Chronic pain can affect your quality of life and lead to other conditions, including anxiety, depression, weight gain, and high blood pressure. Your pain specialist can help. Dr. Stacie Oliver at Alturas Pain & Spine Specialists in St. George, UT, provides a wide range of medical services, including treatment and management of chronic pain.
What You Need To Know About Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is pain that will not resolve. It’s a pain you need to manage. You can develop chronic pain due to a medical condition like arthritis, degenerative joint disease, TMJ, or neuropathy. Chronic pain can also happen due to an accident or injury.
If you are suffering from mild chronic pain, you may be able to get relief by practicing a few simple tips, such as:
- Applying ice or heat to the painful area
- Gently stretching to relax muscles
- Taking over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medication
You should seek out the help of a pain specialist if your pain is:
- Not responding to home therapies
- Keeping you from getting adequate sleep
- Limiting your ability to stay mobile
- Affecting your quality of life
If you are suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain, you do have treatment options, and a pain specialist can discuss those options with you. Your pain specialist may recommend:
- Medications to reduce pain and inflammation, including corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory medications
- Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS) to relieve muscle tension and decrease pain
- Injection therapy to limit swelling or block nerves and reduce the pain sensation
- An implantable device to deliver medication consistently to keep pain under control
Want To Know More About Chronic Pain?
You don’t have to let chronic pain take over your life. To learn more about chronic pain’s causes, treatment, and management, call Dr. Oliver at Alturas Pain & Spine Specialists in St. George, UT. You can reach her in the office by calling (435) 222-5527, so call today.
