Chronic pain could require more than just medication
By Graciela Gutierrez
You've heard the phrase "no pain, no gain," but with chronic pain, you won't like what you're gaining, say researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Kwai-Tung Chan, M.D., assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at BCM, is hoping to use his specialty to help some of the 50 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain find ways to improve their quality of life.
Exploring all avenues
It's common for physicians to use just one method to treat chronic pain, but Chan said a combination of conventional and unconventional treatments is the key to pain management.
"Different methods such as medication mixed with acupuncture, or exercises like yoga or Pilates could help some patients," Chan said. "Others might not respond to that treatment, which is why it's important for doctors to allow patients to take an active role in finding a method that will help them."
Chronic pain
Many patients just work through the pain and think that when the injury is healed the pain will end, but that could lead to a number of problems, Chan said.
"After an injury, nerve impulses that signal pain head to the nervous system and some studies suggest prolonged exposure to these impulses will lead to physical and chemical changes in the central nervous system," he said.
The pain could persist long after the healing process, causing pain sensitivity. Movements that normally wouldn't hurt, now do. The pain could affect mobility, make sleeping difficult, lead to job loss, depression, and could affect family life.
Chan's focus is on the musculoskeletal system which incorporates the muscle and bones and the chronic pain associated with these areas.
