Many patients at our Easley, SC pain center need help with various conditions causing chronic pain. They have tried various over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. After a time, these pills stop having the same effects, and people are afraid of increasing the dosage or becoming addicted to these drugs.
However, living with pain every day is exhausting and has a major negative impact on the quality of life. This is why we are here to help you manage chronic pain in a safe and effective manner. Contact us to set up an initial evaluation appointment.
Common Conditions Causing Chronic Pain
The onset of this type of pain is not always easy to pinpoint. The reason for this is that chronic pain can have a wide range of causes. The most common are:
1. Improperly Healed Injuries
Injuries caused by sudden trauma, such as a car accident or a slip and fall, may not heal properly all the time. This may lead to constant pressure on a nerve, causing it to send pain signals to the brain constantly.
2. Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in the muscles and bones without any obvious cause. Other symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Memory problems
- Mood changes.
So far, researchers have not found a clear cause of fibromyalgia. It is believed that the condition is triggered by various stressors that affect the way in which the brain and spinal cord process painful and non-painful signals.
What is known is that the first episode of fibromyalgia occurs after a significant event, such as:
- Major surgery
- Infection
- Physical trauma
- Significant psychological stress.
3. Trigeminal Neuralgia
On a 0 to 10 pain scale, trigeminal neuralgia has an average value of 7. It is one of the most debilitating types of chronic pain, caused by a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve. This is the largest cranial nerve, branching out to reach the eyes, nose, and jaws.
This condition often occurs spontaneously. However, some patients start experiencing trigeminal neuralgia after dental procedures or trauma to the face. It is often mistaken for very severe toothache, so people perform various dental examinations and treatments before being correctly diagnosed.
4. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chronic pain in the hand and wrist may appear as not very significant, but it can be very debilitating. It is usually caused by inflammation of the carpal tunnel nerve, which runs through the middle of the wrist and branches out to all fingers.
In the most severe form, patients are unable to perform the most basic actions with the affected hand, such as lifting a cup of coffee.
Effective Treatments for Chronic Pain
The doctors at our Easley, SC pain center will create a personalized treatment plan for each patient. We start with diagnostic tests to pinpoint the cause of your chronic pain. Depending on the findings, we may recommend the following options.
Medication Management
In some cases, the right combination of drugs in precise dosage is enough to keep pain under control and improve your quality of life. You will be constantly monitored by our doctors until we find the ideal types of drugs.
Over time, you may have to come for check-ups to see how you continue responding to the treatment, allowing your doctor to make necessary adjustments.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve block injections can provide relief from pain for up to several weeks. These injections contain a local anesthetic that blocks the pain signals sent by the nerves. Used in combination with an anti-inflammatory injection, it may heal damaged nerves, thus eliminating the cause of pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
This therapy is generally used for chronic pain in the neck, lower back, and sacroiliac joints. It involves applying radiofrequency waves to specific nerves to stop their pain signals to the brain.
Spinal Cord Stimulator
In cases of conditions causing chronic pain and with no known cure (such as fibromyalgia), we may recommend a long-term solution. The spinal cord stimulator is implanted under the skin and connected to sensors placed on or near nerves.
The stimulator sends impulses that constantly block pain signals. Before performing the implant, the doctor will work with the patient to determine the ideal level of these impulses.
Find Relief from Chronic Pain at Our Easley, SC Pain Center!
Living with chronic pain can be extremely debilitating. In some cases, the root cause cannot be resolved. However, the doctors at our Easley, SC pain center can help you find relief from the pain and go back to your normal life.
Do not live in pain anymore! Call us at 864-513-8950 to schedule an initial appointment!
