Q: “What is the difference between chronic pain and other types of pain?”
A: Unlike “acute” pain which comes on suddenly, chronic pain persists for days, weeks, months or even years, impairing normal function. Examples of chronic pain are suffering from persistent and agonizing low back pain, pounding neck pain, throbbing headaches or shooting facial pain which drastically affects your quality of life. This type of pain is more than a physical sensation. The pain is exhausting, frustrating, limiting and debilitating.
Q: “What causes chronic pain?”
A: In addition to illness and injury, chronic pain can be caused or made worse by certain everyday activities. Below are some of the everyday causes of chronic pain and what you can do to help solve them.
- Computer Use: Many men and women, especially those who sit at computers for extended hours as a part of their occupation, often experience chronic shoulder and neck pain. To avoid pain associated with computer use, purchase an ergonomic keyboard and make an effort to rest your wrists and elbows on a stable surface.
- Smartphone Use: Along with the exponential increase in smartphone use has come an increase in chronic pain due to thumb and finger injuries. If you are constantly using your phone throughout the day, use both thumbs while texting and browsing and take breaks between messages to promote good circulation through your hands.
- Sitting for prolonged periods: Lower back pain is one of the leading complaints of chronic pain sufferers. Sitting for prolonged periods, especially in a chair that was not ergonomically designed, can be a major cause of this type of pain. If you spend long periods of time at a desk, consider investing in an ergonomic seat that supports your lower back.
Q: What kind of treatments do you offer?
A: The Parris Pain Center focuses on advanced interventional pain so our office can treat nearly any kind of pain. After your thorough clinical examination, Dr. Parris will recommend the treatment option that he believes will best treat your condition. His traditional and cutting-edge procedures depend on your diagnosis. Chronic pain can originate from a variety of locations throughout your body. There are countless different treatments, and the one which is right for you depends on the associated causes and the extent, seriousness, or duration of pain. Dr. Parris’s office offers you remedies that go beyond over-the-counter pain medications and instead focuses on treatments that provide you with long-term results—physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, steroid injections, spinal cord stimulator implants, and many more. The Parris Pain Center provides you with the latest methods and technology to alleviate your pain. Everyone should live in a world where there is no room for pain.
Q: What is spinal cord stimulation?
A: Spinal cord stimulation, otherwise known as neurostimulation, involves the installation of a neurostimulator within the spinal column in the abdomen or buttocks. This neurostimulator emits electrical pulses, the frequency and degree of which are controlled by an external programmer. These electrical pulses block the transmission of pain signals to the brain, providing relief to patients who would otherwise be dependent on long-term and potentially dangerous drug therapy. Please note that spinal cord stimulation is not a viable option for some patients suffering from chronic back pain—those who have cardiac pacemakers, an implanted cardiovascular defibrillator, or are not confident in their abilities to operate the hand-held programmer, for example.
Q: What Is Pain Management?
A: We focus on comprehensive treatment that combines a variety of techniques and independent procedures to create for you a customized pain-management strategy. To achieve this goal, we examine the level and type of pain experienced and establish a progressive course of therapy that includes a range of pain management therapies. Most importantly, all patients are approached uniquely, with all of their symptoms considered contextually before a multi-faceted treatment plan is established.
Q: Can You help?
A: This is a surprisingly common question-and the answer is, “Yes, I can!”. Chronic pain can affect your overall physical capabilities, your job performance and financial status, and your social interactions. Because of these both long and short-term impacts, it is important that those suffering from constant and acute pain seek the treatment of a professional to improve their quality of life. The treatment of pain requires a dedication to the patient that surpasses that in many medical fields. This is because often patients do not get better with one injection, a single medication or a single treatment. The Parris Pain Center is committed to sticking with you throughout your treatment and working with you toward pain relief. Contact Us at 713.621.3900 or email us at info@parrispc.com.