Did you know that September is Pain Awareness Month? Help Southern Michigan Pain Consultants spread the word about chronic pain. Chronic Pain continues to be undertreated and misunderstood by many--and it IS treatable. You may know someone who has had pain for a long time & thinks it is part of aging--this is a common misconception. More information and resources below!

What is CHRONIC PAIN: Pain anywhere in the body, lasting between 6-12 weeks or longer. Pain that may have originated with an acute injury but does not subside even after healing process has taken place. Symptoms may include: discomfort, painful sensations such as; throbbing, aching, stabbing, pinching, pulsing, sharp, numbness, tingling,etc-throughout the body or in a specifi c area (ie back, arm, foot, hip, neck, etc)

Diagnosis:Chronic pain is diagnosed using a variety of factors including the above. Diagnostic tests like MRI, CT Scans, etc may be used or needed to find specific pain issues, such as; a pinched nerve, herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, inflammation and others. Using this information proper diagnosis and treatment can be assessed.

Treatment: Pain is common. Some patients find that conservative treatment at home will resolve it. Ice, heat, massage, rest and anti infl ammatory medications for a few days may be the solution while in acute stages. When more conservative treatment fails, proper diagnosis and access to correct pain management resource is needed. Physical therapy may help for improving posture habits or flexibility as poor posture and inflexibility can lead to imbalances in the spine resulting in herniated discs, pinched nerves, drop foot, hand, neck and shoulder pain, etc. Treatment may require medications, injection therapy, physical therapy and/or surgery. Usually, a combination of these methods yields the most success.

When to See Your Doctor for Pain?
When daily activities are stopped due to pain you should see your doctor, especially if you notice any of the following:

• Numbness or tingling
• Severe pain that does not improve with rest. Pain after a fall or injury
• Trouble urinating
• Weakness
• Numbness in your legs
• Fever
• Weight loss or loss of appetite


How to Discuss Pain with Your Doctor?
You want to be prepared to answer a few questions when discussing your pain not only with your family physician but also your future pain specialist. Being able to answer these questions will help the physician(s) narrow down types of pain and possible sources as well as come up with a starting point for what diagnostic tests may be helpful. This also helps the physician understand what you have already tried to make your pain better. A few questions you may expect with relation to your pain, are:


• When did the pain start--how long have you had pain?
• Where is the pain--is it in more than one area of your body?
• What (if anything) makes your pain better or worse?
• Describe your pain...is it stabbing, aching, throbbing, etc?
• Is your pain predictable, intermittent, constant?
• What (if any) types of treatment for your pain have you already tried?