Types of Pain, and How to Ask for Help

There are all sorts of aches and pains that human beings deal with. They may come and go quickly, or last for a long time – maybe even making an appearance only occasionally. They may stem from one area, or be felt in another. One thing is for sure with all types of pain – management helps improve quality of life and outcomes for patients who receive it. To get proper care, you need to be able to explain your symptoms at your initial consultation with your doctor at our Chicago pain clinic. Read on, to see if any of these types of pain help you put your feelings into words – so an appropriate pain management plan can be made.

1. Acute Pain: Acute pain comes on suddenly, and often stems from some type of injury, and is finite – which means you should be able to look forward to a pain-free life after you’ve healed. Some examples of acute pain are, a sprained wrist, a jammed thumb, or a broken leg.

2. Chronic Pain: Chronic pain lasts for months or years, and can be detrimental to your mental and physical health if you don’t seek proper pain management assistance. Instances of chronic pain may stem from immune disorders like fibromyalgia, or diseases like cancer or arthritis.

3. Referred Pain: Sometimes, you may feel pain in one area, but it actually stems from another. For example, you may have gallstones, but experience extreme pain in your shoulder. It’s important to see a doctor to get proper diagnosis for your pain.

4. Phantom Pain: Sometimes, after someone loses a limb, they still feel pain associated with the extremity. There are therapies that can help overcome this type of pain.

5. Nerve Pain: Nerve pain can feel as innocuous as a few tingles, but can also present as burning or intense stabbing, and can cause muscle weakness. There are a variety of procedures and treatments that can reduce the effects of nerve issues.

6. Soft Tissue Pain: Soft tissue pain is very common, and often one of the first pains felt. It is essentially any pain that stems from muscles, ligaments, the fascia, tendons, or organs. If you’ve ever sprained an ankle, you’ve felt soft tissue pain.

7. Bone Pain: Bone pain can make the area feel tender or swollen. You may have felt growing pains as a child or teenager – that was bone pain. Bone pain can also be caused by more serious ailments, so it’s important to get checked by a doctor if you experience it without explanation.

8. Total Pain: The name says it all – total pain occurs when you experience pain on all levels – mental, physical, and perhaps even spiritual. Chronic total pain, which is often associated with palliative care, can be debilitating in many areas of life, but pain management can help you overcome it.

Now that you’ve learned about the types of pain, you will be better able to explain your pain at your appointment at our Chicago pain management clinic, which will help our team to help you. Make your appointment today!

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