Northwest Indiana Chronic Pain Specialist

If you are experiencing chronic pain you can find relief at Pain Control Associates with Dr. Rajive Adlaka. Patients in Schererville, Indiana suffering from chronic pain are encouraged to stop by.

Chronic Pain Q & A

What is chronic pain?

There are many different types of pain. The most common form of pain is a feeling set off in the nervous system to let you know something is wrong. Acute pain signifies that there is a problem, or that you may be injured, and it should be taken care of immediately. Chronic pain is a different form of pain. If the pain signals continue for weeks, months, or even years at a time this is chronic pain. The original cause may have been an injury or infection. There may be an ongoing cause of pain, such as arthritis or cancer, but in most cases, there is no clear cause. Some other factors that may contribute to chronic pain include:

• Headache
• Low back strain
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Pain from nerve damage

What causes chronic pain?

Though the exact cause of chronic pain is not known it is suspected to be the result of the messaging system in the nerves and spinal cord becoming oversensitive. This magnifies messages of pain when there is no active damaging stimulus. In other words, when the nerve messages reach the brain, it believes there is still harm and reacts by feeling pain even if there is none.

What can I do about my pain?

Chronic pain usually cannot be cured but treatments can help to dilute the pain. Most people affected by chronic pain will experience long term symptoms. The focus of treatment will be on managing the pain to improve their ability to do day-to-day tasks. Learning pain management skills, such as those that Pain Control Associates, LLC. offers, and incorporating them into your daily life is essential. A multidisciplinary approach has been shown to be the most effective form of treatment for chronic pain management. Other forms of treatment can include medicines, electrical stimulation, surgery, psychotherapy, relaxation, and meditation therapy, biofeedback, and behavior modification. Your treatment plan will be based on your individual needs. If you are suffering from chronic pain it is best to have an assessment done by Dr. Adlaka so that he can customize a treatment plan for your ongoing health and wellness.

Can chronic pain be treated without medicine?

While people with chronic pain often take medication, it usually doesn’t provide full relief. Chronic pain is a complex condition and requires many different options to manage it. Speaking with your doctor to develop a pain management plan help you set achievable goals and give you something to aim for. Having a sense of collaboration and trust with your healthcare provider is important in getting adequate treatment. The more you can divulge to your healthcare provider about your pain, the more accurate your pain management treatment will be.

Will my pain get worse if I am very active?

When you have constant pain, movement can make pain worse. But the body is meant to move. Any decrease in activity will cause muscle loss and loss of strength over time. This means that even simple daily activities can become more difficult. Regular stretching and exercise can decrease pain and increase functionality. Slowly increase your physical activity despite a certain level of pain. This gradual approach to activity is called pacing.