Symptoms, Exercises, and Treatment To Help Alleviate Pain
In life, particularly if you live an active lifestyle, you’ll experience pain. In many instances, it’s to be expected and doesn’t hamper you in any meaningful way. Sometimes, though, the pain associated with an injury or degenerative condition can be nagging or chronic. When should you see a pain management specialist for treatment discomfort? What are the specific symptoms of the type of pain that warrants an appointment with a pain doctor?
Is It Time To Schedule a Visit With a Pain Management Specialist?
Pain management specialists categorize pain as either acute or chronic. Acute pain is short-term and commonly associated with a specific injury, whereas chronic pain lasts for more than three months and either has no clear cause or doesn’t get better on its own.
While most pain management specialists work primarily with patients who have chronic pain, a pain management doctor can help you with acute pain if it’s severe, doesn’t respond to common treatments (such as rest, ice, compression, elevation, and OTC pain medications), and significantly affects your daily life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about one in every four adults across the United States report experiencing chronic pain every year, most often in the hip, back, or foot. The signs that you need a pain management specialist to treat your condition include:
- Pain that has increased over time
- Pain that has not improved over a three-month period
- Pain that has you taking regular medication for relief
- Pain that keeps you from sleeping, working, or engaging in other routine activities
- Pain that is not attributed to a specific cause
Exercises That Can Alleviate Chronic Pain
Studies conclude that a moderate level of exercise can help reduce chronic pain by reducing inflammation, enhancing circulation, reducing endorphins (which can improve your mood), blocking pain receptors, and lubricating your joints. You should start gently and work closely with a health professional, such as a physical therapist. Pain can be reduced through a range of exercises, including:
- Low-impact aerobics, such as walking, bicycling, or swimming
- Strength training, including resistance band work and light weight training
- Range of motion exercises, such as tai chi, yoga, and Pilates
Contact Core Medical Center Today for Experienced Pain Management Care
At Core Medical Center, with offices in Blue Springs, Missouri, we have helped patients manage and minimize acute and chronic pain for decades. We have the tools and resources to accurately assess your condition and either prescribe a regimen of treatment or refer you to a specialist, such as a neurologist, physiatrist, or physical therapist. Contact us online or call our offices at (819) 229-1941 to schedule an appointment.
