The 4 Most Common Pain Management Treatments
Jul 25, 2016
With so many treatment options available to patients these days, it can be difficult to find the best treatment method for your situation. In this article, we are going to walk through a few of the most common pain management treatment options for patients suffering from acute and chronic pain alike.
Perhaps the most widely utilized pain relief method across the board is the use of pain medications. These can be over-the-counter NSAIDs that you can buy at your local drug store, as well as prescription opioids, narcotics, and other drugs that require a prescription from a physician. Pills can be extremely effective at relieving pain. However, you have to be careful about addiction and overdose. Opioids in particular are highly addictive and easy to overdose on – which is why these drugs require a prescription. It’s important to work with an experienced pain doctor to make sure you are taking the right medications in the right amounts.
Pain management injections (such as steroid injections and nerve blocks) are another popular form of treatment, particularly for chronic pain patients suffering from nerve disorders. These injections can significantly decrease pain in the affected area. The length of pain relief varies with each patient, and patients with chronic pain typically return for routine injections once the effects of a previous injection have worn off.
A strategic physical therapy routine can greatly improve a patient’s pain – especially after an injury or surgical procedure. The effectiveness of physical therapy is highly dependent on having a skilled rehabilitation specialist – so make sure you get a referral from your pain doctor!
Regenerative medicine injections like PRP therapy and prolotherapy have become more popular in recent years as well. The goal of these injections is to help the body repair tissues, rebuild degenerated areas, and reduce pain.
The skilled pain doctors at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of MN are well versed in these and more pain management procedures. Our physicians have over two decades of experience treating Minnesotans for all types of pain conditions and injuries. Contact our Edina clinic today to set up your appointment with one of our pain specialists, reduce your pain, and take your life back!