Chronic pain can affect every aspect of your life. But you don't have to live in agony. At University Health, our pain specialists will help you find relief. Our team has the expertise to help you start feeling better and get back to the life you love.
Our pain management specialists include board-certified physicians and pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, and psychologists who specialize in pain.
We also work with specialists from many areas—such as anesthesiology, rehabilitation and more. This team approach means we treat you, not just your pain. You receive comprehensive care.
Reviewed 2/21/2023
Chronic pain: True or false?
Chronic pain is any type of pain that lingers for at least six months. And there's no denying it can interfere with the quality of life and your everyday activities. But many treatments and coping techniques can help. How much do you know about chronic pain?
True or false: Stress can make pain worse.
True. Physical pain can cause stress. And stress, in turn, can make it harder to cope with pain. But reducing your stress may help you manage pain. Exercising regularly, getting plenty of rest and eating a well-balanced diet are some positive stress-busting techniques.
True or false: Positive thinking and self-talk can help make pain more manageable.
True. While good thoughts and optimism won't simply make the pain go away, they can make a difference. That's because, experts say, positive self-talk may help alter your perception of pain. Sometimes it's a matter of reminding yourself that you are moving toward feeling better and regaining a good quality of life.
True or false: Taking powerful narcotic medicines is the only way to treat chronic pain.
False. Other medications—and even nonmedication treatments—can often help people manage their pain. These include things like massage, physical therapy, nerve blocking injections and even surgical procedures. The options available to someone depend on the specific pain condition and other factors.
True or false: Taking part in relaxing pastimes can help you manage pain.
True. A positive distraction, such as a hobby, can help with pain management. Reading or listening to music are other ways to focus away from the pain. Connecting with other people—in person or online—can help too.
True or false: Sometimes you just have to grit your teeth and put up with pain.
False. It's important to speak up about your pain. Tell your provider how it feels—and how it affects your life. Does it keep you from sleeping, enjoying activities or doing daily chores? Work together to create a plan to address your pain. You don't have to deal with it in silence.
Chronic pain is a common problem that can pose many challenges. But it is also treatable or manageable. There are many ways to cope with pain—and live your life more fully.
Sources: American Chronic Pain Association; American Psychological Association
How we help with pain management
Injury or disease can trigger chronic pain. In other cases, pain might not have an obvious cause at all. Perhaps it's focused in one area of the body. Or maybe it's in several places at once. Everyone has pain that's different. That's why our specialists develop treatment plans personalized just for you.
Our team treats many kinds of pain, including:
- Abdominal pain. This pain can occur anywhere between your chest and groin. It can be sharp, dull, achy, cramping or feel like squeezing. And it may come in waves.
- Back pain. Discomfort or aching in the back and spinal column is common. Most adults have it at some point.
- Cancer pain. About a third of cancer patients have pain. It can be related to cancer treatment, or it can result from tumors pressing on bones, nerves or organs.
- Facial pain. Sometimes this pain is only on one side of the jaw or cheek. But some people experience it at different times on each side. This pain can come and go for hours or even years.
- Headache. There are different kinds, including tension, migraine, cluster and sinus headaches.
- Joint pain. A variety of problems like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis and gout.
- Pain syndrome. Complex regional pain syndrome is a chronic condition. It affects the nerves and blood vessels of one or more limbs.
- Shingles. The same virus that produces chickenpox causes shingles. If the virus becomes reactivated, it can trigger this painful condition.
Your care starts with a thorough medical assessment. Our providers will take a history of your pain and complete a medical exam. Then, we'll develop your individual treatment plan. Depending on your needs, the plan may range from the most conservative pain control management techniques to complex interventional pain procedures.
For example, we might also recommend alternative, nonmedical solutions, such as pain psychology for biofeedback, hypnosis and other relaxation techniques. In many cases, these treatments are highly effective.
Other treatments may include physical or occupational therapy and medications like nerve blocks and epidural injections.
These are just a few of the pain management options we can offer.
Get help from a pain management specialist
The first step to managing your pain is get a referral from your primary care physician. Your doctor must supply your medical records pertaining to previous pain treatment as well. Our helpful staff will get you an appointment as soon as possible.
For more information about scheduling your appointment, call 816.404.7800.