Bodily pain that interferes with your ability to perform tasks, keeps you up at night, and saps you of energy is considered chronic pain. This condition plagues more than 50 million Americans – one in five adults – and it has many different reasons why it can occur.
If you have chronic pain, it is in your best interest to have an evaluation by a skilled family medicine provider who can diagnose the underlying cause. The family medicine provider will then work with you to determine appropriate measures of treatment.
Let’s talk about some of the most common reasons behind chronic pain, and where you can go in Wellington for a thorough medical evaluation and treatment that works to reduce or eliminate your pain once and for all.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is constant or intermittent physical discomfort which lasts longer than three months without improvement. Chronic pain is a frequent cause of missed workdays, lost wages, and lost productivity.
It differs in severity and character from person to person, and it can even change on a daily basis. Patients often describe their pain as shooting, stabbing, burning, or throbbing.
Chronic pain conditions include the following:
- Fibromyalgia
- Migraine headaches
- Arthritis
- Cancer pain (from the disease itself or from its treatment)
- Back pain
- Neuropathy
- Pain due to kidney disease
- Postoperative pain that continues unabated
Along with the pain itself, you may experience comorbidities (simultaneous health problems) such as:
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Poor appetite
- Depression and anxiety
How Can My Family Medicine Provider Help?
In order to determine what is causing your chronic pain, your family medicine provider will first ask you to describe your pain. Give as much detail as you can regarding its severity, timing (how often it occurs), location(s) on your body, and what, if anything, helps to mitigate it.
The family medicine provider will then perform a complete physical examination, order bloodwork and other lab tests as needed, and possibly do X-rays and other kinds of imaging scans. With a proper diagnosis, your family medicine provider can create a care plan to help keep your chronic pain under control.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Over-the-counter or prescription pain reliever
- Antidepressant medication
- Cortisone shots (in-office injection therapy)
- Physical therapy
- Heat and cold therapy
- Chiropractic care (spinal adjustments)
- Stress management
- Relaxation techniques
- Biofeedback
- Acupuncture
Trusted Family Medicine Provider in Royal Palm Beach and Wellington
Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, we will work diligently with you to get you the pain relief you deserve. You may have to try several things before finding a solution that works to quell your chronic pain, but we will indeed find something that works for you. There are many effective treatments out there today.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (561) 434-1935 or by filling out our easy-to-use online request form now. We look forward to helping you enjoy life without pain!
