Chronic Pain Specialist
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Bluffs Pain Management
Pain Management located in Council Bluffs, IA
Some chronic pain conditions can cause debilitating pain that lasts for years. If you need help managing chronic pain, you can rely on the expertise of pain management specialist Andrew Huff, MD. At Bluffs Pain Management, Dr. Huff provides nonsurgical pain treatments to help you heal, so you can lead a physically active, pain-free life. If you have a chronic pain condition, like fibromyalgia or osteoarthritis, schedule a consultation online or by calling the Council Bluffs, Iowa, office today to learn more about the available treatment solutions.
Chronic Pain Q & A
What causes chronic pain?
Pain is chronic when it lasts six months or longer, and it can interfere with your ability to meet your responsibilities and take care of yourself.
Pain can develop anywhere in your body, especially in the joints of your spine, hips, knees, wrists, and elbows. Bluffs Pain Management specializes in treating these and other chronic pain conditions:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Shingles
- Fibromyalgia
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Herniated discs
- Headaches and migraines
- Nerve damage or nerve compression
- Myofascial (muscle) pain syndromes
People who live with chronic pain may also be at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. These issues can also worsen your pain, making your life more difficult to manage.
How is chronic pain diagnosed?
During your diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Huff spends time reviewing your medical history and your symptoms. Providing him with information about where you feel pain and what type of pain you experience (stabbing, burning, or throbbing, for example), can help him determine what’s causing it.
Dr. Huff also uses advanced diagnostic technologies, including X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans, to evaluate your joints and soft tissues.
These tests help him accurately identify the source of your pain, so Dr. Huff can customize a pain management plan for your condition.
How is chronic pain treated?
Your treatment plan for chronic pain depends on the condition you have and its severity. Dr. Huff may recommend one or more treatments like:
Medications
Oral steroids can relieve persistent inflammation that contributes to your chronic pain. There are also oral pain relievers that can minimize your pain, so you can heal more efficiently.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy involves exercises that you do with a therapist and at home to strengthen the muscles and other soft tissues that support your joint. Exercises also improve your overall joint health to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions.
Injections
A variety of injections are available to deliver anti-inflammatories and pain-relieving medications directly into your spine or joints. Injections can provide pain relief when oral medications aren’t working well.
Injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a substance found naturally in your blood, help generate new healthy cells to replace those damaged by injury or disease.
Spinal cord stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation delivers low currents of electrical energy into the nerves of your spine to block pain signals before they can travel to your brain. You can control the electrical currents with an external remote to relieve pain in real-time.
Dr. Huff may also refer you to a behavioral therapy specialist to help you learn coping skills that make your chronic pain easier to manage. This type of therapy can also address any emotional or mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, that you have as a result of your pain.
If you need help managing a chronic pain condition, schedule a consultation online or by calling Bluffs Pain Management today.
