What is Pain Management?
Pain management refers to a branch of medicine focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating pain, which can be acute or chronic. Acute pain is typically the result of an injury or medical procedure, while chronic pain lasts for an extended period, often longer than three months.
Pain management experts work with patients to alleviate pain through various methods, including medication, therapy, alternative therapies, and lifestyle changes.
The goal of pain management is to help patients reduce or eliminate pain, improve their physical function, and enhance their well-being. This may involve a multidisciplinary approach that addresses the physical aspects of pain and the emotional, psychological, and social factors that can contribute to it.
Effective pain management can help patients regain their ability to perform daily activities, return to work, and participate in social and recreational activities. It can also reduce the risk of developing other medical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, which often accompany chronic pain.
How Common is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is a significant health problem in India, affecting millions. Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability and profoundly impacts an individual’s physical and emotional well-being.
The burden of chronic pain extends beyond the individual suffering from it, as it also affects family, caregivers, and the healthcare system as a whole.
According to the research that screened 4,326 Indian patients and obtained detailed pain-related questionnaires from 836 of them, the prevalence of chronic pain (CP) in India was 19.3%. The study also revealed a higher prevalence of CP in females, with a rate of 25.2%. Moreover, the prevalence of CP increased significantly after the age of 65.
The study highlighted that chronic pain significantly impacts the ability to work and perform daily functions. Also, these findings point out the significance of early intervention and effective pain management strategies to enhance the well-being of those who endure persistent pain.
Do I Have Chronic Pain?
If you are experiencing chronic, severe, or frequent pain, or if you’re wondering why my doctor is sending me to pain management, here is the checklist to help identify your pain and when and where to seek medical help:
- Duration: Is your pain lasting longer than expected? Chronic pain lasts over 12 weeks and may indicate a chronic condition requiring medical attention.
- Severity: Is your pain severe and limiting your ability to perform daily activities? Severe pain can be a sign of an acute injury or a chronic condition that requires treatment from a pain management specialist.
- Location: Where exactly do you feel the pain? Pain in certain areas, such as the chest or abdomen, may indicate a medical emergency and require immediate attention.
- Type of Pain: What type of pain are you experiencing? Is it a dull ache or a sharp, stabbing pain? Different types of pain can indicate different conditions and may require different pain management techniques.
- Frequency: How often are you experiencing pain? Frequent pain may indicate a chronic condition that requires ongoing pain management.
- Triggers: What triggers your pain? Certain activities, movements, or environments may exacerbate your pain and require pain management techniques to avoid or minimise these triggers.
Types of Pain Management Options
Pain management does not have a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach since the type and severity of pain can vary significantly from person to person. Here are some of the most commonly used methods for managing pain:
Integrated approach by Nivaan:
In chronic pain management, an integrated approach can be highly helpful because pain is often a complex condition with multiple underlying causes.
Pain specialists: These medical experts specialise in diagnosing and treating pain conditions. They work with multidisciplinary teams, including physios, counsellors, and other medical specialists, to provide individualised pain management and treatment solutions.
The Nivaan Care Team includes physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists, and care managers who work together to create a comprehensive and personalised treatment plan for each patient. This approach has been clinically proven to be 9.3 times more effective than other pain treatments in the country.
With this integrated approach, Nivaan Care aims to ease pain and accelerate the patients’ journeys toward a pain-free life.
If you are suffering from chronic pain conditions, and looking for pain relief, call us today at +91 7005 7005
Physical Therapies:
Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) is a medical specialty that utilises exercises to reduce inflammation and pain and improve physical function. This therapy can also include heat or cold packs, massage, hydrotherapy, and exercise. These treatments can help improve circulation and strengthen muscles. This form of pain management is often used for neuropathic pain treatment.
Psychological Therapies:
Mindset counsellors can help alleviate pain by addressing the emotional and psychological factors that can contribute to it. Cognitive-behavioural therapy, relaxation methods, and meditation are all effective psychological therapies for pain management. These treatments can help patients cope with pain, reduce stress, and improve their mental health.
Hands-On Treatments:
Hands-on treatments, such as acupuncture, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), and chiropractic adjustments, can significantly relieve pain. These treatments work by manipulating the body’s soft tissues and joints, which can help reduce inflammation and improve circulation.
Counselling and Therapy:
Counselling and therapy can effectively handle chronic pain. These therapies can aid patients in coping with pain, lessen stress, and enhance their general well-being. Programs for pain management can also assist people in understanding their illness and how to manage it properly.
Medications to Relieve Pain:
Several types of medications can be used to relieve pain, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and antidepressants. NSAIDs effectively treat acute pain and reduce inflammation, while opioids treat moderate to severe pain, especially chronic musculoskeletal pain. Antidepressants can effectively treat chronic pain, as they can help alleviate pain by reducing depression and anxiety.
Nutrition:
A healthy diet can also be crucial in pain management. A balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can help reduce inflammation and improve overall health. Certain foods also have pain-relieving properties and can act as pain medicines.
For example, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fatty fish like salmon, walnuts, chia seeds, mustard greens, and seeds, can help reduce inflammation and treat chronic pain. Therefore, by combining proper nutrition with other non-surgical pain management, patients can often see improvements in their pain levels and overall health.
Holistic Approaches to Pain Management
Non-Pharmacological Pain Management
Non-pharmacological methods can effectively provide adequate pain relief while minimising the risk of side effects associated with medication. These interventions include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).
Physical therapy involves stretches and exercises to increase mobility, flexibility, and strength. This lessens discomfort from musculoskeletal problems like back pain or arthritis.
Occupational therapy helps individuals perform activities of daily living with less pain and more ease.
CBT is a form of talk therapy that can help individuals manage pain by teaching them coping skills, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness practices to improve their quality of life and reduce pain.
Non-Surgical Pain Management
Non-surgical interventions can also help treat chronic pain without surgery. These include acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and other non-invasive methods.
Integrated approaches to pain therapeutics have a dedicated team of specialists, doctors, counsellors, physiotherapists, and nutritionists, working together to make your life pain-free. This dedicated team of professionals works together to provide non-surgical treatment solutions to those who are in chronic pain.
This integrated approach to pain medication includes the following:
Acupuncture involves stimulating the nervous system by inserting tiny needles into particular bodily parts at specific pots to promote healing and reduce chronic pain, especially for conditions such as back pain and osteoarthritis.
Chiropractic care manipulates the spine and other joints to improve mobility and reduce pain for individuals experiencing musculoskeletal conditions.
Massage therapy involves exerting pressure on the body’s soft tissues to promote relaxation, reduce muscle tension, and relieve pain.
Ultimately, non-pharmacological and non-surgical interventions can help reduce pain and improve everyday life for individuals experiencing chronic pain. By exploring these techniques with the help of a healthcare provider, individuals may find effective pain relief without relying on medication or surgery.
Additionally, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can help reduce pain and promote muscle relaxation for individuals experiencing chronic pain.
Mind-Body Pain Management
Mind-body pain management solutions are a non-medicine intervention that can help manage chronic pain. It mainly focuses on the connection between the mind and the body and how emotional and mental factors can affect physical pain.
These techniques include various forms of relaxation, meditation, and visualisation and aim to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
One of the main goals of mind-body techniques is to help individuals manage their pain holistically, which means considering all aspects of their physical, emotional, and mental health. Working with a pain management expert allows individuals to learn and incorporate these techniques into their overall pain management therapeutic plan.
Here are some types of mind-body techniques used in pain management:
Meditation: Meditation entails concentrating on a certain thing, idea, or activity to become cognitively clear and emotionally tranquil. This method can assist in lowering tension and anxiety, which can worsen chronic pain.
Yoga involves a series of physical postures and breathing exercises that can help improve flexibility, strength, and relaxation. This practice is effective in reducing pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions.
Tai chi: Tai chi is a form of exercise that involves slow, gentle movements and deep breathing. This approach can help improve balance and flexibility and reduce stress and anxiety.
Guided imagery involves visualizing positive images and scenarios to promote relaxation and reduce pain. This therapy can be extremely helpful for people suffering from discomfort brought on by anxiety or stress.
Biofeedback: Biofeedback involves using technology to measure and provide feedback on physiological responses, such as heart rate and muscle tension. This technique can help individuals learn to control these responses and reduce pain.
Pain Clinics – Yay or Nay!
Visiting a pain clinic can be a valuable resource for individuals experiencing chronic pain. Chronic pain can be debilitating, affecting one’s quality of life, mental and emotional health, and ability to work or engage in daily activities.
Pain clinics provide a comprehensive approach to pain management, offering a range of treatments and therapies tailored to meet each patient’s unique needs.
Pain clinics typically employ a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals who work collaboratively to address chronic pain’s physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. They offer a variety of treatments and therapies to help manage chronic pain, including medication management, interventional procedures, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and relaxation techniques.
These treatments help patients manage pain, reduce inflammation, improve function and mobility, and promote overall well-being.
Since pain clinics provide a comprehensive approach to managing chronic pain beyond just medication management, they are the best choice for those dealing with chronic pain to help manage and alleviate their pain and promote overall wellness.
Nivaan’s Integrated Approach to Pain Treatment
Nivaan Care’s approach to treating chronic pain disorders is built on a method to provide a pain-free life with minimal surgical intervention.
Its starts with pain specialists who work with you to understand and manage pain and try to treat the root cause of the ailment. They equip you with pain medicine that helps to decrease pain and also work with you in the timely tapering of medications.
Mindset counsellors help you control pain with complementary therapies and progressive muscle relaxation techniques.
The next team member is physical therapists, who get you on the road to recovery with the help of therapeutic exercises designed to treat specific pain, for example, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, etc.
Nivaan Care also understands how food can play an important role in improving the quality of life in chronic pain patients.
Lastly, the Nivaan Care’s team also includes a Care Manager who works with you to provide support through this pain reduction journey.