What Does a Pain Management Doctor Do?

Patients experiencing either chronic or acute pain may benefit from pain management treatments, to which there is an extensive list of options. One of the most common forms of pain management involves medication. When medication is mentioned, people typically think of pain relievers such as ibuprofen and even opioids for extreme circumstances, however, many medications are prescribed to relieve pain depending on the condition at hand. Another frequent technique used to help manage pain is physical therapy, in which a trained professional meticulously guides a patient through exercises, stretches, and movements that aim to strengthen muscles and increase range of motion, which in turn can reduce pain from acute orthopedic conditions to chronic neurological conditions and much more. On another note, psychotherapy may also be recommended for certain pain conditions, however, this is typically reserved for patients who deal with more severe forms of chronic pain, or pain that has shown to be a significant detriment to the emotional well-being of a person. One final pain management technique that is commonly sought is interventional procedures such as surgeries and injections which can help lower inflammation, or even block pain receptors for a period of time. While there is an extensive list of options in treatments, it is the case that one option may be better than another and while it can be daunting trying to choose, talking with physicians with experience in this area can be of significant help.

Medication is commonly deemed the most common form of pain management and is greatly effective when managed appropriately. For moderate pain, or early in pain treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol are frequently used, but NSAIDs for more severe pain or inflammation exist as well. In addition to this, antidepressants and anti-seizure medications have been shown to help manage chronic pain, with specific emphasis on neurological pain. As a final note, opioid medications are another commonly prescribed medication to deal with mostly acute pain. With the help of a physician who specializes in pain, patients will be able to get a sense of the best potential medications for their specific circumstances.

Pain medicine and pain management are very closely related and contain a lot of overlap, however, there are aspects, mainly the approach to solving medical problems and the scope of practice that differ. Pain medicine typically involves a physician who focuses on the medical components of treating pain. This largely involves issuing the best possible medication or running procedures or injections that help minimize pain. Pain management on the other hand, often involves more than just medication or procedures, and utilizes a variety of healthcare professionals such as physicians, physical therapists, psychologists, and many more. People often see it as a more holistic approach to pain treatment, but that isn’t to say pain medicine isn’t holistic. Taking this all into account, pain management and pain medicine are similar disciplines, with the same goal, however, one approach may work better in a given situation, which is why discussing your concerns with the proper healthcare expert is of great importance.

It can be of great benefit to learn about the different types of pain to determine if any apply to you or a loved one, and further question if you need to seek professional care in the form of pain management. Pain management can be for those who experience both chronic and acute pain. Chronic pain is generally deemed to be a persistent long-term pain while acute pain is typically said to be sudden, and a result of some trauma, injury, or tissue damage. While there are more specific descriptions of pain that refer to what area of the body pain originates from such as nerve, bone, soft tissue, and many more, chronic and acute pain are generally the first categorization made and can encompass all of the different areas of the body. From the description of either chronic or acute pain, in addition to what specific area of the body, the appropriate steps to manage the pain are treated.
 
A pain management doctor has expertise in pain physiology and may do specific testing to detect complicated pain disorders. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Houston TX and Sugar Land TX. We serve patients from Houston TX, Sugar Land TX, Pearland TX, Jersey Village TX, Missouri City TX, Stafford TX, and Richmond TX.