What Kind of Physical Pain Do You Have?
Not all pain is considered equal in terms of type and trigger as well as in intensity, frequency and duration. Pain management then becomes a more complicated task depending on these factors as well as on the required approaches, which may include medication management, physical therapy, and interventional procedures. Keep in mind, too, that each patient will have customized management, which may or may not combine conventional (e.g., medication) and alternative (e.g., acupuncture) therapies as well as referral to other medical specialists to treat the underlying causes.
Your doctor at any of the Healthpointe clinics will first determine the type that your symptoms fall into. You can visit the Colton clinic which is near Rialto, Bloomington, San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Highgrove, and Grand Terrace for a definitive categorization.
First, nociceptive pain usually involves tissue damage including injuries that initiate pain signals transferred via the peripheral nerves to the brain. The pain signals are typically modulated throughout these pathways; thus, the awareness that a certain part of the body is in pain. Examples include a broken bone and a cut on the skin with most pain in the back, legs, and arms being considered as nociceptive pain.
There are two main sub-categories of nociceptive pain, namely:
- Radicular pain, which originates from the irritation of the nerve roots, such as in disc herniation. Its symptoms include weakness, numbness, or loss of reflexes in the affected nerve’s distribution.
- Somatic pain, which is limited to the thighs or back. Back pain can result from damage to one of the three most commonly injured structures in the back, namely, the discs, the facet joints, and the sacroiliac joint.
Second, neuropathy is usually caused by illness or injury to the nervous system. Classic examples include diabetic peripheral neuropathy and shingles, which sometimes have no obvious sources yet occur simultaneously.
A few examples of neuropathic pain includes:
- Complex regional pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Interstitial cystitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
Many of the types of neuropathy are difficult to treat even with the combination of conventional and alternative therapies. Fortunately, careful diagnosis and combination of several methods of treatment can identify the source and address its onset. Doctors aim for a return to normal function after every episode, such as in the case of fibromyalgia.
You have to discuss your symptoms with your doctor so that a definitive diagnosis can be made.
Come to any of the Healthpointe clinics, such as the one in Anaheim, for effective services. We also accept patients from Fullerton, Placentia, Villa Park, Buena Park, Cypress, Cerritos, and Garden Grove.
Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including Anaheim by Fullerton, Placentia, Villa Park, Buena Park, Cypress, Cerritos, and Garden Grove. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit Healthpointe.net.