Orthopedic Specialists Help Patients Reclaim Their Quality Of Life
Chronic pain makes common tasks an agonizing chore, whether it’s ascending stairs or taking your dog for its morning walk. Unfortunately, living with chronic pain is more common than most people realize. According to the U.S. Pain Foundation, approximately one in five U.S. adults experience pain lasting more than three months.
Although chronic pain is a common problem, there are numerous avenues of advanced orthopedic treatment that can manage it. After exploring what chronic pain is, its various causes, and how it affects daily living, we’ll discuss a few advanced pain management methods that orthopedic specialists use.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is generally defined as any pain that lasts for 12 weeks or longer, even after the initial injury or underlying cause has been treated. Unlike acute pain, which is intense but brief, chronic pain persists and sometimes has no clear cause. It can be continuous or intermittent, ranging from mild to severe, and can affect any part of the body.
Causes of chronic pain include:
- Arthritis: Inflammation of the joints that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling.
- Back problems: Issues such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease.
- Neuropathic pain: Damage to the nerves, often seen in conditions like diabetes or after surgeries.
- Fibromyalgia: A condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and joint tenderness.
- Injuries: Past injuries that have healed improperly or led to chronic conditions.
- Medical conditions: Chronic illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, or irritable bowel syndrome.
The vague nature of chronic pain can make it especially difficult to identify and treat, which is why it’s important to work with an orthopedic specialist who’s experienced in advanced pain management. Modern orthopedic methods that use evidence-based practices can help manage pain and restore quality of life by:
- Reducing physical limitations
- Improving quality of sleep
- Managing pain-related emotional stressors
- Improving work productivity and ability to participate in social activities
How Personalized Advanced Orthopedic Treatments Address Chronic Pain
Personalized advanced orthopedic treatments focus on the specific needs of individuals suffering from chronic pain. By tailoring treatments to the unique condition and lifestyle of each patient, orthopedic specialists and physical therapists can significantly improve how patients feel and function.
Comprehensive Assessment
The first step in personalized treatment is a comprehensive assessment. Orthopedic specialists conduct detailed evaluations, including a full review of medical history, physical examinations, and diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRI scans, or CT scans. This helps identify the underlying causes of pain that inform a tailored treatment plan.
Advanced Pain Management Techniques
Depending on the patient’s diagnosis, orthopedic specialists can offer multiple pain management options.
- Medication: Depending on the cause and severity of the pain, doctors may prescribe medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, or pain relievers.
- Injections: Corticosteroid injections can help reduce inflammation and pain in specific areas, such as joints or the spine. Nerve block injections target a specific nerve or group of nerves, such as for patients who have fibromyalgia pain.
- Physical therapy: Although physical therapy and rehabilitation are typically used for surgery recovery, it’s also a highly effective and holistic method of reducing chronic pain. By strengthening the muscles, improving flexibility, and enhancing mobility, many patients notice a significant decrease in their pain levels.
- Lifestyle modifications: Excess weight puts additional strain on bones and joints, potentially resulting in chronic knee or ankle pain. Encouraging patients to adopt a healthier lifestyle, including weight management, proper nutrition, and regular physical activity, can help reduce chronic pain, restore hormonal balance, and improve overall health.
- Regenerative medicine: Orthobiologic treatments, more commonly known as regenerative medicine, use the patient’s own biological substances to promote faster healing. Treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can help repair damaged muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as reduce pain.
- Minimally invasive surgery: For conditions that require surgical intervention, arthroscopic surgery offers benefits such as smaller incisions, less pain, faster recovery, and reduced risk of complications.
- Joint replacement: In severe cases of arthritis or joint damage, joint replacement surgery can provide permanent pain relief and restore function. However, the recovery timeline is much longer when compared to minimally invasive surgery. When consulting with an orthopedic surgeon near you, it’s important to fully understand the pros and cons of your surgery options so that you can make an informed decision.
How to Explore Your Advanced Orthopedic Treatment Options
Chronic pain is a complex and challenging condition that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. Fortunately, there are several advanced orthopedic options patients can explore. If you’re finally ready to reclaim a pain-free life, you can start by scheduling an appointment with an orthopedic specialist at Mid-America Orthopedics.
Leveraging decades of combined experience, our physicians employ a combination of advanced pain management techniques and personalized orthopedic treatments.
Schedule your appointment today by calling (316) 630-9300.