What to Do When Chronic Pain Becomes Unbearable: A Guide to Getting Help from the Best Pain Management Doctors in Arizona

By Dr. Justin Thompson, Arizona Pain

Living with chronic pain can be overwhelming. When the pain becomes unbearable, it’s easy to feel like there’s no hope for relief. But there are options available to help you regain control of your life. The key is knowing where to turn and finding the right specialists who can provide the care and treatments you need.

At Arizona Pain, we understand the impact chronic pain can have on your daily life, and we are here to offer solutions. In this blog, we’ll answer common questions patients have about chronic pain and explain how the best pain management doctors in Arizona can help you find relief.

What Do Pain Management Doctors Do?

Pain management doctors specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing different types of pain, whether it’s caused by injury, surgery, or chronic conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, or degenerative disc disease. Their goal is to help you manage pain, but more importantly, to improve your quality of life by restoring function and addressing the underlying cause of your pain.

Key Areas Pain Management Doctors Focus On:

Identifying the root cause of pain: Pain management specialists take the time to determine the underlying cause of your pain, whether it’s related to nerve damage, joint problems, or spinal conditions. This helps ensure that the treatment plan is targeting the source of your pain for long-term relief.
Providing a range of treatment options: The Best Pain Management Doctors offer more than just medication. They create a personalized treatment plan that may include injections, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and interventional pain procedures as well as medication managment.
Restoring function: While reducing pain is essential, the best pain management doctors will also aim to restore function, so you can return to doing the things you love and improve your overall quality of life.

What Type of Care Do Pain Management Doctors Provide?

Pain management doctors are well-versed in a wide range of therapies that go beyond just prescribing medications. These treatments are tailored to each patient’s unique condition and needs, ensuring a comprehensive approach to pain relief.

Common Treatment Options Offered:

Injections: Targeted injections, like nerve blocks and epidural steroid injections, help reduce inflammation and block pain signals from reaching the brain. These procedures are often used for back pain, neck pain, and joint pain.
Medications: While medication can be a part of your treatment plan, pain management doctors typically offer a balanced approach. They may prescribe non-opioid medications, such as anti-inflammatories or muscle relaxants, and in some cases, opioid medications when necessary. However, the goal is to minimize the reliance on medications and explore alternative therapies.
Minimally invasive procedures: Treatments like radiofrequency ablation or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) are advanced techniques used to provide long-term relief without surgery. These procedures can be especially effective for patients with chronic back pain or nerve pain.

At Arizona Pain, we offer all of these treatments and more, focusing on customized plans that get to the root of your pain and help you live a fuller life.

Why What Type of Medications Do Pain Management Doctors Offer? Function Matters for Your Quality of Life

Medication management is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to pain relief, but it can be important for helping patients manage unbearable chronic pain. Pain management doctors carefully assess each patient’s needs and determine which medications might be helpful in conjunction with other treatments. At Arizona Pain we try not to rely on medications because we are seeking to treat the root cause of pain however when we do manage medications there a wide variety of good options available, most of them are not opioids.

Common Medications Prescribed:

Non-opioid pain relievers: These include acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can help manage mild to moderate pain without the risk of addiction.
Opioid medications: These are typically used for more severe pain but are prescribed with caution due to the risk of dependency. Pain management doctors focus on using opioids for short-term relief or in cases where other treatments aren’t effective.
Muscle relaxants: These can help patients experiencing muscle spasms or tension-related pain.
Nerve pain medications: Certain medications like gabapentin or pregabalin can be effective for patients dealing with nerve-related pain, such as sciatica or diabetic neuropathy.

What Else Can Pain Management Doctors Do?

In addition to medications and injections, pain management doctors offer a variety of other therapies to help patients achieve lasting relief. Many patients are surprised to learn that pain management care extends well beyond prescriptions.

Other Services Offered by Pain Management Clinics:

Physical therapy: Pain management doctors often work closely with physical therapists to design a rehabilitation plan that strengthens muscles, improves mobility, and helps reduce pain over time. This is particularly useful for patients with chronic back pain, joint pain, or post-surgical recovery needs.
Chiropractic care: Chiropractic adjustments can help align the spine and reduce pain caused by musculoskeletal issues. This can be especially beneficial for back pain and neck pain.
Alternative therapies: In some cases, treatments like acupuncture, massage therapy, or regenerative medicine (like PRP or stem cell therapy) are incorporated into the plan for more holistic healing.
Minimally invasive surgical options: When other treatments aren’t enough, minimally invasive procedures like SI joint fusion, vertebroplasty, or kyphoplasty can provide relief for patients dealing with conditions like fractures or severe joint degeneration.

Why Arizona Pain?

There are many wonderful pain management groups that can help patients manage their pain. However, at Arizona Pain, we have taken the best practices and research to create a practice focused on not just relieving pain, but also improving function and quality of life. Our goal is to help you not only get out of pain but get back to living the life you love.

What Sets Arizona Pain Apart?

Comprehensive care: We don’t just treat the symptoms. We identify the root cause of your pain and offer personalized treatment plans.
Advanced treatments: We offer the latest in minimally invasive procedures, regenerative medicine providing a wide range of options tailored to your specific condition.
Multidisciplinary approach: Our team includes pain management specialists, physical therapists, and chiropractors, working together to give you the most well-rounded care.
Patient-centered philosophy: We listen to your needs and concerns, ensuring that your treatment plan is customized to help you achieve long-term relief.

Conclusion

When chronic pain becomes unbearable, finding the right pain management practice is essential. Pain management doctors do much more than just prescribe medications—they offer a range of therapies designed to target the root cause of your pain and improve your function and quality of life. Whether you need injections, physical therapy, or advanced procedures like spinal cord stimulation, the best pain management doctors in Arizona can help you find the right solution.

At Arizona Pain, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care to help you get back to living pain-free. If you’re struggling with chronic pain and looking for relief, we invite you to learn more about the treatments we offer and how we can help you regain control of your life.

Dr. Justin Thompson is a healthcare blogger dedicated to providing insights into advanced medical treatments and patient care strategies.