Pain Care & Pain Management Doctors in CT

What Does a Pain Management Doctor Do?

A pain management doctor is a physician who specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating pain. After earning their medical degree, pain management doctors typically complete a general residency and continue on to a yearlong fellowship that focuses on pain management. Pain management doctors usually are board-certified in a specialty, such as cancer pain or sports injuries. 

Pain management doctors help patients with pain in any part of the body. Medical conditions commonly treated by pain management doctors can include:

• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Sciatica
• Spasticity 
• Spine Pain
• Nerve Injuries 
• Acute Pain

What to Expect from a Pain Management Doctor?

When you visit a pain management doctor, the first thing they’ll do is attempt to diagnose the cause of your pain and any underlying problems that may be causing it. From there, your physician will select the best therapy for your condition. Pain management doctors choose a course of treatment based on recent research and medical studies. Treatment may include a variety of therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, exercise, yoga, chiropractic care, dietary changes, and physical therapy. A pain management physician can also prescribe pain-killing medicine to help patients move through their pain. Surgery is not common but may be used as a last resort. 

What is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pain?

Acute pain comes on suddenly and is usually caused by something. It is often a sharp feeling and doesn’t last very long (less than six months). Once the injury or condition that caused the pain is resolved, the pain will go away. Causes of acute pain include:

• Broken Bones
• Burns
• Cuts
• Surgery
• Labor and Childbirth

Chronic pain is more ongoing, and will last over six months. It may be caused by an illness or injury but continues even after you have healed from the underlying cause. Some people even suffer from chronic pain without any specific reason. Chronic pain has been known to be caused by conditions such as:

• Migraines
• Cancer
• Nerve Pain
• Back Pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis 

Does Chronic Pain Count as a Disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not list chronic pain as a qualifying disability, so you will not receive disability benefits from the federal government. 

Can Chronic Pain Cause High Blood Pressure?

Chronic pain can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. When your body experiences pain, your heart rate increases in reaction, raising your blood pressure. This process is complex, and chronic pain doesn’t always lead to high blood pressure. 

Can Chronic Pain Cause Fatigue?

Yes, chronic pain could lead you to feel fatigue. If you have pain, you may move your body into a position that feels less painful. Unfortunately, these positions can put extra stress on your muscles and joints, leading to fatigue. Chronic pain can also lead to fatigue if it’s causing you to lose sleep. Dealing with pain takes immense amounts of emotional and physical energy as well. Using that much energy can lead to fatigue over time. 

How Does Chronic Pain Affect the Brain?

Chronic pain can cause significant stress on the body and mind. People with chronic pain often struggle with their mental health and may develop depression or anxiety due to overexposure to stress. 

What Qualifies as Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is any type of pain that lasts longer than the root cause of that pain. For pain that doesn’t have an identified cause, it is generally qualified as chronic when it lasts longer than three-to-six months. Chronic pain may also occur with a chronic health condition such as arthritis or fibromyalgia. It can come in waves or be a persistent pain that never goes away. 

What is Interventional Pain Management?

Interventional pain management is a treatment for pain that a doctor may use after a few weeks of other therapies for pain management. It may also be employed if the pain is strong enough to interfere with a person’s daily living activities. Interventional pain management may involve: 

• Steroid Injections
• Nerve Blocks
• Infusions
• Spinal Cord Simulation
• Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation
• Surgery