Chronic Conditions
Chronic Pain
Pain persisting beyond expected healing, requiring a coordinated, multi-modal long-term plan.
What chronic pain is
Pain that lasts longer than three to six months behaves differently from acute pain. The nervous system becomes more efficient at transmitting pain signals, and sleep, mood and activity levels all begin to feed back into the cycle.
Our approach is deliberately comprehensive: identify and treat any remaining structural pain generator, use medication precisely rather than broadly, restore sleep and movement, and measure success in function — not only in a pain score.
Common symptoms
- Pain lasting more than three months
- Reduced tolerance for standing, walking or sitting
- Disrupted sleep and low energy
- Frustration after multiple providers and treatments
Common causes
- An original injury or condition that did not fully resolve within the expected healing time
- Ongoing structural sources such as facet, disc or joint disease left untreated
- Nervous system changes that make pain signals more intense over time, independent of ongoing tissue damage
- Poor sleep and reduced activity, which feed back into increased pain sensitivity
- Prior treatment gaps, such as multiple providers each addressing only part of the problem
How it is diagnosed
The evaluation for chronic pain starts by asking whether there remains a specific, treatable structural source, such as a facet joint, disc or nerve, that has simply never been properly identified or treated.
Where a remaining structural source is found, targeted imaging or diagnostic blocks confirm it. Where pain has become more generalized and centrally driven, the focus shifts to a broader plan addressing sleep, activity and medication.
Throughout, progress is tracked using function, such as ability to stand, walk, work or sleep, rather than relying on pain scores alone, since function tends to be a more reliable measure of whether a plan is actually working.
Treatment options we offer
Which of these applies depends on your examination and, where appropriate, a diagnostic block confirming the source of your chronic pain.
- Medication ManagementCareful, monitored use of the right medication class for your pain type, with clear goals and safety oversight.
- Spinal Cord StimulationAn implanted device that modulates pain signals before they reach the brain, trialed first so you know it works.
- Radiofrequency AblationRadio waves used to interrupt pain signals from confirmed facet or sacroiliac nerves, often giving relief for a year or more.
- Epidural Steroid InjectionsAnti-inflammatory medication delivered precisely around an irritated spinal nerve root to relieve radiating arm or leg pain.
When to see a specialist
- Pain that has lasted more than three months
- Reduced ability to stand, walk or sit for normal daily activities
- Sleep disruption and low energy that accompany the pain
- A history of seeing multiple providers without a clear, coordinated plan
- Any new severe pain, weakness or other change distinct from your usual chronic pain, which should be evaluated separately and promptly
Common questions
Why has my pain lasted so much longer than the original injury?
Is chronic pain always going to require medication?
What does a 'multi-modal' pain plan actually include?
How is success measured in chronic pain treatment?
Related conditions
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
- NeuropathyNerve damage causing burning, numbness and tingling, most often in the feet, legs and hands.
- Complex Regional Pain SyndromeA disproportionate pain response after injury, with skin, temperature and swelling changes in a limb.
- FibromyalgiaWidespread musculoskeletal pain with fatigue, sleep disturbance and heightened pain sensitivity.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.