What is pain?

WHAT IS PAIN?
Pain, according to Margo McCaffery, is defined as “whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever he/she says it does.”

WHY AM I IN PAIN?
Pain is usually a warning from the body that something is wrong. The most common cause of pain is when the body detects tissue injury or any abnormality or disorder. For common aches and pains, the intensity roughly matches the physical disorder and may be relieved by common pain killers. However, if the pain persists or becomes severe, not relieved by medications and/or lasts longer than the usual, then it's time to seek medical help before the pain becomes chronic and treatment becomes more difficult.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PAIN:
A. Acute Pain may be the first alerting symptom that signals something is wrong with your body. The pain generally resolves as the underlying problem heals or is treated medically. The intensity, frequency and quality of pain varies from person to person and may have no relationship to the degree of injury or illness. Post-operative pain is an example of acute pain.
B. Chronic Pain is the discomfort that arises from a more complicated or a long existing medical problem that does not resolve after medical treatment. The duration of pain is prolonged, generally more than six weeks. Cancer pain is an example of chronic pain. In addition to suffering, chronic pain causes dramatic changes in a person's ability to perform his/her daily activities and functions.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH PAIN?
It is important to determine the origin of pain. The management of acute pain usually requires several approaches. For chronic pain, treatment options utilize different types of approaches. These options often require the expertise of a multidisciplinary team in order to produce a favorable therapeutic outcome.

WHAT IS THE MEDICAL CITY APPROACH TO PAIN MANAGEMENT?
The Medical City through its Pain Management Center is ready to help you deal with your pain. Here at the center, we first look for the origins of your discomfort, after which, we work towards the relief of your pain so that you can lead a fuller and better life.

THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROGRAM
Medication management
- Use of pain relieving drugs – oral, intravenous, patch
- Use of Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) devices – intravenous or epidural

Interventional procedures
- Nerve Blocks:
• Epidural Steroid Injections
• Trigger Points Injections
• Lumbar Transforaminal Block
• Selective Nerve Root Injections
• Stellate Ganglion Block/ Celiac Plexus Block/Lumbar Sympathetic Block
- Implantable Spinal Drug Delivery System
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Spinal cord stimulation
Note: This information is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advise, diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone you know have any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to seek professional help.

PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC
Operating Hours (Out Patient):
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tel. nos. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 loc. 6453

CENTER FOR PATIENT PARTNERSHIP
Tel. nos. (632) 988-1000 / (632) 988-7000 loc. 6444