Pain – Moderate to Severe

Chronic Pain Treatment Questions and Answers

Houston Medical ER’s skilled and experienced medical doctors and professionals can provide excellent care and treatment options for individuals dealing with chronic pain! Call us today for more information. We have convenient locations to serve you in Houston TX, and Spring TX.

Chronic pain is a widespread epidemic in the United States today, affecting upwards of 100 million Americans. As such, it calls for robust medical care and attention to help individuals overcome chronic pain and lessen its effect on their wellbeing and quality of life. At Houston Medical ER, we can provide that robust medical care to you and answer any questions you have about chronic pain, such as those listed below!

What qualifies as chronic pain?

In general, chronic pain is ongoing and typically lasts longer than six months. However, the standards for what qualifies as chronic pain can vary slightly depending on who you ask, as some draw a line in the sand at three months, while others wait until one year until an official chronic pain diagnosis is made.

With that being said, it is unanimously agreed that chronic pain is ongoing and requires continuous medical care, as well as a strong treatment plan to manage symptoms in healthy and effective ways. While chronic pain is often treated in unhealthy ways through an over-reliance upon pain medications, the most effective chronic pain treatments address the pain with non-addictive solutions and help the individual learn and develop healthy and effective coping strategies for managing the pain.

What Causes Chronic Pain?

The exact cause of chronic pain is not always obvious. However, numerous things can cause chronic pain, either directly or indirectly. Some general and common causes of chronic pain include wear and tear from aging, injuries that do not heal properly, or nerve damage. In some cases, there are more specific causes of chronic pain, such as:

• Abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
• Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
• Cancer
• Congenital conditions
• Fibromyalgia
• Gallbladder disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Sleeping on a low-quality mattress
• Stomach ulcers
• Traumatic injury
• Years of poor posture or improper lifting and carrying techniques

In other cases, chronic pain is more mysterious or caused by a complex web of issues that cannot be easily untangled. Furthermore, chronic pain often continues after the initial injury or condition that caused has been dealt with or healed, which can complicate treatment options.

Who is at risk for chronic pain?

You may be at risk for chronic pain if any of the following applies to you:

• Aged 55 or older
• Family history of certain chronic pain conditions, such as migraines
• Have a labor-intensive occupation
• High levels of stress
• Obesity
• Previous traumatic injuries
• Regular tobacco use

How is chronic pain treated?

Treatment for chronic pain depends on the underlying cause of the pain and several other factors, such as the success or lack thereof from previous treatments or interventions, the severity of the patient’s pain, where the pain is experienced, other conditions that the patient is dealing with, and any medications the patient is taking. In general, chronic pain is treated with a combination of medical interventions, lifestyle changes, and natural remedies to reduce symptoms while helping the patient manage their pain in healthy and effective ways. With that in mind, some available treatments for chronic pain include:

• Epidural steroid injection
• Nerve blocks
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological care with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling, as long-term chronic pain is known to affect the mental health of patients negatively
• Regular diet and exercise
• Stress reduction techniques
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy

For more information about our treatment options or to see us for an appointment, please feel welcome to call us or visit one of our ER clinics in Houston or Springs, Texas, for a walk-in appointment. We serve patients from Houston TX, Spring TX, North Houston TX, The Woodlands TX, Humble TX, Heights TX, Downtown Houston TX, Northwest Houston TX, Northeast Houston TX, Conroe TX, Willis TX, Tomball TX, Cypress TX, and Memorial City TX.