Pain Knowledge Library2


Cancer

Care and Management

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Cardiovascular

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Chiropractic

Conditions

Lower Back Pain

Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can make you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your lower back.

Neck Pain

Neck Pain

Neck pain is a serious problem that can disrupt your life. It can keep you from being active. It can make you miss work. Your neck may hurt for a short time, or your pain may bother you for months or years.

Diabetes

Care and Management

Ketone Testing for Diabetes Management

Ketone Testing for Diabetes Management

This test measures the amount of ketones in the blood or urine. Ketones are acids that build up to a toxic level when the body does not have enough insulin. The presence of ketones can show that a person who has diabetes is experiencing a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening.

Bones and Joints

Care and Management

Managing Neck Pain

Managing Neck Pain

If you’re dealing with neck pain, you know how frustrating it can be. Fortunately, you can try these simple strategies for managing neck pain.

Conditions

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain

Our shoulders are the most movable joints in the body. They give our arms great range of motion. They allow us to lift and control heavy loads. Shoulder pain is a problem many of us feel at some time in our lives. Let’s learn about shoulder pain, and what you can do about it.

Where Neck Pain Begins

Where Neck Pain Begins

Neck pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your neck.

Brain and Mental Health

Care and Management

Stress Management

Stress Management

We all have stress in our lives. But too much stress is bad for your health. It can hurt your mind and your body. Let’s look at proven ways to cope with stress.

Digestive and Urinary Systems

Conditions

Abdominal Pain

Abdominal Pain

We’ve all felt pain in our stomach area at some time. Usually, it isn’t cause for alarm. But abdominal pain can be a sign of a medical emergency.

Medical Emergencies

Conditions

Chest Pain

Chest Pain

Do you have an uncomfortable feeling in your chest? Do you feel sharp or dull pain, or crushing or burning sensations? Do you feel vague discomfort? Let’s look at the wide range of problems that can cause chest pain.

Medications

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Overviews

Care and Management

Interventional Pain Management

Interventional Pain Management

If you live with pain that won’t go away, you know how frustrating it can be. Interventional pain management is a branch of medical care that can help. Specialists in this field find the cause of your pain. They treat it at its source. This can give you a better quality of life.

Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control

Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control

Multimodal pain control eases your pain with a combination of medicines. It can be used before, during and after a surgical procedure. The goal is to reduce the use of narcotics and their unpleasant side effects.

Pain Management (Overview)

Pain Management (Overview)

If you suffer from pain, you know how hard it can be to live with. Pain management is a branch of medical care that specializes in pain control. It can help you enjoy a better quality of life.

Quality of Care

Pain Management

Managing Pain After Surgery

Managing Pain After Surgery

Your surgery is done, and now it’s time to focus on pain control and recovery. Most people can expect to have some pain after surgery. But it should never be unbearable. Your doctor wants you to be comfortable enough to take deep breaths and move as needed. This will help your recovery.

Pain Scale: Describing and Rating Your Pain

Pain Scale: Describing and Rating Your Pain

When you are being treated for an injury, illness or a chronic condition, you may be asked to talk about the level of pain you feel. This can be tricky, because pain can be difficult to describe. Pain can cause many types of sensations, and what feels very painful for one person may not feel so bad for another.

Reproductive Health

Conditions

Breast Pain

Breast Pain

If you have pain in one or both breasts, you may wonder why. You may worry about cancer. But there can be many reasons why you’re feeling pain. Let’s take a few minutes to learn more.

Wellness

Health and Fitness

Exercising With Acute Pain

Exercising With Acute Pain

We all know exercise is important for good health. But some people feel pain when they exercise. If you have pain that starts suddenly, lasts only a short time and then goes away with rest, we say you have “acute” pain. Don’t ignore it.

Exercising With Chronic Pain

Exercising With Chronic Pain

We all know exercise is important for good health. But if you live with chronic pain, exercising can be hard. Pain often robs you of motivation. Some exercises may be too painful. But even with chronic pain, most people can exercise safely.

Preventing Back Pain

Preventing Back Pain

Most of us know the frustration of back pain. It’s something almost everyone has to deal with at some point in life. Back pain can last for a few days or weeks. For some, it becomes a chronic problem. The good news is, there are some things you can do to keep back pain away. These tips can help.

Medications

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Spine

Non-Surgical Care and Management

Pain Management (Overview)

Pain Management (Overview)

If you suffer from pain, you know how hard it can be to live with. Pain management is a branch of medical care that specializes in pain control. It can help you enjoy a better quality of life.

Arm and Elbow

Care and Management

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) in the Cervical Spine

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) in the Cervical Spine

This injection treats the pain of an inflamed nerve in your cervical spine. It relieves nerve swelling. If you have a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or some other problem that’s pressing on a nerve, it may help you.

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Spinal Cord Stimulation (Medtronic)

Spinal Cord Stimulation (Medtronic)

Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, ams and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Conditions

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical Radiculopathy

This condition is an irritation or compression of one or more nerve roots in the cervical spine. Because these nerves travel to the shoulders, arms and hands, an injury in the cervical spine can cause symptoms in these areas. Cervical radiculopathy may result from a variety of problems with the bones and tissues of the cervical spinal column.

Joint Pain

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common problem for many people. It can keep you from doing the things you want to do. It can make it hard for you to be as active as you like. Let’s take a moment to learn about the causes of joint pain, and what you can do about it.

Phantom Pain

Phantom Pain

If you have lost a limb or another part of your body, you may feel painful sensations that seem to be coming from the missing part. This phenomenon is called “phantom pain.” It is common among amputees. It can become a chronic problem for some people.

Foot and Ankle

Care and Management

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Conditions

Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain

Chronic Lateral Ankle Pain

This is a pain on the outer side of your ankle. It’s a lasting pain that you may feel all the time. It can make it hard for you to walk and run, and it can increase the possibility of ankle sprains.

Joint Pain

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common problem for many people. It can keep you from doing the things you want to do. It can make it hard for you to be as active as you like. Let’s take a moment to learn about the causes of joint pain, and what you can do about it.

Phantom Pain

Phantom Pain

If you have lost a limb or another part of your body, you may feel painful sensations that seem to be coming from the missing part. This phenomenon is called “phantom pain.” It is common among amputees. It can become a chronic problem for some people.

General Body

Care and Management

Exercising With Acute Pain

Exercising With Acute Pain

We all know exercise is important for good health. But some people feel pain when they exercise. If you have pain that starts suddenly, lasts only a short time and then goes away with rest, we say you have “acute” pain. Don’t ignore it.

Exercising With Chronic Pain

Exercising With Chronic Pain

We all know exercise is important for good health. But if you live with chronic pain, exercising can be hard. Pain often robs you of motivation. Some exercises may be too painful. But even with chronic pain, most people can exercise safely.

Interventional Pain Management

Interventional Pain Management

If you live with pain that won’t go away, you know how frustrating it can be. Interventional pain management is a branch of medical care that can help. Specialists in this field find the cause of your pain. They treat it at its source. This can give you a better quality of life.

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control

Multimodal Anesthesia and Pain Control

Multimodal pain control eases your pain with a combination of medicines. It can be used before, during and after a surgical procedure. The goal is to reduce the use of narcotics and their unpleasant side effects.

Pain Management (Overview)

Pain Management (Overview)

If you suffer from pain, you know how hard it can be to live with. Pain management is a branch of medical care that specializes in pain control. It can help you enjoy a better quality of life.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger Point Injections

This outpatient procedure is designed to reduce or relieve the pain of trigger points. These small, tender knots can form in muscles or in the fascia (the soft, stretchy connective tissue that surrounds muscles and organs). The trigger point injection procedure takes only a few minutes to complete.

Conditions

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

This is a type of chronic, long-lasting, pain. In most cases, it develops in an arm or a leg that you have previously injured. With CRPS, you may have unexplained pain that won’t go away. It may be severe, and it may spread.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

This is a chronic pain disorder. It affects the muscles and the connective tissue (called the “fascia”) that surrounds them. With this syndrome, you may develop sensitive areas on your body called “trigger points.” When these places are pressed or stressed, you feel pain. This condition can affect muscles throughout your body.

Pain Management (Overview)

Pain Management (Overview)

If you suffer from pain, you know how hard it can be to live with. Pain management is a branch of medical care that specializes in pain control. It can help you enjoy a better quality of life.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy

This condition is a problem with the peripheral nervous system. These are the nerves that branch out from your brain and spinal cord and travel to all of the other parts of your body.

Phantom Pain

Phantom Pain

If you have lost a limb or another part of your body, you may feel painful sensations that seem to be coming from the missing part. This phenomenon is called “phantom pain.” It is common among amputees. It can become a chronic problem for some people.

Hand and Wrist

Conditions

Joint Pain

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common problem for many people. It can keep you from doing the things you want to do. It can make it hard for you to be as active as you like. Let’s take a moment to learn about the causes of joint pain, and what you can do about it.

Head, Neck and Spine

Care and Management

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) in the Cervical Spine

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) in the Cervical Spine

This injection treats the pain of an inflamed nerve in your cervical spine. It relieves nerve swelling. If you have a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or some other problem that’s pressing on a nerve, it may help you.

Facet Joint Injections

Facet Joint Injections

The facet joints, found on both sides of the back of the spine, can become painfully irritated or inflamed. A facet joint injection may help diagnose the source of a patient’s pain. It can also relieve pain and inflammation.

Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)

Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)

This minimally-invasive procedure repairs a vertebral compression fracture. It helps restore the spine’s natural shape. Some patients experience rapid pain relief after the procedure.

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

This injection procedure is performed to relieve low back and radiating leg pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by spinal conditions.

Lumbar Sympathetic Block

Lumbar Sympathetic Block

This procedure is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your lower back. It helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to these nerves. Usually, a series of injections is needed to treat a problem.

Managing Low Back Pain

Managing Low Back Pain

Low back pain can cause problems that ripple through every part of your life. You don’t do a lot of the things you enjoy because it just hurts too much. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage your pain.

Managing Neck Pain

Managing Neck Pain

If you’re dealing with neck pain, you know how frustrating it can be. Fortunately, you can try these simple strategies for managing neck pain.

Medial Branch Block

Medial Branch Block

This is an injection of numbing medicine. It bathes the medial branch nerves, which attach to the facet joints of your spine. These nerves hurt when facet joints are injured or diseased. The injection helps find the source of your pain. And it may relieve your pain for a brief time.

Preventing Back Pain

Preventing Back Pain

Most of us know the frustration of back pain. It’s something almost everyone has to deal with at some point in life. Back pain can last for a few days or weeks. For some, it becomes a chronic problem. The good news is, there are some things you can do to keep back pain away. These tips can help.

Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Lumbar Facets

Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Lumbar Facets

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your lower back. It eases pain that isn’t helped by medications or physical therapy.

Conditions

Compression Fractures of the Spine

Compression Fractures of the Spine

This is a collapse of vertebral bone. It can affect one or more vertebrae. Compression fractures typically develop in your mid or lower back. This can change the shape of your spine.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease

This condition is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. This condition can develop as a natural part of the aging process, but it may also result from injury to the back.

Facet Joint Syndrome

Facet Joint Syndrome

This condition is a deterioration of the facet joints, which help stabilize the spine and limit excessive motion. The facet joints are lined with cartilage and are surrounded by a lubricating capsule that enables the vertebrae to bend and twist.

Herniated Disc

Herniated Disc

Between the vertebrae of your spine are soft discs. They let your spine twist and bend. They absorb shocks. But if damaged, the disc’s soft center can push through the disc wall. That’s a herniated disc. This bulge presses against nerves in your spine.

Muscle Strain of the Upper Back (Trapezius Strain)

Muscle Strain of the Upper Back (Trapezius Strain)

This common injury is a stretching or tearing of the trapezius. This large muscle group spans the upper back, shoulders and neck. These muscles are commonly called the “trap” muscles.

Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

This condition, also called “failed back surgery syndrome,” is a type of chronic pain. It can develop in some people after spine surgery.

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Your sacroiliac joints (we call them the “SI” joints) are the places where your hips meet your spine. These joints don’t have a lot of flexibility, but they do move slightly as you move your body. And if SI joints become damaged or diseased, it can be painful.

Where Lower Back Pain Begins

Where Lower Back Pain Begins

Lower back pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your lower back.

Where Neck Pain Begins

Where Neck Pain Begins

Neck pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your neck.

Hip, Leg and Knee

Care and Management

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Conditions

Bursitis of the Hip (Trochanteric Bursitis)

Bursitis of the Hip (Trochanteric Bursitis)

This is an irritation or swelling of the trochanteric bursa. This small, fluid-filled sac is found on the outer side of the femur. It acts as a cushion for the iliotibial band, a thick tendon in your leg.

Joint Pain

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common problem for many people. It can keep you from doing the things you want to do. It can make it hard for you to be as active as you like. Let’s take a moment to learn about the causes of joint pain, and what you can do about it.

Knee Pain

Knee Pain

Our knees take a lot of force. They support the weight of the body. They keep us upright and stable. They cushion us when we walk and run. So it’s not unusual to feel knee pain at some time in our lives. Let’s learn about knee pain, and what you can do about it.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

This is a pain you feel in the front of your knee. It involves the patella. That’s the bone we commonly call the “kneecap.” The patella slides up and down in a groove on your femur as you bend and extend your knee. If you have this syndrome, you may have injured the soft tissues that support and cushion your kneecap. Or, you may have some damage to the cartilage on the underside of the kneecap.

Phantom Pain

Phantom Pain

If you have lost a limb or another part of your body, you may feel painful sensations that seem to be coming from the missing part. This phenomenon is called “phantom pain.” It is common among amputees. It can become a chronic problem for some people.

Medications

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Using Opioids Safely

Using Opioids Safely

Opioids are powerful drugs. They control severe pain. But they can be dangerous or even life threatening if used incorrectly. Follow these guidelines for safe use.

Shoulder

Care and Management

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Conditions

Joint Pain

Joint Pain

Joint pain is a common problem for many people. It can keep you from doing the things you want to do. It can make it hard for you to be as active as you like. Let’s take a moment to learn about the causes of joint pain, and what you can do about it.

Muscle Strain of the Upper Back (Trapezius Strain)

Muscle Strain of the Upper Back (Trapezius Strain)

This common injury is a stretching or tearing of the trapezius. This large muscle group spans the upper back, shoulders and neck. These muscles are commonly called the “trap” muscles.

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder Pain

Our shoulders are the most movable joints in the body. They give our arms great range of motion. They allow us to lift and control heavy loads. Shoulder pain is a problem many of us feel at some time in our lives. Let’s learn about shoulder pain, and what you can do about it.

Medications

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Medications

Medications

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.