Chronic pain can be devastating for some people. To understand the source of your pain and ways to deal with it can be extremely beneficial. The physicians at The Chicago Personal Injury Centers specialize in treating pain and pain management. Pain diagnosed as incurable by other physicians may be correctable by some of our means. We will teach you about the source of your pain, any remedies, and ways to live with any residual pain.
What is Long-Term Pain?
Long-term pain is chronic pain that persists for extended periods and can be difficult to resolve. Long-term pain will wear you down. It gets to you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Many patients with long-term pain become depressed, addicted to pain medication, or suicidal. These poor sufferers need proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible to avoid irreversible consequences. At Chicago Personal Injury Centers, all our physicians are Board-Certified in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain. The other team members are also licensed and certified in their respective areas. We are specialists in pain resolution.
What Causes Chronic Pain?
Nerve Damage is usually the cause of chronic pain. This can occur due to illness, but injury is the more common reason. When bones are broken, or a cut is severe, nerves are damaged too. If the cut is through a large nerve, it may need surgery. The nerves do not always heal properly by themselves. Your surgeon will attempt to repair them, but they may not return to full function. A broken vertebra or severe back injury can cause several nerve injuries. These nerves run directly from your spinal cord to the various parts of your body, resulting in pain or numbness. Some common causes are:
Arthritis
Different types of arthritis may cause degeneration of the bones, joints, and ligaments. When this happens, nerves become trapped or pinched.
Surgery may be necessary on the bones, but the nerves can be damaged.
Degenerative Diseases, Chronic Conditions, Fibromyalgia
Chronic Immune Disorders can cause unspecified pain in multiple locations. It is a result of inflammation in the body affecting different parts of the body.
Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Herniated Disc, Peripheral Neuropathy, Spinal Cord Injury
Any injuries to the back or diseases of the spine can cause debilitating pain in connected places.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve runs down the back of the leg from the waist. Sciatica can be very painful when irritated by a medical condition or injury.
Failed Neck & Back Surgery
Any previous unsuccessful back and neck surgery could result in recurrent nerve pain.
Whiplash
Whiplash, which is the quick jerking of the neck, in a car accident can cause nerve damage that is repairable with the proper plan.
Cancer
Depending on the location, a cancerous tumor or the removal of the growth may cause damage to the surrounding tissue.
How Do The Chicago Personal Injury Centers Diagnose Long-Term Pain?
When you come for your initial evaluation, you will meet with a physician and some of our other professionals. We listen closely to the problems you are experiencing; where your pain is, how long it has been present, and the injury or illness you think it came from. Then we review the tests that have been done previously, and the previous diagnoses that you have been given. Your physician will order any additional tests he feels are needed. We have X-ray, CT, MRI, and many other types of testing equipment on site. We usually perform the tests on you the same day and then get the results. You will meet with the physician again to establish your treatment plan.
How do You Treat Long-Term Pain?
Once your physician has reviewed all the information he ordered, he coordinates with his team to create your individual treatment plan. Your plan will be customized based on:
- Type of Pain – Stabbing, Cramping, Numbing
- Level of Pain – 1-10
- Consistency of Pain – Constant, Daily, Varied …
- Location of Pain – Body part
- Suspected Cause – Accident, injury …
- Test Results
With these questions answered, we will design the plan using the following types of treatments:
Chiropractic
Some pain comes from alignment problems of the body as a result of injury or overuse. Our chiropractors have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating these problems.
Massage Therapy
Our trained, experienced Massage Therapists use a hands-on approach to massage therapy designed to help relieve stress, lessen pain, and decrease muscle tension. They use techniques approved for fibromyalgia and immune function treatment.
Physical Therapy
Our Certified Physical Therapists provide a wide variety of diverse treatment options. They specialize in neuromuscular re-education, therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and a variety of other modalities. Their goal is to get you back to your pre-accident or pre-injury condition.
Medications and Injections.
Medications play an important part in pain management and injury recovery. We prescribe pain medications, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and other medications that aid in recovery. We also use injection therapies and pain blocks when needed.
Surgery
We perform non-invasive surgeries and some minimally invasive surgeries. If you need a surgical procedure that we do not perform, we will refer you to a surgeon. We have excellent relationships with top-rated surgeons. Our goal is to find relief for your long-term pain. We are glad to call a surgeon in to help with that goal.
Contact Chicago Personal Injury Centers for Expert Pain Management
If you are experiencing long-term pain, contact the Chicago Personal Injury Center or call us at (773) 482-5800. Our expert team can help get you some relief and get you back to living without pain.
