22 Jan Pain Doctors for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
There are medical specialists for just about every part of the body, and just about every ailment that can exist in the body. Therefore, it makes sense that pain specialists exist to help people suffering from a wide range of painful symptoms. Pain doctors have become more popular in recent years, as the dangers of overprescribing prescription pain medication have become more obvious. Oftentimes the cause of the pain can be determined and thus treated to relieve said pain. However, in other cases, such as with complex regional pain syndrome, a patient may experience extreme pain without a known cause. When this occurs, it may be necessary for the patient to work closely with a pain doctor for adequate relief.
Complex regional pain syndrome is a rare disorder that causes ongoing pain, typically in one limb, after some kind of injury. It is believed that the disorder is caused by some kind of injury to the nervous system. There are two kinds of complex regional pain syndrome. Type one denotes those patients without a confirmed nerve injury. Type two denotes those individuals with a confirmed nerve injury. Complex regional pain syndrome can occur in people of any age or gender, although it is rare in those people who are extremely young or old. Because the syndrome is not fully understood, it can be very difficult to treat, and oftentimes requires the patient to work closely with a pain doctor to manage their symptoms.
There is no specific test that can detect complex regional pain syndrome. Therefore, it is important that the patient work closely with a doctor who is a specialist in the field of pain. For some people with mild symptoms, the syndrome can go away on its own. However, for others with more severe symptoms, long term disability may be a new reality. Many pain doctors begin with conservative treatment methods, including rehabilitation and physical therapy. The earlier a patient is diagnosed, the more likely they are to have a positive outcome from treatment. If conservative options do not work, pain specialists may begin trying medication, nerve blocks, or even spinal cord stimulation. Many patients require going through a battery of treatments to determine which singular treatment or combination of treatments works best for their specific situation.
Pain is one of the most difficult symptoms to treat because all people experience pain differently. Complex regional pain syndrome is even more difficult because the cause and progression of the syndrome are not fully understood. Just as you would work with an oncologist if diagnosed with cancer, or a neurosurgeon if diagnosed with a brain condition, working with a doctor who has specialized in pain treatment is absolutely necessary for those suffering from complex regional pain syndrome. Those who specialize in the treatment of pain are at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs and treatments and will have more experience and more resources at their disposal for helping address the pain caused by the syndrome. While it may take time to determine what forms of treatment work best for a specific patient, pain doctors will likely find adequate treatments for those suffering from complex regional pain syndrome much faster than those who are not specialists in the field.