Nearly one-fifth of Americans have chronic pain, while approximately 7.4% of adults have chronic pain that limits their daily lives. While chronic pain increases in adults over 65, pain can strike at any time, from simple things like sitting at your work desk too long to misjudging a stair as you step down. 

Whatever is causing your pain, Arizona Pain Doctors can help you avoid high surgical costs, improve function, and improve your mental health. Are you interested in learning more?

Luckily, we have put together a complete guide on different types of pain, treatments, and why you should book your next appointment through a qualified pain physician. Keep reading on for more information!

Types of Pain

There are two main types of pain:

• Acute
• Chronic

Acute pain is more apparent. It is an immediate pain following an obvious injury. For example, if you are playing a pick-up basketball game on the weekend and step on someone's foot, you may turn your ankle. 

Some of the ligaments that help support your ankle joint overstretch, you feel pain, and now you have a classic ankle sprain. This is a great example of an acute injury. 

Chronic injuries are more difficult to identify the "cause" portion. You may notice your knee hurts every time you run, but you can't remember injuring it. These are often classified as overuse injuries. 

You may be more familiar with the term tendinitis. While tendinitis does not include every chronic injury, it is an excellent example of a chronic injury type.

Why Is Chronic Pain More Challenging?

Chronic pain management is usually more challenging to treat than acute injuries. In some instances, acute injuries can progress to chronic. If pain lasts longer than three months, experts classify it as chronic. 

Medical studies and experts think this long-lasting discomfort resides in changes in nerve brain cells that process sensory information. Over time, they became hypersensitive to this input. Chronic pain also has more symptoms than acute injuries, including:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Fatigue

It can also affect your work, relationships, and hobbies. 

What Types of Treatment Are Available?

Acute injuries can sometimes heal without expert intervention through the R.I.C.E. protocol, including rest, ice, compression, and elevation. More severe acute injuries (such as an ACL tear) or chronic pain may need the help of pain doctors. 

Pain doctors address the root of the problem and offer research-backed treatments to help you get back on your feet (literally and figuratively speaking). Common pain treatments include:

• Pain medication
• Physical therapy
• Modalities
• Injections
• Acupuncture
• PRP therapy
• Ultrasound
• Surgical procedures
• And more

The main goal is to help you find long-lasting pain relief and return to your hobbies and day-to-day life without hindrance. 

What To Expect From Arizona Pain Doctors

Arizona Pain Doctors offer advanced pain management techniques that treat chronic pain, acute injuries, and more. Here are some of the benefits and expectations for your next visit to an AZ pain center:

• Diagnosis
• Comprehensive care plan
• Finding the root cause
• Educating on pain management techniques at home
• Improving mobility
• Preventing future injuries

Many physicians and clinics often put a band-aid on the problem through pain medication or other gold-standard interventions. While this can temporarily relieve acute pain, Arizona Pain Doctors work with you to find the cause of your pain and develop a plan of care that seeks long-term relief. Some of the most common conditions treated at AZ Pain Doctors are:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Joint pain
• Nerve pain
• Muscle injury

Having a qualified physician who can differentiate between types of pain and the cause will help in your treatment plan.  

When Should You Visit a Pain Doctor?

If you live an active lifestyle, pain can keep you from enjoying hobbies or even hanging out with family and friends. This is the first key sign you should visit a pain specialist. Here are some other signs you should start booking that appointment:

• Pain continues beyond a few weeks
• Movements make the pain worse
• Medications are not helping
• You are looking for alternatives to surgery
• The pain is affecting your sleep
• Your pain starts radiating

Lack of sleep and ongoing pain can negatively affect your health. Poor sleep quality can lead to high blood pressure, irritability, and a weakened immune system. 

Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Pain Relief

Are non-surgical treatments a viable option for you? Surgery is costly and can result in more side effects and pain than you originally anticipated. While some surgeries can help manage pain long-term, a pain specialty clinic helps you lay out your options if you haven't tried conservative treatments yet. 

Studies examined non-surgical options for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study aimed to assess whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, corticosteroids, and other nonsteroidal injections were beneficial in treating pain and improving function. 

Researchers examined multiple studies and found that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and PRP therapy were beneficial and effective at managing pain while improving function long-term. 

What about holistic or natural pain remedies? More patients have started using acupuncture as a form of pain relief. Other studies examined how acupuncture helps manage pain in migraine patients and improve mental health.

They found that acupuncture resulted in fewer medical costs and lower risks of depression and anxiety in long-term migraine patient care. 

Start Your Journey to Pain Relief

Have you wondered if taking the next step and seeing Arizona Pain Doctors will help you gain back your active lifestyle? The answer is yes! 

Pain management starts with a qualified clinic specializing in various pain management strategies, from holistic remedies to injections. Rather than opt for costly surgeries or constant ibuprofen, schedule an appointment today and start seeing the difference. 

You can visit us on our website to fill out a new patient form today!

Did you know there are over 4,600 pain management specialist doctors in the US?

Chronic pain is a debilitating disease that affects millions of aging Americans. Advanced pain management can help with the constant ache and disruption to your daily life.

It's important to find pain doctors who understand when pain is natural compared to when it is not and what to do to treat it in either circumstance.

Are you suffering from debilitating pain and looking for a pain management solution?

In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about pain doctors and the aging process.

Pain In Elderly Populations

Many individuals later in life struggle with frequent or chronic discomfort. Some long-term diseases, such as arthritis or diabetic nerve damage, may cause chronic pain.

It's important to know that when you're in pain, you're not alone.

Everybody will go through that at some point in their lives. But what happens if the discomfort persists?

Managing Pain as You Age

As adults, we are more inclined to accept chronic pain as a regular part of our lives. In fact, we're likely to go to great lengths to get the greatest support and the most effective therapy for our discomfort.

In fact, we're likely to go to great lengths to get the greatest support and the most effective therapy for our discomfort.

Regardless of one's age, one's views and values on pain should not waver as one ages. Even yet, pain in the elderly is a common occurrence, and it's often acknowledged as a part of aging and is even considered normal.

As a result, many elderly individuals suffer from chronic pain that goes undiagnosed and untreated. Older persons within the healthcare system are particularly vulnerable to long-term discomfort.

The prevalence of pain among the elderly is on the rise, and it is a problem that must be addressed immediately.

Because they believe that pain is a natural aspect of aging, older folks may not disclose it as often as they should. Because they don't want to annoy caregivers, they may not speak out. The discomfort they're experiencing may make them believe there's nothing that can be done to alleviate it.

Older folks may be concerned about pharmaceutical side effects or dependence. They may not be aware of the long-term effects of pain. Many activities, both physical and social, might be restricted by pain.

In addition, pain affects a person's ability to focus, eat, sleep, and feel happy. Mental disorientation and problematic behavior, such as violence, may result from uncontrolled pain.

As a result, people with communication difficulties are more likely to under-manage their discomfort.

What To Do About Persistent Pain as You Age

It is possible for many older persons to play an active part in managing their pain. Health care practitioners may benefit greatly from the input of family members when it comes to assessing and treating pain.

A wide range of pain treatment options should be considered for older persons. Usually, the best way to manage long-term pain is to use a mix of medication and non-pharmacological methods. A pain management doctor can lead this effort.

What Is A Pain Management Doctor?

Pain specialists focus on the treatment of pain as a result of illness, disorder, or trauma. Many of these clinicians are anesthesiologists or physiatrists. They do a fellowship in pain medicine including interventional pain.

A patient's primary care physician or another treating doctor, as well as experts in several medical fields like psychiatry or radiology and complementary alternative medicine, typically work together on pain management as part of a multidisciplinary team.

What Does a Pain Management Doctor Do?

For starters, they identify the exact origin of your discomfort and the underlying diseases that exacerbate it. Let's say you have a backache. The list of possible causes is long, but it includes anything from disk herniations to arthritis and everything in between.

The specialist will land on a diagnosis. Then he or she may use their specialized knowledge and the most up-to-date research to determine the ideal treatment for you.

Patients with chronic pain may need a variety of non-surgical and interventional treatments. These can reduce or eliminate the need for surgery or medication, as well as complementary therapies. Among the options are massage, acupuncture, weight reduction, exercise and yoga. You may also try meditation, physical therapy, dietary alterations, and chiropractic treatment.

Many Options

Pain doctors sometimes use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, and antidepressants. They may also suggest injections and other more conservative measures.

You may need more advanced procedures depending on the severity of your disease. Surgical intervention may be the final choice if no other options prove useful in relieving your discomfort.

All of your physicians and healthcare providers will be included in your pain management doctor's treatment plan. For any physical or emotional issues you may have, they will continue to provide continuous treatment. In this capacity, your pain management specialist serves as an advocate for your well-being.

Aging and Pain

At the end of the day, aging is a natural process that can have unfortunate consequences like chronic pain. Some of this is natural and can usually be treated effectively, whereas other times, it is a symptom of an underlying disease. Doctors can still treat the pain and manage your symptoms down to a level of comfort in the vast majority of circumstances.

If you are living with chronic pain in AZ, set up an appointment with one of our physicians today.