4 Signs You Need to See a Pain Management Specialist

joint pain

If you experience a new injury or have lived with chronic pain for a while because of a medical condition, you understand how challenging it can be. While your problem might be entirely different from that of someone else, one thing is for sure: pain not properly managed can be the cause of misery to anyone and affect their quality of life. It gets significantly worse if you are dealing with chronic joint pain. Whether the problem is in your hips or knees, it can affect your mobility significantly. Thankfully, with Louisville joint pain specialists, you can be confident in finding long-term pain relief.

Some people may not know whether the pain they are experiencing warrants seeking medical attention. While some aches and pains clear out on their own, that is not always the case. Sometimes people live with chronic pain for so long they forget what life was like without it. If you experience any of the following signs, it is imperative to seek the help of pain management specialists:

Experiencing consistent pain

Your pain, especially joint pain, can begin mildly, but it grows to become more severe over time. Sometimes it can start suddenly and become chronic from the onset, even when you do not understand why. Such pain types indicate that you need to seek a specialist’s help to determine if you need further medical intervention.

When you struggle with daily movements 

In most cases, pain decreases naturally and eventually fades away on its own. However, sometimes you may notice that your pain is not lessening, and that often means you need to schedule an appointment with a pain management specialist. If you have long-term debilitating pain that makes it hard to perform your daily activities without a struggle, you need to have it looked at by an expert.

If you are taking medication to treat your pain, but it is not helping

If you are experiencing chronic pain, over time there is a high possibility that the medications will become less effective. If it is joint pain, your mobility might be affected significantly. A pain specialist can examine your situation and review the medications you have been using, giving you alternatives to help you cope with the pain. If possible, they can develop a pain management plan to get rid of the problem entirely.

Inability to sleep

Pain and sleeplessness are directly related to your physical and mental health. When you are in pain, it becomes quite hard to get any sleep. The worst thing is your insomnia makes your pain more severe. While you might decide to try self-help exercises or OTC sleep aids, they may not necessarily alleviate whatever is happening to you. When that happens, it would be advisable to consult with a pain management specialist.

When it comes to pain management, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment. Your kind of pain is different and has to be approached individually. Seeing a pain management specialist is the first step to getting your situation assessed before you get help. Get the help you need by calling the office of Pain Specialists today.

Republic Spine & Pain – Interventional Pain Management Specialists in Texas

Republic Spine and Pain provides interventional approaches to managing cancer, chronic, and acute pain for patients in Austin, TX, and Georgetown, TX. The physicians at the facility provide a multidisciplinary approach to pain management and use the most advanced pain management techniques. The pain management specialists at the facility utilize interventional pain management methods that directly address the source of pain and restores the quality of life for the patients.

Each specialist at the medical facility holds various board certifications, including interventional pain management and anesthesia. They treat the conditions that cause pain, such as arthritis, migraines, carpal tunnel syndrome, and spinal stenosis, by providing personalized care depending on the unique needs of every patient.

The pain management options offered by Republic Spine & Pain include the Veriflex® Superion®, trigger point injections, spinal cord stimulators, radiofrequency ablation, and nerve blocks. The objective of this health center is to ensure that every patient reduces or even ultimately eliminates the need for pain medication progressively.

Our patients enjoy the warm and welcoming staff at Republic Spine & Pain. We ensure that each patient gets exceptional treatment as our physicians get to know each patient as a person and focus their attention on the individual needs of every patient. That enables us to treat patients as a whole.

Our services

  • Pain Management
  • Low Back Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Cancer Pain
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Migraines
  • Sciatica
  • Neck Pain
  • Back Pain
  • Epidural Steroid Injection
  • Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Vertiflex Superion
  • Spinal Cord Stimulator
  • Nerve Blocks
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Interventional Pain Management
  • Neuropathic Pain
  • Shingles
  • Spondylolisthesis
  • Sports Injuries
  • Trigger Point Injections
  • Knee Injections
  • Whiplash
  • Ketamine Infusion Therapy

Affiliated Providers:

  • Judith Arrington
  • Dr. James Fay
  • Dr. Clement Yeh
  • Dr. Mahan Ostadian

Dr. Clement Yeh is the co-founder of the Republic Spine & Pain. HE is a double certified specialist in Anesthesiology and Pain Management. The pain management procedures he usually performs include spinal cord stimulator implants, radiofrequency nerve ablation, sympathetic nerve blocks, trigger point injections, facet injections, nerve root blocks, and epidural steroid injections. He takes pride in offering patient-centered care, where he assists in developing individualized treatment plans for his patients to help them maintain their active lifestyle and improve their quality of life.

The other providers at the facility include nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, pain management specialists, and physician assistants. The medical taxonomies covered by the doctors at the facility include Osteopathic and Allopathic physicians.

Exceptional services

The providers and staff here are more than awesome. They serve each of their patients with passion, and the wait time is minimal. The doctors take time to listen to the needs of their patients to ensure they provide the best possible care and ensure that every patient is fully satisfied. Republic Spine & Pain does not stop caring when you step out of their door; they follow up with each of their patients until they recover completely.

Call us or use our online booking tool to schedule an appointment today.

Effective Pain Management

Pain can reduce the quality of life, making you miss out on the important things that you love; effective pain relief can help reduce the suffering. Pain can lead to physical and mental suffering and affect your mood and the ability to think. You may suffer other consequences like blood pressure, and increased heart rate while your loved ones get distressed. Bart Gatz, MD specializes in effective pain management and improvement of the quality of life for you and your loved ones

Using Essential Oils to Manage Pain

Peppermint, coconut, lavender, and rosemary essential oils may relieve pain when used correctly; these oils treat different types of pains such as headaches and seizures. Essential oils are likely to curb effects such as inflammation, which is associated with pain. The herbal qualities in these oils act as opioid receptors in the brain that is responsible for the sensation of the pain.

Acupuncture in Pain Management

Acupuncture is a non-traditional method of pain relief where needles are placed on certain parts of the body. The needles are placed on the muscles and nerve endings either on the low back or the neck, acupuncture can prevent headaches and spinal cord pain.

Yoga in Pain Management

Yoga is an effective pain management exercise that involves the stretching of the muscles, breathing exercise, and relaxation techniques that contribute to physical therapy.  Yoga reduces some pains, such as headaches and neck pain.

Use of Pain Medicines

Painkillers, when used regularly and on schedule, can reduce pain and leave you feeling better. Although the body can get used to the pain medication, this is a normal part of pain management and hospice care. Some people may get addicted to pain relievers and could require to get rehabilitation, and doctors advise their patients to be wary of overdependence on pain killers.

Patient’s Role in Pain Management

A patient should visit the hospital when they are in pain for a proper diagnosis before self-administering the over the counter drugs. Pain might be an indication of some severe underlying health issues. A patient should tell the doctor when they are in pain, make it clear about how they are feeling for a quicker diagnosis. One should identify any side effects they develop on pain medication drugs and report the same to the hospice team. One should also keep a pain log which shows instances when one feels pain, and how effective a given medication treated the pain. A patient should learn to take the pain medication according to the doctor’s prescription

The Role of the Loved Ones in Pain Management

Family and friends may not understand how their loved one is feeling, and a doctor should explain this to them. The family members should help the sick person in tracking the pain log and ensuring that they take the drugs according to the doctor’s prescription. Friends should encourage the patient that they will get better and help brighten their mood and develop a positive attitude.

Conclusion

Pain can alter the life of an individual and reduce their normal functioning capabilities—pain and cause other related conditions such as anxiety and depression. Finding a good doctor is vital for managing your pain. Ensure that your doctor offers you different pain-relieving options that work for your condition. A patient that suffers from pain and related illnesses should take prescribed medication and not rely on over the counter medications. Family and loved ones should play a role in helping their loved ones in the pain management journey.

Pain Management Knowledge for You

Have you ever been in severe pain for prolonged periods? Indeed, it could be too hard for you to bear. Such will often be the right time for you to consider the services of an orthopedic or a pain management expert. Have you thought of looking for Garden State Pain Control experts? They will assure you of value for your money.

But besides that, it would be right to understand some of the critical basics touching on pain management. This way, making credible decisions, in the long run, will hardly be a hassle for you.

Services offered by pain management specialist

Usually, pain management specialists come with extensive training in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various types of pain. Whether you have chronic, cancer, or acute pain, you will be sure of getting the help you need from them.

Often, you will rely on these specialists for enhanced diagnosis and treatment, including spinal injections. It will be upon them to carry out different procedures whenever necessary. In most cases, these specialists will aim at offering interventional procedures in managing regional pain.

You will also be confident of getting personalized physiotherapy if you have chronic pain. If you need anesthesia or sedation, these experts will come in handy. Also, depending on the extent of your pain, the treatment could be inpatient or outpatient.

How to choose the right pain management specialist

Various elements go into getting the right professional to handle your pain. Unless you pay attention to these variables, it will be relatively hard for you to get the results you desire. Always ensure that you keep the following in mind.

It will be vital for you to consider the training as well as the experience that they have. Usually, it would be best for you to aim at someone with extensive skills, and perhaps someone who has specialized in pain management. This way, you will be sure of much better results. Did you know that experience sharpens skills? For this reason, an experienced expert will be more equipped to handle your situation.

Take the time to explore their certification. You need someone whose accreditation can hardly be doubted. Certification will often be reflective of confidence in the medic’s abilities. Ensure that their certification shows their specialty. For instance, if you need a professional to handle chronic pain, they need to be certified in the same field.

Accessibility matters a lot. It will be vital for you to pick someone you can reach on time and without too much hassle. Usually, opting for a local expert could come in handy. Besides, can you communicate with them easily?

Sometimes, your budget could matter when selecting a pain management specialist. Feel free to compare how much you could pay for the service. Aim at someone you could afford without too much struggle. This way, you will avoid financial constraints in the long run.

Pain could easily take a toll on your emotions and physical health. However, with the right experts by your side, you will be sure of getting the help you need.