Pain Management starts with knowing what type of pain you have.
Pain management is one of the main reasons so many patients come to see us other seek help from doctors nationwide. From back pain, to migraines, to fibromyalgia; the common thread is always some level of unmanageable, debilitating pain. There are many parts of your body and reasons that a patient could be experiencing pain, but did you know there are also different types of pain? The first step to any type of pain management is knowing what kind of pain you are experiencing.
Chronic Pain
Everyone experiences pain occasionally. When you get a paper cut or pull a muscle? pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Once the injury heals, the pain should stop. Chronic pain is very different. Your body keeps hurting weeks, months, or even years after an injury. Doctors often define chronic pain as any pain that lasts for at least 3 to 6 months. Chronic pain can have a real, harmful effect on not only your physical health, but also your mental health. It can limit your daily activities and changes your lifestyle completely.
Acute Pain
Acute pain is the opposite of chronic pain. It is the type of pain that typically lasts less than 3 to 6 months. It is pain that is directly related to soft tissue damage, like a sprained ankle or minor cut. Although acute pain tends to be more sharp and severe with the onset of an injury, the duration of pain is short and pain subsides as the injured tissue gradually heals.
Psychogenic Pain
Psychogenic pain is a pain disorder associated with psychological factors. Some mental or emotional disorders can cause increased or prolonged pain. A person with psychogenic pain may complain of pain that does not match their symptoms. Headaches, muscle pain, back pain, and stomach pain are some of the most common types of psychogenic pain.
Nerve Pain
Neuropathic pain is often described as a shooting or burning sensation that can go away on its own but is often chronic. At times it can be unrelenting and severe, and sometimes it can come and go in waves. It is often the result of nerve damage or a malfunctioning nervous system. Some common examples of nerve pain are phantom limb syndrome due to amputation and pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
Abdominal Pain
Everyone suffers from a bellyache at some point in their life? Maybe they ate too much food or ate too much unhealthy food. Most causes of abdominal pain are not worrisome, but sometimes it can be a sign of a serious illness. Whether you’re suffering from a mild stomachache, sharp pains, or cramps, abdominal pain can have many causes. You might have indigestion, constipation, or a stomach virus. There are also more sever conditions that could be causing these symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome, crohn’s disease, or food allergies.
Contact us to schedule an appointment, and our integrative medicine specialists will develop a personalized program to help you feel the best you can.