Pain Management

BMGirl Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:00 am

Pain management involves use of medications or other treatments to help patients reduce or better tolerate pain. It addresses the two major types of pain:

Acute pain. Short-term pain often related to recent disease, inflammation, trauma or surgery.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and inflammation (arthritis).Chronic pain. Long-term and persistent pain. Causes include diseases, degenerative conditions, imbalance of the nervous system and incomplete healing after an injury. Examples include arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus and chronic fatigue syndrome .

Patients who develop significant pain often find that it overwhelms many aspects of their lives. The first step in treating acute and chronic pain is seeking medical care to diagnose the cause of the pain. Though a patient’s primary c

are physician can often diagnose and treat pain, some cases require the help of a physician with expertise in pain. These physicians, known as pain specialists, work with a patient to determine the best course of therapy to alleviate pain.

Treatments include:

Lifestyle improvements such as exercise, diet and weight loss

Medications including analgesics and anti-inflammatories

Therapies such as physical therapy, manipulation therapy, occupational therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy

Modalities such as heat therapy, cold therapy, water therapy, ultrasound therapy and electrical therapy

Injection therapy such as epidural corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks or facet joint injections

Complementary and alternative treatments such as acupuncture and biofeedback

Surgeries such as arthroscopy, arthroplasty, carpal tunnel release or spine surgery

BMGirl Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:09 am

Pain assessment is a process in which pain is evaluated to determine its symptoms, severity and possible causes.

A pain assessment usually consists of two primary parts – questions posed by a physician or other healthcare professional and a physical examination.

During the discussion, a patient may be asked to describe the pain according to its onset date, character, severity, location and factors that improve or worsen the pain. Tools such as a diagram, pain scale or questionnaire may be used to quantify the pain, though pain perception is very subjective and varies from individual to individual.

During a physical exam, the Electrodiagnostics assess muscle function (e.g., electromyography [EMG], nerve conduction study).healthcare professional will visually inspect the area of pain. The examiner may assess joints and muscles for strength and range of motion.

There are numerous diagnostic tests that a physician may order to help identify the cause of pain, including x-rays, electrodiagnostics, MRI or sensory testing.

After a pain assessment, healthcare professionals may make a diagnosis and recommend treatments including lifestyle changes, medications, interventions such as physical therapy or manipulation therapy, modalities such as heat therapy or electrical therapy, or surgery.

Pain Management

Pain Management

Pain Assessment