Are all pain clinics focused on prescribing narcotics?

No, not all pain clinics primarily focus on prescribing narcotics. A good pain clinic should take a comprehensive approach, considering physical, behavioral, and psychological therapies, as well as offering alternative treatment options.

What should I expect during my visit to a pain clinic?

During your visit, the pain management specialist will evaluate your condition, review your medical history, and discuss your symptoms and treatment goals. They may recommend diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, suggest therapies, and create a personalized pain management plan.

How can pain clinics help with chronic pain?

Pain clinics, also known as pain management clinics, offer comprehensive approaches to managing chronic pain. They utilize medications, physical therapies, behavioral therapies, psychological therapies, and complementary or alternative medicine to help individuals manage their pain and improve their quality of life.

What are the different types of pain?

Pain can be categorized into acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is sharp and often results from an injury, while chronic pain lasts more than six months and can result from untreated injuries, diseases, or conditions.

What are the common conditions that cause pain?

There are various conditions that can cause pain, including arthritis, muscle and joint injuries, autoimmune disorders, back injuries, chronic pain disorders, endometriosis, facial pain, headaches, kidney stones, urinary tract problems, and nerve damage (neuropathy).

Who can benefit from pain management?

Anyone experiencing pain, whether acute or chronic, can benefit from a pain management plan. It can help individuals with short-term pain after an injury or surgery, as well as those with long-term pain from diseases or chronic health conditions.

What is pain management?

Pain management involves the diagnosis and treatment of pain using medications, procedures, exercises, and therapy. The goal is to reduce or relieve pain and improve the patient's quality of life.

What types of pain do pain management specialists treat?

Pain management specialists can diagnose and treat various types of pain, including back pain, neck pain, headaches/migraines, arm or leg pain, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, joint pain, pain related to failed surgery, and pain related to cancer.

Chronic pain

TREATMENT

If you’re among the 20% of Americans grappling with chronic pain, Pain MD Houston, led by interventional pain specialist Jessen Mukalel, MD, in The Woodlands, Texas, offers innovative solutions. Chronic pain often leads to sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and opioid dependency. Dr. Mukalel employs cutting-edge therapies to address underlying damage, aiming to reduce or eliminate opioid reliance. Even if previous providers have not provided the relief you seek, Pain MD Houston may have a solution.

To schedule a consultation for chronic pain management, contact the office by phone or book online today

Chronic Pain Treatment Q & A

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain, or pain that’s lasted for at least three months, is a sign that you have underlying tissue damage or an injury that hasn’t fully healed. It can originate from damage in your:

Bones
Joints
Ligaments
Tendons
Muscles
Cartilage
Bursa
Nerves

It can severely affect your quality of life, your sleep, and your ability to complete everyday tasks.

How is chronic pain diagnosed?

While traditional providers treat the pain itself by dulling uncomfortable sensations with powerful opioids, that strategy does nothing to heal the underlying cause of pain. Interventional pain specialists like Dr. Mukalel use precision-guided injections to determine which damaged tissues are at the root of your pain. They also provide interventional techniques to treat it so you can get long-term pain relief without drug dependence.

One strategy that Dr. Mukalel recommends for its pain is to reinitiate the acute healing response in your body using prolotherapy. Prolotherapy consists of injections which are taken from your own body during a simple, in-office procedure and prepared for injection. When injected directly into your injured tissues, both trigger healing and tissue remodeling that rebuild damaged areas, so they no longer cause pain.

Depending on your needs, Dr. Mukalel may also recommend:

Intracept® Procedure ablation
Spinal cord and nerve stimulation
Minimally invasive carpal tunnel release
Vertiflex® Superion® interspinous spacer
LinQ™ Sacroiliac Joint Fusion system
Kyphoplasty for fractures in the vertebra
Sonex SX-Microknife for carpal Tunnel
Ketamine and lidocaine in-office infusions
Botox® for cervical dystonia
Ajovy® for migraine management
Trigger point injections
Belbuca®, a safe, long-term opioid therapy

If Dr. Mukalel prescribes opioids, he monitors the levels in your bloodstream to be sure you’re safe.

How can I prevent chronic pain?

The best way to prevent chronic pain is to fully address acute pain when it occurs. If you suffer an injury or are in a car wreck or other type of accident, have a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Mukalel. He can identify, treat, and heal damaged tissues before your injury leads to its pain.

End or prevent chronic pain by healing the underlying cause. Contact Jessen Mukalel, MD, by phone or online today.

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