We all have pain to some degree, especially as we get older. Sometimes it is worse in the morning when we wake up, sometimes it hits us mid-afternoon after standing too long, or for some, it hurts whenever we move. That might be called chronic pain. Some people suffer with it thinking it’s just old age. If you can relate to any of these situations, it might be time to get some help. Here are 5 reasons to see a pain management doctor.
When Pain Meds Are Not the Answer
If you have chronic or long-lasting pain, seeing a pain specialist is the place to start. A pain management doctor specializes in evaluating, diagnosing and treating constant pain. Other doctors may just give you a prescription to relieve the pain, but they don’t delve into the cause or the underlying reasons for the pain. You can be sure the pain will return once the meds are gone.
A Pain Specialist Goes Deeper
Whatever is the initial cause of your pain, there are always other factors that contribute to it. A pain specialist has the ability and expertise to treat all the other medical issues that accompany your primary pain. Finding the root cause of pain is the pain specialist’s goal.
Help With Specific Chronic Conditions
A pain doctor is uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat chronic neck or back pain, pinched nerves, arthritis, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, and fibromyalgia. In addition, they can help with obesity, anxiety, depression, and stress which can be contributing factors.
Creation of a Multidisciplinary Treatment Plan
Madison Medical Associates will tailor a plan that is uniquely yours. It might include some of the following: your use of medications, referrals to other specialists, diagnostic tests, intervention of a pain psychologist, injections using steroids or nerve blocks, devices that send signals to interfere with pain transmission.
Education About Your Pain and Alternative Care
Along with treatment a pain specialist can elaborate and teach you about making healthy lifestyle changes and offer alternative types of medicine. They could include acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, water therapy, and meditation. This decreases the need for medications and narcotics for pain.
Schedule Your Consultation with a Pain Management Doctor in Madison
There is something you can do about your constant pain. See a pain specialist and start enjoying life again. Contact Madison Medical Associates at (256) 325-1160 to schedule an appointment at our pain management clinic in Madison, AL and get on the road to living pain-free.