Pain Disorder & Treatment
What is a pain disorder?
Pain disorder refers to any condition that causes chronic (ongoing) pain. These disorders, which are also called pain syndromes, can affect every part of your body and come from many possible causes.
These are a few of the most common pain disorders:
- Chronic headaches
- Lower back pain
- Neuropathy
- Fibromyalgia
- Trigeminal neuralgia
- Movement disorders
- Neuromuscular disease
- Vascular disorders
- Central pain syndrome
- Complex regional pain syndrome
Ventura Neuroscience Center specializes in identifying and treating all types of pain disorders.
What symptoms develop due to a pain disorder?
The pain you experience may be constant or come and go. It could be excruciating, feel like a sudden electric shock, or exist as an ongoing ache or burning sensation. Your pain could stay in one area or affect your entire body.
In addition to pain, these disorders cause symptoms such as:
- Swelling
- Joint stiffness
- Tremors
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Widespread muscle pain
- Muscle stiffness or cramping
- Pain radiating down an arm or leg
- Loss of coordination
- Changes in skin color
- Changes in body hair growth
- Tingling (pins and needles) sensations
- Hypersensitivity to touch or temperature
Many people with a pain disorder have a hard time sleeping due to the pain. Ongoing pain often leads to depression, anxiety, and disability.
What should I know about pain disorder treatment?
Pain disorders seldom respond well to medications. Even strong pain relievers only produce short-term results. For this reason, your provider at Ventura Neuroscience Center develops an integrative treatment plan that incorporates a range of therapies.
Your treatment may begin with dietary changes, exercise, physical therapy, and stress management. Your provider may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications or muscle relaxants to ease the pain.
When your pain remains despite the first round of treatment, your provider may recommend treatments that stop pain by blocking nerve signals. For example, a nerve block stops pain signals with medication, while radiofrequency ablation uses heat to wound a specific nerve. The wound then prevents pain signals from reaching your brain.
Depending on the cause of your pain, you may need minimally invasive spine surgery to repair the underlying problem. Your provider at Ventura Neuroscience Center has years of experience performing surgical techniques that target the source of your pain.