Most sufferers think of pain as sharp and stabbing or a dull ache. To a interventional spine and pain specialist, the type of pain you’re experiencing points to the cause of the pain. Only when your pain is diagnosed correctly can the treatment be administered. Your pain may involve:
Acute pain. It can last for a few minutes to a month or two. Usually, the catalyst is a broken bone, a bad fall or surgery.
Chronic pain. It’s continuous and can last for more than six months. Medical conditions like diabetes, circulatory problems, headache, cancer or fibromyalgia can cause this type of pain.
Breakthrough pain. This is when the you experience sudden, short burst of sharp pain at an extreme intensity level. It’s often associated with people who are already taking medication for chronic pain.
Bone pain. This is achy, dull pain with tenderness. The cause can range from a bone fracture, cancer, mineral deficiency or sickle cell anemia to pelvic girdle pain that pregnant women experience.
Nerve pain. It flares up due to nerve damage or inflammation. Common causes are alcoholism, limb amputation, stroke or diabetes.
Phantom pain. It’s often associated with people who have had a limb amputated.
Soft tissue pain. This occurs when there is damage to or inflammation of your muscles, tissues or ligaments. Conditions like bursitis, rotator cuff injury, sciatic pain or TMJ syndrome cause such discomfort.
Referred pain. It’s when you have an injury somewhere else, but feel the pain in another part of your body. You may have hurt your back, but you feel the pain in your legs.