Chronic Pain

More than one-fifth of adults have chronic pain in the United States today. Pain Medicine of the South helps patients find the reasons for their pain and offers a range of treatments for efficient pain relief in their convenient Knoxville, Tennessee, office. To get help from compassionate pain specialists, call the office or use the online scheduling feature to make an appointment now. 

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is a condition that continues longer than expected. Generally, pain that extends for more than a month or two may qualify as chronic pain. In contrast, acute pain is short-term, resolving fairly quickly following an injury, surgery, or another pain-causing event. 

What are the different types of chronic pain?

Chronic pain can occur for many different reasons, but the two main categories are musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. 

Musculoskeletal pain

Musculoskeletal pain involves muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, cartilage, and the discs in your spine. This type of pain actually serves a purpose: it’s a warning sign that you need to take steps to protect yourself and start the healing process. 

Musculoskeletal pain can occur because of injury, such as a fall or sports injury, or age-related changes in your spine, such as spinal stenosis or arthritis. 

Neuropathic pain

Instead of a warning sign that you’re hurt, neuropathic pain is a sign of nervous system dysfunction. This type of pain can occur when nerve fibers send pain signals even without a stimulus, when sensory signals are misread as pain, or when the parts of your nervous system that manage pain don’t work well.  

Some common examples of neuropathic pain syndromes include chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and peripheral neuropathy. 

Whether you have musculoskeletal or neuropathic pain, long-lasting pain can be debilitating if you don’t get help.

How is chronic pain treated?

The Pain Medicine of the South team takes chronic pain seriously. They understand what you’re going through and offer solutions that give you true relief. Some common treatment options include:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Nerve blocks
• Precision medicine (amniotic membrane injections)
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Kyphoplasty

Your specific treatment plan depends on your particular condition, medical history, past treatments, and other individual factors. The team explains all your options and helps you find a treatment that provides lasting relief. 

In most cases, minimally invasive procedures are effective for chronic pain when combined with lifestyle changes. But in rare cases when patients don’t get adequate long-lasting pain relief with pain management or interventional pain treatments, the team may recommend a more complex procedure, such as joint replacement for late-stage osteoarthritis. 

If you have chronic pain and need a new approach, you can trust Pain Medicine of the South for unwavering support and expert care. Book your appointment online or call the office today.