Pain treatment
What is pain management?
Pain management is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine, which aims to improve quality of life for patients with chronic pain by reducing their suffering. It aims to relieve long-term pain, and may be administered by a single doctor, or a pain management team, consisting of different specialists. It can involve pharmacological or psychological treatments, or a combination of both.
Why would you need pain management?
While many branches of medicine focus on diagnosing and treating injuries and pathologies and treating the symptoms and pain during the healing process, pain management is needed when the pain persists after the injury or disease has healed. If the cause of the pain is not clear, relieving it becomes the objective. Patients with chronic (long-term) pain are the usual recipients. Types of pain that often require management include chronic back pain and headaches.
What does it involve?
There are many types of treatments to manage pain, which can be roughly divided into three categories: physical, psychological, and medicinal.
Physical treatments include physiotherapy, therapeutic physical exercise, the application of heat and/or ice, acupuncture, electrotherapy, and various interventional procedures, such as facet joint injections and spinal cord stimulation. Different sufferers may find different things help relieve their pain, such as massage therapy. Some treatments may have a psychological element, including the placebo effect.
Psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and hypnosis have been used to treat pain, with varying reports on the efficacy. Studies have shown a small improvement in mood after CBT, but there is insufficient evidence to definitively say that it relieves pain. Similarly, studies on the effects of hypnosis have been limited, but shows signs of improvement. Some believe it the effectiveness of psychological treatments may be based on the placebo effect.
Medicinal treatments involves different kinds of drugs – mainly painkillers and anti-inflammatories. The type of drug depends on the location, severity, and probable cause of the pain. For example, mild pain can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers, while severe pain (after injury or surgery, for example) may be treated with opioids. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used, and for conditions like fibromyalgia, antidepressants may be prescribed.
Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the specialty, a pain management team can consist of medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, psychologists, and other mental health therapists.


How does fibromyalgia impact quality of life and wellbeing?
By Dr Yasser Mehrez
2022-05-23
Those who suffer from fibromyalgia can experience chronic symptoms of pain, fatigue and poor memory which have a marked impact on their daily life. In this expert guide to the condition, leading consultant in pain medicine Dr Yasser Mehrez explains how patients can learn to self-manage the condition as well as explaining the benefits of working within a multi-disciplinary team to offer patients the best possible outcomes. See more


Pinpointing the issue: Acupuncture for migraines
By Dr Selwyn Dexter
2022-05-23
If you struggle with chronic migraines, acupuncture for this common yet debilitating condition could be an option you may not have considered yet. Here to provide a detailed insight to the treatment and its benefits is leading specialist GP in medical acupuncture, Dr Selwyn Dexter. See more


Expert advice on selecting a regenerative medicine specialist
By Dr Martynas Juozaitis
2022-05-23
Regenerative medicine is at the cutting edge of treatment for degenerative conditions and musculoskeletal injuries but advanced specialist expertise is required to administer it correctly. In this expert guide to choosing a regenerative medicine specialist, leading consultant in anaesthesia and pain medicine Dr Martynas Juozaitis outlines the questions patients can ask to ensure their treatment will be both safe and effective. See more


Complementary therapy for pain – worth a try?
By Dr Dhiya Houssien
2022-05-15
It seems to be a growing trend in the UK - seeing an osteopath or acupuncture specialist to treat chronic pain. So why are people turning to complementary therapy? And can it live up to the promises it makes? See more
-
Dr Clarissa Pilkington
RheumatologyExpert in:
- Paediatric rheumatology
- Juvenile arthritis
- Juvenile arthritis
- Lupus
- Lupus
- Dermatomyositis
-
Dr Yasser Mehrez
Pain medicineExpert in:
- Epidural infiltration
- Pain treatment
- Radiofrequency treatment (RFA)
- Back pain
- Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
-
Dr Martynas Juozaitis
Pain medicineExpert in:
- Pain treatment
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Stem cells
- Platelet-rich plasma
- Knee
- Joint pain
-
Dr Michelle McHenry
RheumatologyExpert in:
- Inflammatory arthritis
- Connective tissue disease
- Pain treatment
- Chronic pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammatory Joint Diseases
- See all

Algocells
Algocells
Verney House, 1 Hollywood Road, SW10 9HS
No existe teléfono en el centro.
By using the telephone number provided by TOP DOCTORS, you automatically agree to let us use your phone number for statistical and commercial purposes. For further information, read our Privacy Policy
Top Doctors
-
Algocells
Verney House, 1 Hollywood Road, SW10 9HS, Central LondonExpert in:
- Hip
- Back pain
- Chest pain
- Ultrasound
- Pain management
- Spine