Sometimes, the pain lasts longer than you expect it to. If it lasts for more than three months, then we call it chronic pain. Other names for chronic pain are persistent or lasting pain. As the name suggests, lasting pain can affect your ability to perform day-to-day activities. Moreover, it’s so common that around 40% of the world’s population suffers from it.
Pain is more than just a physical problem. So, the emotional aspect of pain greatly affects you. Especially if you’re facing lasting pain that affects your daily tasks. We understand that surgery isn’t the solution to pain for everyone. Be it due to finances or factors. Thus, the medical field is working on ways to ease pain using non-surgical methods. This has given birth to the practice of interventional pain management. So, join us in understanding all there is about managing pain.
Why Choose Interventional Pain Management (IPM)?
There are many reasons to choose pain management. This includes the overuse of high-dose painkillers and surgeries without improvements. Moreover, it also leads to opioid addictions and, later, overdoses. Surgeries may not always help with easing pain. Sometimes, they might even cause more harm than good. Thus, there is a need to have a safer alternative to ease your pain. This is where interventional pain management comes into play. It works on the basis of reducing pain and boosting your body’s healing ability. There are many ways to help manage pain, so let’s find out more.
Chiropractic Care
This method helps you find your body’s pain points. Then, a skilled therapist works on these points in a way that releases stress. It also relieves back pain and pinched nerves. This relaxes you and helps your body heal itself. Moreover, it increases your range of motion and decreases your pain. These kinds of physical therapy work well in finding what exactly hurts. Then, they work on putting your body’s joints back on track.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
This acts as a quick fix for your pain and eases it for a while. But why choose it if it only works for some time? The main reason is that as the brain stops receiving the pain signals, it starts to work on healing. Thus, this method works best for those who are looking for instant pain relief. It involves delivering mild electric signals along your back. As most of the nerves are along your back, it masks the pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
This method works just like the previous one. But instead of electric signals, it works with radio signals. The therapist applies these signals over the painful areas to deliver heat to them. This, in turn, eases the aching muscles and relaxes the nerves. Thus allowing the brain to relax and work more on healing the body.
Trigger Point Injections
This method works best for muscle pain. Here, the therapist injects a solution into the knots inside the muscles. These knots form due to lasting pain and keep the pain from getting better. The solution that they inject relaxes these knots. Thus easing the nerves and soft tissue around them and reducing pain.
Back Bracing
This is a type of support therapy that helps keep your spin in place. It helps support the spine and the muscles around it. External support takes the burden off the muscles. Thus, it allows the body to heal on its own in a faster way.
What is an IPM Physician?
By now, we know that IPM doesn’t include many pills or drugs. But then, what is the role of an IPM physician? Don’t worry; we have the answers to your pain problems. These physicians or doctors are people with high diagnostic skills. First, they listen to your pain problems. So, make sure to describe what hurts, where it hurts, and how much it hurts. This will give them a fair idea of what method to use. Then, they analyze your symptoms to find out what the root cause of the problem is. Finally, they will suggest or perform a therapy that will definitely ease your pain. In some cases, they may use a combo of different methods that go best together.
Traits of an IPM Physician
An IPM doctor must have an in-depth understanding of pain and how it affects the body. This is important because it will help them understand the cause of the pain. Moreover, they must have the skills to cater to all sorts of body pains. This includes even those conditions that aren’t very common. These doctors must know the different sets of tools and methods that IMP uses to ease the pain. Lastly, they need to have special training and certifications. Make sure that if you’re visiting a private practice, the physician has all the necessary certifications.
When to Visit an IPM Physician?
There are different physicians who treat different problems. So first, make sure to understand what problem you’re facing. If you’re unclear, then you can visit a general physician (GP). If you’re facing joint problems, then you must see a joint specialist. These doctors have high skills in treating joint problems. The key is to remember that every part of your body works differently. Your muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments are all very different. Thus, the medicine and treatment they need are also different.
The best time to visit an IPM physician is when the pain becomes too much or prolongs. A rule of thumb is that if the pain lasts for more than three months, you must see a doctor. As soon as the pain crosses the three-month mark, it falls under lasting pain. But don’t worry. With the right treatment and therapy, your pain will ease.
Key Takeaways
Interventional pain management is a non-surgical way to ease pain. This includes all types of pains and body parts. Make sure to visit a doctor who specializes in this domain while receiving treatment. If you’re looking for the best holistic care in Marlboro and Matawan, visit Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen!
