If you are experiencing acute or chronic body soreness, seek medical attention to find relief. When you visit a pain management clinic, a specialist evaluates the severity of your pain to recommend the most appropriate treatment. Here are some conditions that qualify for pain management:
Degenerative Disc
When the spinal disc experiences wear and tear due to age or injury, you may feel back and neck pain. Since the shock-absorbing cushions are no longer functioning correctly, your body may start to become stiff, preventing you from moving freely. The soreness worsens when you bend, lift, or twist because these movements put pressure on the degenerated discs and spine. To manage such symptoms, a pain management clinic may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the spine. If the pain persists, a doctor injects a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and control the pressure.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner part of the spinal disc pushes through a weak spot in its outer layer. With this movement, nerves undergo intense strain, resulting in pain in your back, legs, and neck. Before a care provider recommends any remedies, they diagnose the soreness using X-rays, MRI, and CT scans.
Once they receive the results, they may prescribe muscle relaxants to help alleviate muscle spasms and tension caused by nerve irritation. If you have intense pain, a medical professional administers epidural steroid injections to minimize pain and swelling. To determine the exact site for injecting the anti-inflammatory medication, a qualified doctor uses a fluoroscope.
Spinal Osteoarthritis
People with spinal osteoarthritis experience chronic back and neck pain because the cartilage in the joints and discs breaks down. As cartilage deteriorates, this condition produces bone spurs that irritate nerves, causing increased soreness throughout the body.
To help alleviate inflammation, a qualified doctor may recommend facet joint injections, which block pain signals and provide relief. If you don’t feel better after the injection, another treatment called radiofrequency ablation may be used to manage pain in the nerves. During physical therapy, a professional can help you align your posture to minimize stress on facet joints.
Neuropathy
Also known as peripheral neuropathy, this condition affects nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. It may cause sharp, jabbing, or burning pain in the hands, feet, legs, or arms. To manage nerve inflammation, a doctor may prescribe medications. Other options include exercise to strengthen muscles and managing blood sugar levels. If those methods are ineffective, a specialist may recommend peripheral nerve stimulation, which begins with a trial using temporary leads worn externally to target the source of pain. Treatment strategies involve:
- Medication management
- Physical activity routines
- Blood sugar regulation
- Nerve stimulation procedures
Find a Pain Management Clinic
If you have pain in your body that doesn’t go away, you can see a specialist to diagnose how serious it is and suggest treatment. Whether it’s spinal or joint soreness, a doctor orders blood tests or uses imaging technology to discover the cause. To experience relief, consider consulting a pain management clinic to schedule an appointment.
