Chronic pain is a condition that is more pervasive than diabetes or heart problems these days. However, it is less likely to be talked about, and most people would rather suffer in silence than admit that they are experiencing constant and persistent physical pain.
Although some people may deny it, experts state pain is an actual medical condition. Chronic pain, in particular, should be a cause for concern since it lasts more than three months and affects millions globally. Different factors may cause chronic pain, so a wide range of treatments should provide patients with much-needed relief.
In the past, accessing the right combination of treatments was a challenge, and doctors often prescribed invasive procedures, such as back surgery, to alleviate pain brought about by spine problems. But with all the new technology available today, anyone experiencing chronic pain no longer has to go under the knife to have a pain-free life. Here are some innovative approaches to chronic pain relief.
Medial Branch Block Injection
These days, a variety of different injections treat pain. One of the most common is Botox injections. Still, according to Oklahoma Interventional Spine & Pain specialists, a pain management doctor may also prescribe a medial branch block injection to treat pain in your lower back or neck.
Low back pain is among the most common chronic pain, with over 600 million people worldwide living with it. Fortunately, a medial branch block, an anesthetic injected near medial nerves connected to a facet joint, can help you experience immediate pain relief.
If you are worried that the treatment might hurt, do not fret. After injection with a local anesthetic to perfectly numb the area, the doctor performs the procedure. Some people may need only one medial branch block injection, while others need as many as three shots per session. Patients report being pain-free for ten months to several years, so this can be an ideal solution if you want to try out a temporary yet effective cure for chronic pain.
Neuromodulation
New developments in chronic pain relief are on the horizon as researchers work on a new way to treat pain that does not respond to medication or other treatments. This procedure, which aims to modulate pain signals from inside the brain, will use neuromodulation so doctors can compare the brain’s signals when a patient is in pain versus when they are not.
After studying a patient’s brain activity, doctors may be able to determine if they can use deep brain stimulation for pain management. DBS may be a treatment for health conditions such as epilepsy, with developing a variation of this procedure to treat chronic pain.
Cognitive Functional Therapy
Those who suffer from chronic pain may find that this condition can get in the way of living a whole and active life since it affects a person’s range of movement and mobility. However, through cognitive function therapy, doctors can combine physical and psychological approaches to reduce chronic pain and help patients move in ways that minimize disability.
CFT may involve training to control posture, teaching proper movement to avoid triggering pain, and even recommending simple lifestyle changes such as changing sleeping patterns and positions and breathing techniques. This type of treatment also helps people make sense of chronic pain so patients can reframe how they think about pain and have more control over it.
Chronic pain is an actual disease that needs a variety of treatments so that people can live a happy and healthy life. Fortunately, innovative procedures are available to give patients relief and help them cope with pain. In the future, we will likely see more treatments so that every one of us can have a pain-free life.
