Acute and Chronic Pain: Many Causes, Many SolutionsPain wears a thousand faces: it can be sharp, stabbing, burning, dull, or throbbing. It can be short lived, the result of an accident or surgery; or it can be chronic and persist for years. Pain is a common human experience, so common that it’s the cause of half of all physician office visits each year.
 “Many Americans suffer daily from acute pain or from severe, long-term pain,” said Anterpreet Dua, MD. “Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, fibromyalgia, recurring migraine, shingles, and pain related to cancer or diabetes can be both challenging and debilitating.”
According to Dr. Dua, pain that has an apparent cause – one that shows up on a test or is evident in a physical exam – can usually be treated successfully. A swollen or inflamed joint, a broken toe, or an infected finger can be dealt with using medical treatments and prescription drugs. Even pain that doesn’t show up on tests, such as migraine headaches or facial nerve pain (trigeminal neuralgia), usually has symptoms that are readily recognizable and treatable.
Severe pain that persists for months or even years can be a damaging process; if not treated early, the pain can lay down pathways that are difficult to suppress. “If severe pain is treated promptly and aggressively, it can often be limited,” said Dr. Dua. “Otherwise, it can take hold and cause severe pain that might last for years.”
Dr. Dua emphasized that the physical aspects of pain are often intertwined with psychological symptoms such as depression; a history of emotional or physical abuse; stress; or even unknown factors. “The first step for both the physician and patient in these cases is to acknowledge that the pain is real while trying to identify the exact triggers and reliable ways of providing pain relief,” he said. “It is important for the patient to understand the interconnectedness of mind and body and the need to address difficult pain problems from multiple angles.”
Since the Advanced Pain Treatment Center opened at Wallace Thomson Hospital in April 2005, it has treated hundreds of patients in the Upstate for acute and chronic pain. Before coming to Wallace Thomson Hospital, Dr. Dua completed a residency in anesthesiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin where he helped thousands of patients gain control of their pain. He and his staff have received extensive training in pain treatment procedures.
Pain clinics such as the Advanced Pain Treatment Center at Wallace Thomson Hospital stress the role of the patient in gaining control over his or her physical and psychological well being. Rather than seeing him- or herself as a victim of pain, the patient learns daily coping strategies, including relaxation techniques. Pain triggers muscle tension, which can in turn magnify pain signals. Relaxation techniques teach the patient to control muscle tension, blood pressure, heart rate and other physical responses in order to minimize pain.
“Although finding the solution may be a challenge, there is never a good reason to live with pain,” said Dr. Dua. “A visit to your physician is the first step toward understanding the cause of your pain and finding a solution.”
For more information on the pain treatment procedures offered at Wallace Thomson Hospital’s Advanced Pain Treatment Center, call (864) 466-0288 or (864) 429-2619. A referral from your physician is required for all pain treatment services.
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