What to Expect When Seeing a Pain Management Physician?

Most types of pain are short-term (acute) and mild, not lasting longer than a few days and causing minimal discomfort. However, in some cases, pain can be serious, and should receive immediate medical attention; signs of serious pain include:

• Persistent fevers
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blood in the stool or urine
• Progressive numbness or weakness in the legs
• Inability to urinate or pass stool
• Loss of bowel/bladder control
• Pain at night
• Sexual dysfunction
• Balance problems
• Pain not alleviated/worsened by different positions
• Recent IV drug use
• Progressive worsening of pain despite relative rest
• Recent trauma

At the first visit, patients undergo an evaluative process that typically involves:

• A physical exam
• Interview about medical history
• Pain assessment
• Diagnostic or imaging tests

A good multidisciplinary clinic will pay equal attention to all of the patient’s history and needs, including medical, psychiatric, social, emotional, familial, and psychological; that is the only way to assess patients thoroughly.

The different types of pain management directly correlate to the type of pain that is being addressed, such as acute or chronic pain.

Acute Pain: Acute pain is a type of pain that occurs when the tissues in the body are exposed to a stimulus, such as an injury, inflammation, or infection. Acute pain is often the body’s way of protecting itself, alerting us that something is wrong. Acute pain can vary in intensity and often has a specific cause and a finite duration.

Chronic Pain: Chronic pain is pain that persists or continues for a long period, typically longer than six months; it has a variety of causes, such as arthritis, traumatic injury, and nerve damage. Chronic pain is often very painful and can affect a person’s ability to work, sleep, and enjoy activities with friends and family.

Neuropathic Pain: Neuropathic pain is a type of pain caused by damage to the nervous system, usually as the result of an illness or injury. It is different from nociceptive pain, which occurs when there is tissue damage. Neuropathic pain is often described as a “pins and needles” type of pain (medically known as paresthesia), but can also be very sharp or burning.

Nociceptive Pain: Nociceptive pain is the most basic type of pain and is caused by tissue being damaged or altered by internal or external stimuli, such as an injury, toxin, or temperature change. Nociceptive pain serves an important protective function, signaling the body to avoid stimuli that cause further damage. Nociceptive pain can be either acute or chronic, depending on the cause and the body’s ability to respond to it.

Radicular Pain: Radicular pain is the sensation of pain that radiates down the lower extremities when the nerve root is affected; it can be caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or a pinched nerve. Radicular pain can range in intensity from a dull ache to severe pain that radiates down the legs or into the arms. Some people with radicular pain experience burning, tingling, or electric shock sensations in their lower extremities.

Pain can be difficult to deal with, but the pain management specialists at Northstar Joint and Spine are here to help. Contact us today to book an appointment with one of our pain management specialists. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Plano TX, McKinney TX, Richardson TX, Frisco TX, Allen TX, Addison TX, Carrollton TX, and BEYOND!