are the second lowest in New York state. Although the prevalence of arthritis in the county is below the state average, its impact is high because of its large population size.
Pain due to diabetes is usually a tingling or burning feeling accompanied by cramps. It leads to extreme sensitivity to touch, sometimes making holding even a bedsheet's weight intolerable. According to another New York State Department of Health report for 2018, an estimated 1.6 million people, or around 10.5% of the adult population in New York State (NYS), have been diagnosed with diabetes. Statistics for the county of Queens found a diabetic population of nearly 10.5%.
Sources
Verywell Health
American Academy of Pain Medicine
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Pain Specialists of America
New York State Department Of Health[1]
New York State Department Of Health[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mayo Clinic
Health Policy Institute
WebMD
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