Pain Management in Madison, AL

Results consists of a network of specialized and licensed physical therapists who work directly with patients and their medical team to ensure continuity of care. Whether patients are suffering from chronic pain condition or an acute injury, the expertise of Results Physiotherapy therapists in treating pain and movement dysfunction will assist you with reducing your pain and achieving your lifestyle goals.

Appropriate regular exercise has been proven to reduce chronic pain. This means that once pain management patients become proficient in the physical therapy program they’ll become more comfortable performing daily activities, and they’ll be able to tolerate increased activity levels with less pain. Pain management patients can expect their therapist to be pain management advocates and teammates, helping improve quality of life and working with them every step of the way to achieve their pain management goals.

Results physical therapy for chronic pain program is designed to complement interventional pain management procedures and promotes the most long-term relief possible. Our pain management physical therapists focus on neutral spine exercises and promote a core trunk strengthening/stabilization program.

We are here for you. No one should go through pain alone.

No one prepares for or expects pain. And when pain interferes with your life in unexpected ways, it can be incredibly difficult to adjust. The emotional and stressful events experienced during pain may be taking a toll on you and therefore should be part of your comprehensive treatment plan.

At Madison Medical Associates, you don’t have to suffer through pain alone. We have trained therapists that can help you devise a plan to rebuild the parts of your life that have been negatively impacted by pain. We understand you weren’t prepared for life with pain, but we are prepared to offer you the guidance and help that you need to get back to life at its fullest. Our experts have navigated the road to recovery before, and we are here to help guide you now.

Our team has a simple vision: to offer the most effective treatments for reducing pain and to find the right combination of treatments for our patients. For many patients, mental health treatments are an integral part of ensuring positive long-term outcomes. Whether it be fully understanding the implications of surgery or recognizing the importance of safely using medications to ensure long-term relief, we firmly believe that our counselors’ ability to help improve your mental health will also lead to improved physical health.

Your pain is unique as you are

Everyone experiences pain differently and treatment plans vary considerably because of this variety. But for most people, living with pain brings added difficulties. The road to recovery can be a tough one, at times stressful and extremely emotional. And it is important to remember that you are at the center of your recovery– You are an active participant in your recovery and as such, it is important to take care of yourself so that you can meet the demands of managing your care. Patients undoubtedly benefit from having a trained professional to support and encourage them throughout their recovery process. Our pain therapist will work with you to address the ways in which we can improve your overall well-being to help you move towards better living.

The limbic system is commonly referred to as the emotion center of the brain and can play an active role in cases of chronic pain. Stress, anxiety, and depression can alter pain pathways over time, making patients more sensitive to stimuli. For these patients, their heightened sensitivity means that even the smallest stimulus can set off a massive pain response, resulting in continuous, throbbing chronic pain. These cases of chronic pain are just one example of the many ways in which our mental health can impact our physical health.

Our lifestyle evaluation identifies areas we can improve to reduce pain. Together, you and your therapist will discuss habits like diet, smoking and physical activity (both before and after the pain’s onset). With the answers to these questions, our trained staff can help you identify changes to your lifestyle that may help reduce your pain levels.

While we specialize in treating pain, our therapists provide therapy for a wide-range of situations.  So even if you are not in pain, our therapists are here to serve you in any way needed.

In our behavior health program, your pain specialist will go over the following and evaluate it with you:

• Lifestyle
• Relaxation Training
• Stress Management
• An assessment of your living conditions
• Managing your activity

We strive to make sure you can handle your pain and your pain doesn’t overwhelm you. Counseling equips you with the mental and emotional readiness to face the challenges that may be brought on by pain.

Take Your Life Back

We believe in empowering patients to live life to the fullest. In individual counseling, you and your therapist can discuss goals and create a plan for how to get you to where you want to be. Since pain can often prevent patients from doing activities they enjoy, the expert guidance of a therapist can help patients think differently and more constructively about their lives. We use what you can do to get you moving towards what you want to do. Our therapists will help you realize the many ways in which you have the power to make meaningful change in your health and take control of your life.

Individual Therapy

Every individual is unique. Our lives are made up of differing circumstances, backgrounds, families, and friendships, each of which have a unique way of shaping who we are. Together with your counselor, you can explore the ways in which your past and present influence how you feel today, all within the confines of a safe and private environment.

Pain changes lives in unimaginable ways. It is understandable that patients are often unprepared for those changes. Depression, anxiety, and stress are common responses and therefore seeking counseling is not only understandable but encouraged. Our therapists have years of experience helping patients work through chronic pain. Their experience and knowledge can help you find techniques to help and guide you through whatever challenges you may be facing.

Stress Less, Live More

In addition to pain counseling, our therapists also assist with helping patients manage the destructive behaviors that often accompany high-stress situations. Whether it be over-eating or abusing pain medications, our counselors are here to help you manage your stress and protect your health. Learning positive coping methods and dealing with stress in a healthy way can only lead to the best positive outcome. These simple steps and strategies can be the difference that gets you that much closer to pain free.

Last but not least, chronic pain should not be faced alone. Sharing the days that are tough, learning ways to make life a little easier, and communicating with a professional that is invested in your success should be an option for everyone.

While opioids can help relieve pain, these drugs can also lead to addiction. Having a counselor as an accountability partner can help patients manage medications safely.

We believe in empowering patients to take their lives back. Pain changes the day-to-day routine for many, often in negative ways. In individual counseling, you and your therapist can discuss goals and create a plan for how to get you to where you want to be. Since pain can often prevent patients from doing activities they enjoy, the expert guidance of a therapist can help patients think differently and more constructively about their lives. We use what you can do to get you moving towards what you want to do. Our therapists will help you realize the many ways in which you have the power to make meaningful change in your health and take control of your life.

Madison Medical Associates is committed to providing the best quality and safest care possible for our patients. We are acutely aware of the problems associated with managing the chronic pain patient population, including issues surrounding use (and abuse) of prescription pain medications. Local physicians feel confident that their patients are being referred to a quality, comprehensive/multi-model pain management program at Madison Medical Associates that will help them improve their total quality of life.

Our pain doctors have a number of tools they can use to help patients manage, and sometimes eliminate pain. These tools include a number of specialized, minimally-invasive procedures; exercise, physical therapy,  as well as medications. Medications used for pain management have various purposes. As part of a comprehensive pain management plan, our providers might prescribe one or more of the medications described here.

Narcotics

Opiates are usually prescribed for severe pain that does not respond to conservative treatment. Appropriate potency and amount needed for management of your pain will be determined by your doctor.

Opiates have the potential to be habit-forming. Many people who are prescribed opiates worry about becoming addicted to them. Your pain physician is very aware of these addiction risks, and will monitor you and test you to make sure you are taking these powerful drugs as prescribed. Model guidelines have been developed for using controlled substances for treating pain. The major features of these guidelines are: a comprehensive evaluation of the patient, a written treatment plan, informed consent and agreement for treatment including a controlled substances agreement, periodic review, appropriate consultations as necessary, maintain medical records, and compliance with controlled substances loss and regulation. It is very important that you follow your prescribing instructions. Working together, you and your doctor can make sure that the opiates prescribed to you are safe and effective.

NSAIDS

The most commonly used drugs are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). In their mildest form, these drugs are available over-the-counter. They include aspirin and ibuprofen. Aspirin has been around for generations and its use as a pain reliever and fever reducer is well-established. Ibuprofen is also available over-the-counter in generic form and brand names such as Advil®, Motrin®, and Nuprin®. Ibuprofen is a proven pain reliever and fever reducer. It also helps reduce inflammation, a common cause of pain. Acetaminophen, available both generically and as the brand name Tylenol®, is not an NSAID, but it is also easily available over-the-counter. It is a well-established pain reliever and fever reducer; however, it lacks the anti-inflammatory ability of NSAIDS. Doctors commonly prescribe acetaminophen along with an NSAID. Your doctor will tell you if that is the right combination for you.

Which Medications are Right for Me?

Medication management is one of the many ways your interventional pain physician will help you manage, and perhaps even eliminate your pain. Your doctor will take into account the intensity and duration of your pain and other important factors, such as your age, other medical problems you might have, and the other medications you are taking. Deciding the pain medications and dosages that are right for you is very individual. Oftentimes, one drug will work well for one patient but not another. That is why it is so important that you communicate with your doctor about the relief you are getting from whatever is prescribed to you.

Remember: pain-relieving drugs are just one aspect of your treatment plan. Your physician takes a multidisciplinary approach to helping you manage your pain. Every aspect of your treatment is equally important.

Life with pain is just the beginning of your road to recovery. You are still you, life just seems tougher and unpredictable. Our physicians listen to what you’re saying and how you’re feeling. Often patients express frustration with where they are at. The secret is, you don’t have to stay there. We are here to help you find relief and get you on to the next chapter of your life.

Our goal is to find options for you, no matter what your past pain has been like. We find effective treatments with consideration of your specific needs. Caring for yourself as a whole is an important piece of your pain management puzzle and your positive well-being is why we even exist as an organization.  We are dedicated to providing unmatched healthcare with the patient as the priority.