Pain stems from various conditions ranging from numerous injuries and diseases. Often triggered in the nervous system, pain occurs when there’s nerve inflammation. Pain can last for a short period of time (acute pain), or it can persist for longer periods of time (chronic pain). An estimated 76.2 million Americans have suffered from pain lasting longer than 24 hours.

You might experience isolated pain in one area of your body such as the pelvis, stomach, lower back, knee and head, or feel it all at once in your joints with illnesses such as the flu. There are several ways to treat pain, which varies depending on the cause of pain.

Treatments can vary from over-the-counter pain relievers to surgery for more severe cases. If you’re experiencing pain that has become resistant to medical treatments and is causing severe lifestyle problems, seek out a pain management doctor or specialist for further attention.

While there are many forms of pain, our pain management doctors will take a holistic approach to help diagnose and treat the sources of pain throughout the body. At Altus Hospital, we focus on the medical and surgical management of chronic pain, including common pain disorders and symptoms such as:

• Neck and back pain
• Pain-related to herniated or bulging disks
• Work-related injuries
• Temporomandibular (TMJ) pain
• Trauma due to motor vehicle accidents
• Cancer pain
• Neuropathy
• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Headaches
• Sciatica
• Fibromyalgia
• Arthritis
• Trigeminal neuralgia

More than 3 million Americans suffer from lower back pain, which is the most common type of pain reported out of three. The other common types of pain are severe headache or migraine pain.

LOWER BACK PAIN

Lower back pain can last several weeks (acute), which may be caused by heavy lifting or bad posture. This type of pain can develop for a number of reasons but usually lasts for no more than three months.

Causes of back pain include:

• Spinal abnormalities
• Muscle strain
• Poor posture
• Arthritis
• Improper lifting objects
• Bulging or ruptured disk
• Fracture

Most lower back pain treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) or naproxen sodium (Aleve). Other treatments include muscle relaxants, topical pain relievers, prescription drugs, injections or surgery for more severe conditions.

HEADACHES

Occurring in the nervous system, headaches can be painful or even disabling. There are reportedly 150 different types of headaches that exist however, the most common two are tension (stress) headaches and migraines.

Most common among teens and adults, tension headaches are often described as a mild to moderate pain that comes and goes over a period of time. The pain is often felt on both sides of the head.

More than 4 million adults suffer from daily migraines. These headaches can last anywhere from a few hours to three days. An intense pounding, pulsating or throbbing pain generally is felt in one particular area of the head. In addition to the pain, people may experience sensitivity to light or noise, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite and more.

Causes of severe headache / migraine pain include:

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Poor posture
• Hormonal changes
• Genetics
• Medications
• Alcohol and highly caffeinated drinks
• Sensory stimuli
• Climate change

Most treatments for severe headaches and migraines include over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Another drug used for migraines is triptans, which comes in the form of pills, injections, and skin patches. Other treatments include muscle relaxants, other medications, stress reduction, and head devices that stimulate parts of the brain for more serious cases.