Pain Management
Pain Management Albany, OR
For many patients, pain management is a necessary part of everyday life. Pain can make it challenging to carry out even the simplest of tasks. Pain management specialists are certified and trained to treat various ailments and health conditions that cause acute or chronic pain and help patients learn how to manage said conditions.
At Better Pain Solutions, we offer pain management for patients who have undergone an injury or have an ongoing health condition. Our team can help you get back on your feet and learn to manage your pain and symptoms at home. To learn more about a procedure or schedule an appointment, call (541) 249-7317 today.
Pain Management Q&A
Pain management, also known as pain medicine, is a specialty branch of medicine that uses evidence-based practices to reduce pain. It can encompass virtually any health condition that causes pain. The process can be simple or complex, depending on the condition being treated. For example, a herniated disc typically requires a simple epidural injection and physical therapy.
However, if this is insufficient, we may employ other skills and techniques as necessary. In some cases, patients may also benefit from other alternative therapies, chiropractic therapy, interventional procedures, medication management, physical therapy, psychological counseling and support, or referral to other medical specialists.
Patients should also keep in mind that we will treat the pain according to its duration, history, aggravating and relieving factors, and any causal structures. Any structure that causes pain must have a nerve supply and be vulnerable to injury, and the patient must feel pain when said structure is stimulated. We can help identify the exact source of pain and determine the best treatment for the patient.
Medical professionals who provide pain management and treatment are medical professionals, such as a chiropractor, who have undergone special training to evaluate, diagnose, and treat all different types of pain. Pain is a broad spectrum of disorders, some of which can coexist simultaneously. It may also be derived from various causes or pop up without any evident reason.
As the field of medicine continues to evolve, professionals also continue to learn more about the various complexities of pain. As such, the need for medical professionals who provide pain management only continues to grow. Their advanced training and knowledge of the physiology of pain, the ability to evaluate patients with complex pain issues, and their understanding of how to utilize specialized tests in diagnosis make them invaluable. Some pain management doctors can also accurately prescribe medications to treat various pain problems and have the necessary skills to perform multiple pain-relieving procedures.
Pain management is a quickly growing field with an increasing number of intricacies. With every year comes new and complex medications, techniques, and technologies. Our team can also play an instrumental role in coordinating additional care with physical therapists, psychotherapists, and rehabilitation programs.
We help patients manage pain every day, whether it be due to an injury or chronic condition. We also provide pain management services for patients experiencing pain unrelated to an injury or condition. There are a variety of pain management treatments, such as cupping, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), manual therapy, and massage therapy.
Cupping
Cupping can address conditions such as headaches, back pain, knee pain, shoulder and arm pain, deep muscle pain, neck pain, and sports and auto accident injuries without the use of medication. The specialist places cups on the skin to create a suction effect. Once the suction occurs, the cups can be gently moved along the skin's surface. The suction from the cups gently lifts the skin and the upper muscle layer into the cup. Blood flows from within the body to the cupped area, reducing inflammation, decreasing bad scar formation, and promoting healing while creating a sense of relaxation.
Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM)
Uses tools with beveled edges to assist in evaluating and mobilizing soft tissue. The effect allows for an improved pain pressure threshold of myofascial trigger points. In combination with manual therapy and corrective exercise, there is a reduction in pain and an increase in function by improving range of motion and muscle activity.
Manual therapy
Techniques that require skilled hand movements and skilled passive movements of joints and soft tissues that are intended to improve tissue extensibility, increase range of motion, induce relaxation, mobilize or manipulate soft tissue and joints, myofascial release, modulate pain, and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation, or restriction. These techniques are selected, implemented, and prescribed when examination findings indicate that the use decreases edema, pain, and spasm while enhancing health, wellness, and fitness.
Massage therapy
A supplementary part of manual therapy practice to reduce pain and improve function. Techniques are used for various conditions by stimulating pressure receptors that lead to parasympathetic activity (relaxation) and decreased cortisol levels. Different styles of massage include effleurage (gliding/sliding movement over the skin), petrissage (lifting, wringing, or squeezing of the soft tissues in kneading motions), friction, tapotement (strike of the tissues at a rapid rate), and vibration.
Chiropractors must complete at least three years of undergraduate studies. They can then enroll in a Doctor of Chiropractic degree program, which can take anywhere from three and a half to five years to complete and requires a minimum of 4,200 instructional hours. They will also need to pass a series of exams administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and secure licensure in the state (or relevant jurisdiction) where they plan to practice.
Seek out medical attention and chiropractic care if you have any pain that interferes with your day-to-day activities or if your pain lasts for three months or longer. Otherwise, you run the risk of exacerbating your condition.