Pain is one of the common symptoms that approximately everyone has experienced at some point in their life. It is also the main reason people seek medical help for relief because pain makes them very uncomfortable and unable to focus or concentrate on activities of daily living. However, pain is usually misunderstood and treated inappropriately in most cases because everyone perceives pain differently. Therefore, if you are experiencing chronic or acute pain and looking for effective ways to alleviate pain, McNulty Spine pain management specialists are here to your rescue. They classify pain and select the best pain management method for you. Below is all you need to know concerning pain management.
What are the types of pain?
Generally, pain is a term used to describe any uncomfortable or unpleasant sensation in the body. There are different types of pain. They include:
- Chronic pain
Chronic pain refers to pain that has lasted for more than six months, and you experience it more often. In most cases, chronic pain starts as acute pain and may persist even after you have recovered from an injury. It can either be mild or severe and associated with conditions like diabetes, headache, arthritis, cancer, circulation problems, fibromyalgia, or back pain. Chronic pain may lead to social isolation or depression because it prevents you from participating in your daily chores and interacting with people.
- Acute pain
Acute pain refers to pain that has a sudden onset and lasts for a short time. It is caused by an injury including a fall, surgery, broken bone, dental work, car accident, burns, cuts, or childbirth.
- Bone pain
It is commonly associated with disease or conditions that alter the structure and function of the bone, including a fracture, cancer, mineral deficiency, infection, or leukemia.
- Nerve pain
Nerve pain is usually due to damaged or inflamed nerves. It presents as shooting, sharp, stabbing, or burning pain, referred to as neuropathic pain. Nerve pain is due to multiple sclerosis, alcoholism, stroke, diabetes, brain injury, limb amputation, or cancer.
- Soft tissue pain
It refers to pain resulting from inflamed or damaged tissues, muscles, or ligaments.
- Phantom pain
Phantom pain is pain that comes from a part of your body that no longer exists. It is very common in people who have had a leg amputated.
- Referred pain
Referred pain refers to pain that is felt from a particular part of your body but is due to inflammation or injury of another organ or structure. For instance, pain is usually felt in the left shoulder, neck, and down to the right arm during a heart attack.
How can you manage pain?
There are various pain medications used to alleviate pain. The most commonly used medications are opioids. The type of opioid you can be given depends on the type and level of pain. Other medications like NSAIDs help reduce inflammation. There are also some non-pharmacological methods like counseling and cold or ice compressions that help alleviate pain.
Pain can affect your quality of health and well-being because it denies you the ability to enjoy what is happening in your environment. Therefore, if you are having pain and seeking treatment, you can start by calling or booking your appointment at McNulty Spine today.
Johnson