How Arizona Pain Doctors Can Keep You Active

Nearly one-fifth of Americans have chronic pain, while approximately 7.4% of adults have chronic pain that limits their daily lives. While chronic pain increases in adults over 65, pain can strike at any time, from simple things like sitting at your work desk too long to misjudging a stair as you step down. 

Whatever is causing your pain, Arizona Pain Doctors can help you avoid high surgical costs, improve function, and improve your mental health. Are you interested in learning more?

Luckily, we have put together a complete guide on different types of pain, treatments, and why you should book your next appointment through a qualified pain physician. Keep reading on for more information!

Types of Pain

There are two main types of pain:

• Acute
• Chronic

Acute pain is more apparent. It is an immediate pain following an obvious injury. For example, if you are playing a pick-up basketball game on the weekend and step on someone's foot, you may turn your ankle. 

Some of the ligaments that help support your ankle joint overstretch, you feel pain, and now you have a classic ankle sprain. This is a great example of an acute injury. 

Chronic injuries are more difficult to identify the "cause" portion. You may notice your knee hurts every time you run, but you can't remember injuring it. These are often classified as overuse injuries. 

You may be more familiar with the term tendinitis. While tendinitis does not include every chronic injury, it is an excellent example of a chronic injury type.

Why Is Chronic Pain More Challenging?

Chronic pain management is usually more challenging to treat than acute injuries. In some instances, acute injuries can progress to chronic. If pain lasts longer than three months, experts classify it as chronic. 

Medical studies and experts think this long-lasting discomfort resides in changes in nerve brain cells that process sensory information. Over time, they became hypersensitive to this input. Chronic pain also has more symptoms than acute injuries, including:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Fatigue

It can also affect your work, relationships, and hobbies. 

What Types of Treatment Are Available?

Acute injuries can sometimes heal without expert intervention through the R.I.C.E. protocol, including rest, ice, compression, and elevation. More severe acute injuries (such as an ACL tear) or chronic pain may need the help of pain doctors. 

Pain doctors address the root of the problem and offer research-backed treatments to help you get back on your feet (literally and figuratively speaking). Common pain treatments include:

• Pain medication
• Physical therapy
• Modalities
• Injections
• Acupuncture
• PRP therapy
• Ultrasound
• Surgical procedures
• And more

The main goal is to help you find long-lasting pain relief and return to your hobbies and day-to-day life without hindrance. 

What To Expect From Arizona Pain Doctors

Arizona Pain Doctors offer advanced pain management techniques that treat chronic pain, acute injuries, and more. Here are some of the benefits and expectations for your next visit to an AZ pain center:

• Diagnosis
• Comprehensive care plan
• Finding the root cause
• Educating on pain management techniques at home
• Improving mobility
• Preventing future injuries

Many physicians and clinics often put a band-aid on the problem through pain medication or other gold-standard interventions. While this can temporarily relieve acute pain, Arizona Pain Doctors work with you to find the cause of your pain and develop a plan of care that seeks long-term relief. Some of the most common conditions treated at AZ Pain Doctors are:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Joint pain
• Nerve pain
• Muscle injury

Having a qualified physician who can differentiate between types of pain and the cause will help in your treatment plan.  

When Should You Visit a Pain Doctor?

If you live an active lifestyle, pain can keep you from enjoying hobbies or even hanging out with family and friends. This is the first key sign you should visit a pain specialist. Here are some other signs you should start booking that appointment:

• Pain continues beyond a few weeks
• Movements make the pain worse
• Medications are not helping
• You are looking for alternatives to surgery
• The pain is affecting your sleep
• Your pain starts radiating

Lack of sleep and ongoing pain can negatively affect your health. Poor sleep quality can lead to high blood pressure, irritability, and a weakened immune system. 

Non-Surgical vs. Surgical Pain Relief

Are non-surgical treatments a viable option for you? Surgery is costly and can result in more side effects and pain than you originally anticipated. While some surgeries can help manage pain long-term, a pain specialty clinic helps you lay out your options if you haven't tried conservative treatments yet. 

Studies examined non-surgical options for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study aimed to assess whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, corticosteroids, and other nonsteroidal injections were beneficial in treating pain and improving function. 

Researchers examined multiple studies and found that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and PRP therapy were beneficial and effective at managing pain while improving function long-term. 

What about holistic or natural pain remedies? More patients have started using acupuncture as a form of pain relief. Other studies examined how acupuncture helps manage pain in migraine patients and improve mental health.

They found that acupuncture resulted in fewer medical costs and lower risks of depression and anxiety in long-term migraine patient care. 

Start Your Journey to Pain Relief

Have you wondered if taking the next step and seeing Arizona Pain Doctors will help you gain back your active lifestyle? The answer is yes! 

Pain management starts with a qualified clinic specializing in various pain management strategies, from holistic remedies to injections. Rather than opt for costly surgeries or constant ibuprofen, schedule an appointment today and start seeing the difference. 

You can visit us on our website to fill out a new patient form today!