This September, Memorial Healthcare is recognizing Pain Management Awareness Month. The providers at Memorial Healthcare Pain Management, Dr. Pankaj Guglani and Physician Assistant James Arceo, use a variety of diagnostic tools, including MRI, X-Rays, physical maneuvers, and other specialized examinations, to assist with identifying causes of pain to develop a personalized treatment plan for all patients.
According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain that affects their daily life. This number is higher than those who have diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. Chronic pain is a complex and often debilitating condition that serves as your body’s alarm system indicating to you that there could be an underlying problem that needs attention. Pain can come in all shapes and sizes, located anywhere from your head to your toes. It can be acute, lasting less than 3 to 6 months, in which the cause is usually identifiable, such as surgery or trauma. The underlying cause of pain that persists to a chronic form may be more difficult to identify and is often a result of nerve dysfunction.
Chronic pain can also be the side effect of a separate condition, such as arthritis, diabetes, or an autoimmune disease. Pain from an injury or illness can linger even after the patient has otherwise recovered from the health problem. In some cases, chronic pain seemingly has no physical cause at all. In these situations, the pain may arise for psychological reasons like anxiety, depression, or stress. Conversely, chronic pain can lead to these mental struggles, plus mood swings and insomnia.
If you or a loved one is experiencing chronic pain, ask your primary care provider about a referral to Memorial Healthcare Pain Management today.
