Pain Management
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Texas Pain & Orthopedics
Pain Management, Sports Medicine and Regenerative Orthopedics serving Austin, Pflugerville, Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, Taylor, Cedar Park, and Central Texas.
Chronic pain is often difficult to manage, leaving you exhausted and depressed. If you struggle with daily pain, contact Ike Malik, MD, of Texas Pain & Orthopedics in Pflugerville, Texas, for expert pain management services. Dr. Malik is a board-certified pain management physician specializing in advanced interventions for patients with chronic pain. From arthritis and fibromyalgia to migraines and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), Texas Pain & Orthopedics provides the most effective treatments. To benefit from the practice’s cutting-edge approach, call the office today or book an appointment online.
Pain Management Q & A
What causes chronic pain?
Chronic pain — pain lasting for more than three months — can have many causes. Long-term diseases like cancer frequently cause chronic pain, and suffering from repeated headaches and migraines is also considered a chronic pain problem.
Very often, chronic pain stems from neuromusculoskeletal issues involving the bones, joints, connective tissues, muscles, and nerves. Old injuries that don’t heal properly, skeletal abnormalities, and age-related deterioration can all contribute to chronic pain.
Nerve problems are frequently at the root of chronic pain. Compressed spinal nerves (radiculopathy) can cause chronic back and neck pain that often spreads into the arms and legs. Pinched or dysfunctional nerves can cause pain in any part of your body.
Some chronic pain is less easily classified. Sometimes, there isn’t a clear cause for the pain, which is referred to as idiopathic pain.
Who can benefit from pain management?
Many people with chronic conditions require pain management services to stay active and maintain their quality of life. Some of the most common chronic pain conditions include:
- Spinal stenosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Vertebral compression fractures
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Sciatica
- Spondylolisthesis
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Trigeminal and occipital neuralgia
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Postherpetic neuralgia
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
To determine the cause of your pain, Dr. Malik performs a comprehensive physical exam and reviews your medical history. It helps if you can provide as many details as possible about your condition, such as what the pain feels like, what makes it worse or eases it, and any other symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
You may also need blood tests, X-rays, an MRI or CT scan, or electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests.
How can pain management help me?
Your pain management plan depends on factors such as your condition, other health issues, and how severely the pain affects you. Potential treatments Dr. Malik may use in your rehabilitation include:
- Physical therapy
- Rest and activity modification
- Medication
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Stem cell therapy
- Epidural steroid injections
- Nerve blocks
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty (for vertebral compression fractures)
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal cord stimulation
Many patients respond well to noninvasive treatments and don’t need advanced interventions like radiofrequency ablation or spinal cord stimulation. However, if your pain is severe and other approaches aren’t helping, Dr. Malik specializes in performing these procedures, which stop the nerves in the affected areas from sending pain messages to your brain.
If you’re struggling with chronic pain and don’t know where to turn, call Texas Pain & Orthopedics for expert treatment or book an appointment online today.
