Acute pain arises quickly, can be intense, and subsides completely over a short period of time. Most acute pain goes away after three months. Chronic pain does not go away.
You should seek treatment for any pain that lasts longer than three months. Ignoring persistent pain can cause it to get worse and may make treatment more difficult.
For individuals experiencing severe chronic pain, the idea of taking an addictive medication to control pain is concerning. Fear of addiction, in fact, is among many patients’ biggest concerns when seeking treatment. It’s important to understand your own risk factors for opioid addiction and to speak with your pain management specialist to find treatments you’re comfortable with. Some of the key risk factors for opioid addiction include:
- Living in a rural area
- Having a lower annual income
- Taking a higher daily dosage of an opioid painkiller
- Having a history of mental illness
- Having a history of drug or alcohol abuse or dependency
When taken correctly, prescription opioid medications can be an effective method for relieving chronic pain. However, many pain management options don’t involve prescription opioids.
The time spent in our office depends on the type of appointment you have scheduled with us. If you’re only coming in for a consultation, this will take approximately one hour. A consultation with an injection on the same day may take up to up to one and a half hours. Subsequent injection appointments are quicker, approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on the type of procedure.
