Med1Care Therapy Partner’s physical therapists are knowledgeable in the treatment of chronic pain. Chronic pain persists for months or years,either beyond the typical recovery period or concurrent with a chronic health condition, such as arthritis.
Chronic pain can deteriorate the ability to work, eat well, engage in physical activity and enjoy life.Chronic pain has many causes, and it can also precipitate depression and anxiety. When this occurs, it may be called Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) or the “terrible triad” of suffering, sleeplessness and sadness.
Chronic pain may result in drug-dependencies, repeated surgeries or questionable treatments as the sufferer seeks support for symptom relief.
Diagnosing Chronic Pain
There are many causes of chronic pain, including:
- Back pain
- Central sensitivity syndromes
- Chronic fatigue
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Headaches and migraines
- Nerve (neuropathic) pain
- Nonepileptic spells
- Post-cancer treatment-related pain, such as with mastectomy
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Stomach pain
When diagnosing chronic pain your health care provider will ask about the illness or injury that precipitated the pain, the duration of the pain and its severity.
Additional reading on chronic pain may be found here.
How We Can Help
Med1Care Therapy Partner’s experienced therapists are trained in managing chronic pain.Chronic pain often requires a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment, including counseling, relaxation support and physical therapy.
Your treatment plan may include exercises to improve muscle strength and reduce stiffness, spasticity and joint inflammation.We will work with your pain management rehabilitation team to help reduce your pain,build a road to recovery and regain your quality of life.
Call us at 419.866.0555 to schedule a consultation.
Our specialists will help you chart a course forward.
When diagnosing and learning about your pain, your health care provider is likely to ask questions such as:
- When did the pain start?
- Did it begin at the same time as an illness or injury?
- Where is the pain located?
- What is the quality of the pain, in terms of sensations, like throbbing, burning, stinging, dullness or sharpness?
- How severe is the pain on a scale of 1 to 10?
- What makes the pain worse?
- What provides relief or decreases the pain?
Pain management programs may include medical management, such as over-the-counter medicines, prescription medications, and antidepressants.
In addition to medical management, other tools include:
- Hot and cold treatments to reduce stiffness and pain, particularly for arthritis
- Physical and occupational therapy, such as sitting in a jetted hot tub or receiving massage
- Exercise to decrease spasticity, joint contracture, joint inflammation and spinal alignment issues
- Exercises to increase muscle strength
- Electrical stimulation of nerve endings
- Emotional and psychological support, including group therapy, stress management, training in meditation, relaxation, hypnosis or biofeedback
Chronic pain often requires a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment, including counseling, relaxation support and physical therapy.
Some hospitals, rehab facilities and pain clinics have special pain programs. And a pain management team may include:
- Neurologists
- Orthopedists
- Anesthesiologists
- Oncologists
- Physiatrists
- Nurses
- Physical therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Psychologists/psychiatrists
- Social workers
- Case managers
- Vocational counselors