As a certified pain specialist, you will be able to treat patients with acute and chronic pain. You’ll also be able to diagnose them, recommend different treatment options, and prescribe medications where applicable.
There are so many different types of pain that it’s almost impossible to list them all. However, there are some common pains that a lot of people experience at some point in their lives. Here are the most common types of pain that a pain specialist like Dr Brian Blick can treat below.
Musculoskeletal Pain
Musculoskeletal pain is the most common type of pain that people experience. It’s usually caused by an injury or strain to the muscles and/or ligaments. This type of pain is usually associated with the lower back, neck, and shoulder region of the body.
It may also affect the knees, hips, and feet. This type of pain is common in sportspeople who are constantly putting their bodies under extra pressure and strain and in older people who suffer joint pain due to wear and tear of the joints.
Back And Neck Pain
Back pain and neck pain are the second most common type of pain that people experience. Studies show that as many as 80% of people will experience this at some point in their lives. It’s usually caused by a strain or injury to the back or neck.
Other times, it may be caused by a condition like arthritis. Therefore, it might be chronic pain. This is why it’s important to get it diagnosed by a pain specialist.
It can be debilitating and affect someone’s quality of life. There are many treatment options available for this type of pain such as physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medications, nerve block injections, and pain management therapies.
Headache Pain
Headaches are a very common type of pain that may be caused by different reasons. They are also the third most common type of pain that people experience. There are many different types of headaches, but the most common one is migraine.
Around 10% of people experience migraine headaches. Other types of headaches include tension headaches, cluster headaches, and headaches caused by a secondary condition like a slipped disc or an infection.
Headaches can vary in how often they are experienced by people. Some people may get them once in a blue moon, whereas others may get them every day. There are many different treatment options for headache pain.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is also a very common type of pain that is usually caused by inflammation or irritation of the abdominal muscles or organs. This type of pain is most commonly associated with chronic pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), appendicitis, and colitis.
Abdominal pain is a very serious condition and needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Because it’s such a potentially life-threatening condition, it’s important to see a pain specialist as soon as you experience abdominal pain.
Chronic Pain Lastly, chronic pain is usually caused by an underlying disease or condition such as arthritis, or a mental health condition like anxiety or depression. It’s important to see a pain specialist if you’ve been experiencing chronic pain for a long time because they can help to treat it and decrease the pain.
