Chronic Pain Treatment Specialist

What is “chronic” pain?

Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and occurs on a regular, if not continual, basis. Some people can experience chronic pain as a result of diseases like arthritis, spinal degenerative diseases, diabetes or cancer, or from syndromes like fibromyalgia or chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Chronic pain can be debilitating, interfering with a person's ability to partake in regular activities of daily living as well as social activities. It's also a major cause of depression. Chronic pain is different from acute pain, which tends to develop very suddenly. Some chronic pain disorders can cause the body's pain receptors to become overwhelmed or “misfire,” resulting in an unending loop that causes pain receptors to respond to even relatively minor stimuli.

How is chronic pain diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive medical history for yourself and your close family members to identify possible conditions or risk factors that could provide clues to the cause of your pain. A thorough physical exam is also important, and in some cases, additional diagnostic evaluations with x-rays, CT scans or lab work may be required to rule out some medical conditions and help narrow down the cause of pain. Sometimes, a precise cause cannot be determined and the pain is diagnosed as “idiopathic,” meaning the cause is not known.

How is chronic pain treated?

Because it can have multiple causes, and in some cases, those causes can be difficult or even impossible to identify, treatment of chronic pain can be problematic, and some types of pain syndromes and diseases require ongoing management to help keep pain under control. Your treatment may include multiple components, such as oral medications or injections to help reduce inflammation and block pain signals, antidepressants, physical therapy and lifestyle changes to help resolve pain so you can improve your overall health and your quality of life.