Chronic Pain Management
Explore individualized, function-focused strategies for persistent pain.
Chronic Pain Management
You don't have to let ongoing pain control your life.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for three months or longer. It may develop from an injury, an underlying medical condition, inflammation, medical treatment, or sometimes without a clearly identifiable cause. [cdc.gov]
Chronic pain can include conditions such as:
Ongoing back or neck pain
Arthritis-related pain
Fibromyalgia
Recurring headaches
Nerve-related pain
Persistent musculoskeletal pain [cdc.gov], [cdc.gov]
Living with persistent pain can affect more than physical comfort. That's why treatment should focus not only on pain, but also on helping you function and participate more fully in everyday life.
How Is Chronic Pain Treated?
There isn't one treatment that works for everyone. Your healthcare provider can evaluate your symptoms and health history to create an individualized treatment plan.
Medication Management
Depending on the type and cause of pain, non-opioid medications may be considered. Options identified by the CDC Nonopioid Therapies for Pain Management include certain anti-inflammatory medications, acetaminophen, some antidepressants or anticonvulsants for particular pain conditions, and topical treatments such as lidocaine or capsaicin. [cdc.gov], [cdc.gov]
Physical Therapy & Exercise
Appropriate exercise and physical therapy can be part of chronic pain management. The CDC includes aerobic, aquatic and resistance exercise, as well as exercise therapy used in physical therapy, among nonmedication approaches. [cdc.gov]
Mind-Body & Behavioral Approaches
Chronic pain treatment may also incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy and mind-body practices such as yoga or tai chi. These approaches can be used as part of a broader pain-management plan. [cdc.gov]
Interventional Treatments
For some patients and conditions, clinicians may consider procedures such as injections as part of treatment. Whether an interventional treatment is appropriate depends on the individual's condition and response to other therapies. [cdc.gov]
A Combination of Treatments
Chronic pain often benefits from a multimodal approach, meaning more than one treatment strategy may be used to address the patient's individual needs and functional goals. [stacks.cdc.gov]
What About Opioids?
Opioids are not the preferred first treatment for most subacute and chronic pain. Current CDC Nonopioid Therapies for Pain Management guidance recommends maximizing appropriate nonmedication and non-opioid treatments and considering initiation of opioid therapy when the expected benefits for pain and function are anticipated to outweigh the risks. [cdc.gov]
The Goal Is More Than Pain Relief
Chronic pain treatment should be personalized. Your healthcare provider can work with you to identify the potential source of your pain and develop realistic treatment and functional goals.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
What may be causing my pain?
What treatment options are appropriate for my condition?
Would physical therapy or exercise help?
Are non-opioid medications an option?
Are procedures or injections appropriate for me?
What can we do to improve my daily function and quality of life?
Lighthouse Wellness Clinic
Let's create a plan for moving forward.
Ongoing pain deserves to be taken seriously. A personalized approach can help you better manage your symptoms and work toward improved function and everyday well-being.
