7 reasons why you should see a pain management doctor

Pain management is a medical specialty that focuses on reducing or eliminating pain in patients with chronic conditions. Whether it's chronic back pain, arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia or neuropathic pain, a pain management specialist can help. Pain management doctors use a variety of treatments, including medications, injections, physical therapy and other techniques to relieve pain. Dr. Edrick Lopez of DFW Interventional Pain Institute is a board-certified pain management specialist with extensive training, including his residency at Harvard Medical School. He brings this expertise to the people of Irving and the surrounding areas in Texas.

In this blog post, we'll highlight 7 reasons why you might consider seeing a pain management doctor to help with chronic pain.

Reason #1: Improve your quality of life

Reason #1 is the most important and why we started our practice in the first place. Chronic pain can have a significant impact on your quality of life, preventing you from enjoying everyday activities and even going as far as causing depression and anxiety. A pain management doctor can help you improve your quality of life by providing relief from chronic pain.

If you've been browsing our website, you'll see that we use the phrase "live your best life" (and other variations) throughout. That's because we believe pain management should always help a patient improve their quality of life to the point where they can live life to the best of their ability. Our goal is to lessen the impact that that pain has on your daily activities so you can live life to the fullest.

Reason #2: Seeing a pain management doctor could help you avoid surgery

Seeking treatment from a pain management doctor can help you avoid surgery. Though many patients may elect to undergo surgery to fix a certain condition, many people do not want to have a surgery for various reasons. A pain management physician can help those patients that don't want to go through surgery but may benefit from alternative solutions through pain management.

Many people with chronic pain conditions are referred to pain management specialists as a last resort before undergoing surgery. Pain management doctors can use non-surgical techniques to relieve pain, such as injections and physical therapy. Dr. Lopez works with a variety of patients to understand their specific needs and then help them decide whether pain management is right for them and which pain management treatment program to take.

Reason #3: Reduce dependence on narcotics

Many patients take narcotics under the supervision of their physician to help manage pain, but there are also many patients who are looking to reduce their use of narcotics for pain management for various reasons. Pain management doctors can use alternative therapies to reduce your need for narcotics and provide safer, non-addictive treatments for chronic pain. These can include injections, physical therapy or other medicines depending on your specific pain needs.

If you're curious about trying different strategies to manage your pain that don't require narcotics, contact our office to set up an appointment with Dr. Lopez and our staff. We'll look at your individual needs and put together a custom treatment plan that fits with your lifestyle.

Reason #4: Increase your mobility

Chronic pain can limit your mobility, making it difficult to move, exercise and perform daily activities. Pain management doctors can provide treatments that improve your mobility, such as physical therapy and nerve blocks. Dr. Lopez has the medical expertise from his extensive training to suggest impactful therapies such as trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections and platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP).

If you've tried other methods to increase your mobility and have had limited success, coming in for an appointment with Dr. Lopez might be the first step in getting back the mobility that you've been looking forward to.

Reason #5: Address underlying conditions

Reason #5 is a big one and one that many people may not consider when thinking about pain management because they think pain management doctors only treat the pain.

The truth is that pain management doctors can help identify and treat underlying conditions that may be causing your chronic pain, not just the pain itself. For example, if you have arthritis in your knees, a pain management doctor can help treat the arthritis rather than just managing the pain. Dr. Lopez might use a combination of regenerative therapy, PRP injections and hyaluronic acid treatments to help fix the underlying cause of the pain and also relieve the pain experienced when using those knee joints.

Reason #6: Prevent future pain

Reason #6 is similar to reason #5 in that it's somewhat unexpected: Pain management doctors can provide treatments that can prevent future pain episodes! For example, if you have chronic migraines, a pain management doctor can provide treatments that can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines.

Dr. Lopez will also do a thorough assessment of your pain to help diagnose whether there are other complications from your current pain that may influence other areas where pain may occur. Or, as another example, Dr. Lopez may help you assess how pain in one area of your body may be related to or causing other pain (or might do so in the future) in other areas of your body. So, once again, Dr. Lopez and our team won't just treat the pain you're experience now -- they'll also help you think about how to prevent future pain, too.

Reason #7: Get a customized treatment plan that works specifically for your needs

Pain management doctors create customized treatment plans based on your specific pain needs. They will evaluate your condition and work with you to determine the best course of treatment. This personalized approach can lead to greater success in relieving chronic pain.

When you come in for your first evaluation, Dr. Lopez and our team will use your previous medical history along with a thorough exam to help you get the most out of your pain management plan. And, it'll be tailored just for you in a way that fits with your lifestyle, so you can truly start getting back to living your best life!

Book an appointment with DFW Interventional Pain Institute to help manage your chronic pain

If you're living with chronic pain, seeking treatment from a pain management doctor can greatly improve your quality of life. Dr. Edrick Lopez of DFW Interventional Pain Institute in Irving, TX, provides specialized treatment for chronic pain conditions using a variety of techniques. Whether you're looking to avoid surgery, reduce dependence on narcotics, improve mobility or prevent future pain, Dr. Lopez can help. Contact DFW Interventional Pain Institute to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lopez and start your journey towards a life with less pain.