Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that erodes the quality of life and makes it difficult to perform daily activities, such as going to work or cleaning the house. Fortunately, there are treatment options for many chronic pain conditions. These are three of them.
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1. Drug Therapy
Mild pain may be treated with over-the-counter medications, such as acetaminophen, naproxen, aspirin or ibuprofen. Topical pain relievers may also be used for some types of pain and inflammation. More severe pain conditions may require prescription treatments, such as celecoxib, muscle relaxers, fentanyl, hydrocodone and others. Epidurals are sometimes used to treat lower back pain. Steroid injections may be given for joint problems. Some patients may be referred to a pain clinic Orange Park FL for management of their chronic pain.
2. Surgical Implants
Patients who do not respond well to other types of pain relief may receive a surgical implant. Infusion pain pumps are inserted in a pocket under the skin. The pump is attached to a catheter which delivers pain medication to the intrathecal space around the spinal cord. These pumps usually deliver pain medications such as morphine or muscle relaxants. Because the medication is delivered directly to the spinal cord, lower doses can be used.
Spinal cord stimulation implants use electrical signals to block pain signals from reaching the brain. This method is usually used for back and limb pain.
3. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy uses special techniques to improve function and movement in patients with an impairment caused by an injury or disability. Treatments may include stretching, pain-relieving techniques, strengthening and treatments such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy.
There are many different ways to treat chronic pain conditions. Physicians may need to experiment with several different types to determine the method that works best for a particular patient.
