Pain Management Clinic in Rockville, MD

A pain clinic, or pain management clinic, is a healthcare facility that focuses on the diagnosis and management of ongoing, chronic pain. Chronic pain requires continuous treatment through a pain management program as opposed to a one-and-done treatment plan. There are two different types of pain management clinics – one that focuses on specific types of pain, such as back and neck pain, and the procedures to deal with the pain, and the other type takes a holistic, whole-person approach to pain management. Pain management clinics are staffed with a variety of medical professionals trained and experienced in treating chronic pain. This team can include doctors, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational, and vocational therapists, nutritionists, and dieticians. Through different medical experts, they will help you manage your pain with the use of medications but also through different therapies such as physical, behavioral, and psychological. They can also provide options for complementary or alternative medicine and coach you on lifestyle changes that can help with your pain. Alternative methods can include acupuncture, water therapy, massage, meditation, biofeedback, and cognitive behavioral therapy. The ultimate goal of a pain clinic is to reduce your pain to improve your quality of life.

Chronic pain refers to pain that has been continuous for a minimum of 12 weeks and can last several weeks but can also be ongoing over the span of months and even years. In severe cases, it will limit your mobility as well as reduce your strength, endurance, and flexibility. Daily tasks and activities become challenging, if not impossible, for people who suffer from severe chronic pain. Chronic pain can manifest itself in many different forms over any part of your body. The pain can be dull or sharp and can feel like an aching sensation or a burning sensation. Chronic pain can be a constant feeling or can come and go with no apparent rhythm or reasoning. Different regions of the body can experience pain in different ways. Some common types of chronic pain can include headaches, lower back pain, arthritis pain, post-trauma pain, postsurgical pain, cancer pain, neurogenic pain, and psychogenic pain. Chronic pain is the most common cause of in the United States for long-term disability.

When left untreated, chronic pain will not just cause ongoing pain and discomfort, it will also affect the sufferer’s quality of life. It can lead to depression, isolation, and feelings of helplessness due to the individual’s inability to perform normal daily tasks and participate in activities that they enjoy. It can also lead to additional health problems as the individual relies on other parts of the body to compensate for pain in one area. For example, if a patient has chronic knee pain in their right leg, they may rely more on their left leg for mobility which can lead to pain in their left leg. Chronic pain can also lead to addiction and reliance on painkillers as a means to find relief from the pain, which can lead to damage to the liver, kidneys, and other internal systems that are vital to the proper functioning of our body.

Your first pain management appointment will be focused on the doctor learning about your pain. They will ask you a series of questions about your pain symptoms to get an understanding of when it started, what caused it, how bad the pain is, where the pain is located, and what you have tried to date to help remedy it. The doctor will also want to know about your general health, including any additional medical conditions or concerns you have, your medical history, and your family’s medical history. This will help them in building a treatment plan. A physical exam will also be performed to get a feel for the pain and any additional concerns related to it. You may be sent for additional tests and exams such as x-rays, MRI or CAT scans for the doctor to get a complete picture of what is going on inside your body and to find out if there is an untreated or improperly healed injury at the root of the pain.

If you are looking for a pain management clinic, come to Physicians Now Urgent Care today! Our medical professionals are experienced and can help you recover more quicker. Call us today to book an appointment. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Rockville MD, Travilah MD, Lone Oak MD, Colesville Park MD, Redland MD, Darnestown MD, Anscroft MD, and Wheaton-Glenmont MD.