What is Pain Management?

Nearly any part of your body is vulnerable to pain. Whether your pain is from arthritis, spine or an old injury, you need to find a way to get your pain under control.

The best approach to do that is through comprehensive pain management protocols.

Pain management is the process of providing medical care that alleviates or reduces pain. It covers a number of methods to prevent, reduce, or stop pain sensations.

These include the use of medications, physical methods such as ice and physical therapy as well as psychological methods.

Pain acts as an alert to potential or actual damage to the body and is generally divided into two categories; acute and chronic pains.

Unrelieved pain can hurt a person’s quality of life and impede recovery from illness or injury. It can also cause a downward spiral in a person’s health and outlook.

Managing pain properly facilitates recovery, prevents additional health complications, and improves a person’s quality of life.

Different Types of Pain

There are two types of pain that encompass different areas of the pain you might be feeling.

They include:

Acute pain: This is classified as the pain of duration of up to three weeks and is the kind of pain that tends to be associated with some form of injury, though there may be other associated conditions.

It usually resolves once the primary condition that caused it is managed.

The time limit used to define chronic pain typically ranges from three to six months. For instance, chronic lower back pain may be associated with degenerative conditions of structures in the back such as intervertebral discs, particularly in the elderly.

A visit to your orthopedic surgeon is recommended for chronic back pain as the causes are not only many but also carry the possibility of being a symptom of other serious health conditions.

Depending on the type of pain you are experiencing, your pain specialist will be able to create an appropriate treatment plan.

Orthobridge Orthopedic Centre in Kenya dedicates its practice to safe innovative and effective treatments for musculoskeletal disorders which include but not limited to, neck and lower back pain.

We are a comprehensive pain management center in Kenya focusing on both acute and chronic pain.

Orthopedic Pain Management & Relief

Day-to-day life can be a battle when you have pain. It is also important to treat the mind and body by approaching pain physically and emotionally.

Considering the different causes and types of pain, as well as its nature and intensity, pain management can require an interdisciplinary approach.

The elements of this approach include treating the underlying cause of pain, pharmacological, and some non-invasive procedures.

Each person and his/ her pain is unique. The best way to manage your case could be very different from what works for someone else.

Your treatment will depend on:

1. The cause
2. How intense it is
3. How long it’s lasted
4. What makes it worse or better
5. Known associated disease states
6. Psychological status of the person

Know your pain management treatment options

In addition to the pharmacological therapy whose aim is to control pain and reduce muscular spasms, the following options can also help relieve you from pain:

• Physical therapy is a very important part of any joint pain management program.

This program is designed to improve strength, flexibility, and physical endurance.

By learning and practicing exercise as a routine, patients can improve their ability to participate in work and leisure activities. Pain can be worsened by exercise that isn’t done correctly.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy allows people to learn and have a better understanding of where the pain is from, and what they can do about it.

This therapy is mainly about understanding the role of pain in your life and what it actually means for you.

Watch Grace’s story as she explains her story and the experience she had with Col(Dr) Adari, an orthopedic surgeon in Kenya after a dislocated shoulder repair.