Millions of people across the United States have to put up with chronic pain. Chronic pain can significantly affect an individual and the national economy as it results in up to 8 billion dollars of Lost wages every year. But the damage goes far beyond the financial level. Pain can have a massive impact on your quality of life. You will struggle to focus on aspects that matter to you, including your social and professional life. Because of this, you need to seek treatment for your chronic pain condition as fast as possible. That is where interventional pain management professionals come in. They have the expertise to deal with different forms of chronic pain. This article looks at some of the signs that you need to see Dr. John Huffman in Arlington, a pain management specialist based in Arlington, VA. Read on to learn more.
- Your Pain Does Not Get Better
Almost everyone has had to deal with some form of pain, but most cases get better after a few weeks of self-care and home treatment. Chronic pain is described as not showing any significant improvement after three or more months of treatment. If that is the case, you may need to visit an interventional pain management professional specializing in treating severe, acute, or chronic pain. They have the resources and expertise to deal with various pain conditions to help you get relief and restore your quality of life.
- You Are Not Ready For Surgery
Sometimes when you visit your primary care physician to help you deal with pain, they may recommend surgery as the most effective remedy. However, you should only treat surgery as a last resort that comes in handy when all other treatment options have failed to improve your condition. Interventional pain management specialists offer various minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments such as alternative medicine therapies, including acupuncture and physical therapy. You can also benefit from more advanced therapies such as radiofrequency ablation and spinal cord stimulation, depending on the location and cause of your pain.
- You Want to Stop Taking Medication
Pain medication may work well in the short term, but your body becomes tolerant and stops responding to the drug as time passes. Because of this, it does not offer any relief to your pain. Even if it does, some pain medications are highly addictive and will result in dependency if you take them for a long time. Pain management specialists rarely recommend prescription medications or pain medications. Depending on your needs, they offer various therapies and treatment options that do not involve drugs.
- Pain Has Reduced But Still Causes Problems
Sometimes, your primary care doctor can recommend a treatment that effectively reduces pain but does not eliminate it. Instead of struggling to put up with the manageable levels of pain, you can visit an interventional pain management professional who can completely get rid of your pain condition by treating any underlying conditions.
To summarize, chronic pain is a massive problem for the economy and individuals living in pain. Pain management specialists can help treat chronic pain. If your symptoms do not get better after a few months of self-care, you need to see one. An interventional pain management specialist can also help if you are not ready for surgery or want to quit taking pain medication. Additionally, you should consider visiting if your pain level has reduced but is still causing problems.
