Pain can affect your ability to fully engage in work, sleep, eat properly, and enjoy life. If you suffer from chronic pain, one that does not go away or frequently re-occurs, you might need a proper diagnosis to determine the cause. Chronic pain can take over your life and lead to more serious problems, such as opioid addiction. Opioids are quite effective in treating chronic pain but might be extremely addictive if not safely used as prescribed by your doctor. To avoid opioid addiction, talk to Jay M. Shah MD, for other high-tech pain management options that can improve your overall health. Here are six non-opioid treatment options that can help you relieve chronic pain.
1. Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical procedure commonly used to treat chronic pain, especially in the neck, knees, back, and pelvic region. It uses radio waves to destroy the nerve causing pain by blocking the pain signals from reaching the brain. Pain relief using radiofrequency ablation can last up to one year without needing medications. It has no recovery period. Therefore, you can return to your daily work activities after treatment.
2. Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are pain injections that can help relieve chronic pain and prevent it from re-occurring. However, it may require repeated Exosomes Treatment to get effective results. During treatment, your doctor uses X-ray imaging to locate the source of pain and injects a numbing medication to block the nerves in the affected area.
3. Pain Pumps
Pain pumps are special devices implanted under your skin, particularly around the abdomen, to deliver medications directly to your spinal fluid. It is an effective technique that relieves chronic pain, especially in patients with cancer or those who experience extreme side effects from using oral medications. Pain pumps give you full control over your pain for a long period. However, you might need to visit your doctor for a pump refill regularly.
4. Electrical Signals
Electrical nerve stimulation can relieve short-term chronic pain by transmitting low-voltage electrical signals to the affected area. It is more effective in treating muscle pain by stimulating your body’s natural chemical hormones known as endorphins. Electrical stimulation also interrupts the nerves’ pain signals from reaching the brain. As a result, you might begin to feel better and more productive.
5. Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation is a high-tech chronic pain reliever method that uses a remotely controllable device to provide a massage feeling to the affected area. Your doctor might implant this device on your lower back by attaching it to the nerves around the spinal canal.
You can relieve pain using this device by controlling the intensity of the signals to the painful area. Spinal cord stimulation can help treat neuropathy and back pain commonly experienced by people with diabetes.
6. Stem Cells Extraction
Stem cell extraction involves harvesting stem cells from the bone marrow and injecting them into a painful area. The injected stem cells replace the deteriorated tissue with healthy ones and help relieve long-term chronic pain. This technique is still undergoing research but has proven effective in treating various types of chronic pain.
Chronic pain can negatively impact your life. Through a pain specialist from SamWell Institute for Pain Management, you can get a long-term non-surgical solution to restore your overall function. You will also learn about various ways to manage chronic pain at home through simple physical activities. Call today to schedule an appointment or visit their offices for a one-on-one meeting.
