Causes of Chronic Pain

It’s estimated that more than 20% of Americans live with chronic pain, and many of those who suffer with it have such severe pain that they can’t perform normal daily activities. Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent reasons that adults seek medical care, and it’s also a significant contributing cause to the opioid epidemic. 

Sachida Manocha, MD, of Interventional Pain Center in Worthington and Newark, Ohio, has years of experience helping patients with chronic pain conditions. If you have chronic pain, the first step to treating it is understanding the root cause of it. In Dr. Manocha’s experience, some of the most common causes of chronic pain include the following:

Arthritis

Arthritis is an umbrella term for a group of diseases that cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints. More than 54 million Americans have some form of arthritis. The most common types of this disease are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and gout. 

Back pain

Many conditions can cause back pain, such as strained muscles, herniated discs, and osteoporosis. Identifying the root cause of back pain is critical to providing an effective pain management plan. We offer extensive diagnostic testing that can identify the source of your back pain.

Migraines

An estimated 39 million Americans experience migraines. Migraines are neurological attacks that cause severe and debilitating headaches and other symptoms, such as nausea, visual abnormalities, and sensitivity to light, sound, and odors. Migraines are a common cause of missed work and social opportunities.

Neuropathy

Neuropathy is the clinical term for the pain, numbness, and weakness that is caused by nerve damage. It typically affects the extremities, such as your hands or feet. If left untreated, symptoms can spread through your arms and legs. 

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that often manifests as widespread pain throughout the body. Its cause isn’t fully understood, but experts think the condition may develop, in part, due to nerves sending errant pain signals to the brain. 

What to do if you have chronic pain

You should never ignore pain or assume it’s just something you have to live with as you age. Pain can severely impact your quality of life and lead to depression, addiction, and other problems.

If you have pain that persists for more than a few days, disrupts your quality of life, or disrupts your ability to complete typical day-to-day responsibilities, make an appointment with Interventional Pain Center right away.

We’ll begin with a thorough consultation and physical exam, and we’ll perform any testing necessary to identify the cause of your pain. Once we understand your condition and needs, we’ll create a customized treatment plan to reduce your pain and restore your quality of life.

Depending on your case, we can provide a number of treatment options, such as medication, physical therapy, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal pain pumps.

If you suffer from chronic pain, we can help give you relief. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Interventional Pain Center today.