Treatments for Chronic Pain

Depending on your pain, if you experience unsatisfactory relief, uncomfortable side effects, or unwanted complications from oral medications and repeated surgeries (see other options below), you may want to talk to your doctor about Medtronic Pain Therapies™.

There are a number of steps in getting the pain relief that's right for you. The choice of treatment depends on the type of pain, how severe it is, and how you respond to your pain therapy.

The following is a list of therapies your doctors may consider when treating chronic pain. (Not all treatment options are applicable to your type of pain.)

If these medications do not control your pain, your doctor may try opioids. Opioids either replace, or combine with, what you have been taking. Weak opioids such as codeine are usually given orally as pills. Strong opioids such as morphine or fentanyl are commonly given orally, but they can also be given through skin patches (fentanyl only), suppositories, or via an external infusion system.

Doctors combine other types of drugs with pain relievers. They include anti-inflammatory steroids, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. These drugs may be effective treatments for specific types of pain, or pain with specific causes. For example, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants to help relieve certain types of pain. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that you are suffering from depression. Similarly, steroids often are effective in relieving pain associated with inflammation.

Because each person is unique in response to medication, doctors may try a variety of doses and drug combinations to determine what is most effective. The exact choice of your treatment depends on your type of pain, how severe it is, and how your pain responds to that treatment method.

Physical Therapy can be passive or active. Passive therapies such as massage and applying heat and cold are typically effective for pain only in the first two to four weeks after an injury. Patients typically do active physical therapy such as exercise and posture/gait correction for up to 12 weeks. These treatments help with chronic pain by building or reconditioning muscles so they can move more normally.

Psychological Therapy can help you sort through the issues that chronic pain can create. Chronic pain can be stressful in that it strains relationships and affects your ability to work or take part in daily activities. In addition, you, your family members, and significant others may bring a unique mix of feelings, expectations, beliefs, personality traits, experiences, support systems, and skills to the situation. Often, psychologists will work with people on relaxation techniques, coping skills, and self-monitoring skills.

Corrective Surgery is appropriate for certain people with chronic pain. A doctor can do diagnostic tests, such as MRI or CT scans, to determine if structural problems are causing pain such as a herniated or a pinched nerve. If a problem is found, the surgeon may then perform the appropriate surgery to try to relieve the problem.

Therapeutic Nerve Blocks are a local anesthetic and/or steroid injection administered at the site of pain. This injection is directed to the area where you are feeling pain. Nerve blocks typically achieve temporary pain relief. Some people may benefit from a single nerve block. Other people with more complex pain conditions may require more blocks. If your pain is not managed within four to six months, your doctor often considers other pain treatments.

Medical Devices, which include a Medtronic pain pacemaker (neurostimulation) or Medtronic pain-control pump (intrathecal drug delivery system) deliver proven, effective treatment alternatives when other pain treatments provide unsatisfactory relief. A Medtronic pain-control pump or Medtronic pain pacemaker works directly on the spinal cord, which is the highway for pain signals. These therapies are thought to work by interfering with pain signals before they reach the brain. They may offer good to excellent pain relief for appropriate patients, and improve your ability to go about daily activities. Results may vary depending on each patient. If you are interested in Medtronic Pain Therapies™, talk to your doctor about a screening test to help determine whether you are an appropriate candidate.

Neuroablation is the destruction of nerves that serve as pathways to the brain. Typically performed when other treatments have failed, doctors may use heat to sever the nerves that are transmitting pain signals. Neuroablation is the destruction of these nerves. It may be permanent, or the nerves may grow back in time. Neuroablative techniques are usually applied only as a last resort when other therapies have failed.