Chronic Pain Management Philadelphia

As a go-getter, one of the things that can frustrate you the most is pain and not being able to function as you are used to. In some severe cases, it may make it impossible for a patient to barely get up. Such situations can throw a wrench into the fast-paced lifestyle you are used to, and that is why pain management in Philadelphia, PA, is important.

According to the center for disease control and Prevention, more than 10% of American adults aged above 20 used painkillers between 2015-2018. This a high number of patients depending on prescription medicine to treat pain. But before we delve deeper into pain management in Philadelphia, PA, let’s explain the following:

Pain is a blanket term used to refer to all uncomfortable sensations that one may feel in various parts of their body. It results from the activation of the nervous system by a number of things, e.g., injury, or sickness. The level of pain one experiences can range from slightly annoying to extremely excruciating. It can be consistent or appear and disappear frequently. It is important to note that pain can be subjective, with some people having a high tolerance to it, while others have a low tolerance. However, with the help of physicians and proper care, it is quite manageable.

Pain management is a branch of medicine that integrates various approaches to ease the suffering and improve the quality of life for those suffering from the various types of pain. Over the years, new pain management methods, which have yielded better results, have been introduced. For any pain management needs you may have, it is best to work with reliable and trustworthy doctors from the Philadelphia area.

There are many different types of pain, and they can be grouped into eight broad categories. The care that one receives depends on where the agony is being felt. The categories include:

Acute pain

It occurs suddenly and is often short-term with a specific cause. In most patients, acute pain tends to start intense and then improve gradually. It is often caused by factors such as broken bones, surgery, and cuts.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain lasts for more than six months, even after the cause has been healed. Without proper pain management in PA, chronic pain can greatly affect your quality of life. In most cases, patients experiencing chronic may fall into depression if the condition is not managed well.

Breakthrough pain

Breakthrough pain refers to the pain that comes suddenly, especially when someone is getting care for chronic pain. It can also be caused by excessive dry coughing. Though common, it can be easily managed using painkillers.

Bone pain

Bone pain is not common, but it often occurs when cancer affects a bone. It can either result from primary bone cancer or secondary bone cancer. This form of pain is often dull and persistent and rarely goes away.

Nerve pain

Also referred to as neuropathic pain, it occurs when there is damage to the nerve. It is characterized by a tingling sensation in the affected area.

Phantom pain

It is felt in the brain after one loses a part of their body. Amputation of one’s limb and mastectomy are the common causes of phantom pain. If you undergo any medical procedures and begin to experience phantom pain, contact your doctor for proper care.

Soft tissue pain

It is felt when there is damage or injury to the muscles, tissues, or organs in our bodies. For example, when you accidentally cut your finger when chopping something.

Referred pain

This is where the pain originating from an organ is felt on a completely different part of a patient’s body.

For example, when one suffers from liver failure and the pain is felt in the back. Pain management is a field that’s constantly changing. Over time and through the advancements in technology, the approach to pain management has greatly changed.

Doctors are now shunning away from opiate drugs because of their side effects and addiction issues. This is why Ketamine, a drug exclusively used during surgery, is now being accepted as a solution for common types of pain management in Philadelphia.

Ketamine has been used for decades on patients during surgical procedures. However, there has been significant interest in how this medicine can be used in various fields, including pain management. It is now administered in low doses to patients suffering from the various types of pain, and the results are encouraging.

Ketamine has three properties that make it potent in productive for pain management; sedative, analgesic, and amnesic effects. Ketamine treatment can combat pain by acting against the NMDA receptors in the nervous system.

Ketamine therapy has proven to be one of the most effective methods for chronic pain management in Philadelphia, PA. If you are interested in trying Ketamine for your depression, contact us now and we will be glad to schedule a consultation for you.