Chronic Pain Syndrome | Pain Management | Tyler Texas

An Overview of Chronic Pain Syndrome

Biochemical changes occur in the body associated with long-lasting pain in certain patients. Chronic pain syndrome is a difficult condition for pain physicians to both diagnose and treat since pain signals continue to fire for months, or even years, after the initial injury or health condition is treated and healed. When this occurs, it is critical patients contact a pain management specialist in order to alleviate the unwanted effects of chronic pain. As a multidisciplinary pain management practice located in Tyler, Texas, Pain Recovery Center of Tyler is here to treat patients suffering from chronic pain.

What is Chronic Pain Syndrome?

Chronic pain syndrome is responsible for causing neuropathic pain (pain triggered by the nervous system) for months or years after the injury or health condition is healed. The condition makes many aspects of life quite difficult for sufferers. Patients suffering from the condition often experience depression, frustration, anger and anxiety. The combination of these emotions may cause patients to no longer maintain a healthy home life or perform everyday work requirements.

Chronic pain syndrome is believed by many health professionals to be associated with certain health conditions and/or injuries. Pain management specialists often link osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar or cervical fractures, mechanical lower back pain, disc herniation and poor posture with long-term pain.

Chronic Pain Syndrome and Pain Management

Chronic pain syndrome requires a tailored pain management treatment plan of both counseling and medical treatment. At a pain management clinic, patients can receive both forms of treatment with a multidisciplinary approach.

A pain management treatment will begin with a diagnostic examination that determines the root cause of chronic pain syndrome. A pain physician will utilize diagnostic testing, a physical examination and a thorough medical review to gain a better understanding of the cause of chronic pain.

A treatment approach will then be prescribed. Each treatment plan for chronic pain syndrome is a tailored approach since no two cases are similar. Common treatment options include over-the-counter pain medications and anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) medications, pain management injections, physical therapy exercises, hot and cold applications, stress management practices and cognitive behavior therapy.

There is no way to prevent chronic pain syndrome, but taking injury precautions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk.

For additional resources on chronic pain syndrome, or to determine the correct pain management approach for your chronic pain, please contact the Tyler, Texas office of Pain Recovery Center of Tyler.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | Chronic Pain | Tyler Texas

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Overview

We have all experienced some level of fatigue during our lifetime, but certain patients experience extreme fatigue or tiredness that is not alleviated with rest. These patients may be affected by a rare health condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome can be a debilitating condition, causing patients to experience chronic pain, muscle pain, joint pain, frequent headaches and an unrefreshed feeling after sleep. The pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler in Tyler, Texas are highly experienced at diagnosing and treating a number of chronic pain conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complicated health condition characterized by extreme fatigue that is not associated with an underlying medical condition. A patient’s fatigue does not improve with rest, but may worsen with mental and physical activity. Certain physicians link the condition with a viral infection, psychological stress or a combination of factors, such as hypotension, a weakened immune system and hormonal imbalances.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

Chronic fatigue syndrome is more common in women than men, and most commonly affects adults in their 40s and 50s.

Symptoms vary for each patient depending on the condition’s severity. The hallmark symptom of this health condition is fatigue so severe it interferes with daily activities. Other common symptoms include:

• Chronic pain
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain with no swelling or redness
• Frequent headaches
• Loss of concentration
• Loss of memory
• Chronic insomnia
• Feeling unrefreshed after any duration of rest/sleep

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis

To determine if chronic fatigue syndrome is the cause of a patient’s joint pain, muscle pain or chronic pain, a pain physician must rule out other illnesses or health conditions, such as sleep disorders, mental health disorders, hypothyroidism, anemia and diabetes.

In order to be diagnosed with the condition, a patient must not have an underlying medical condition. Patients must also display unexplained, consistent fatigue over 6 months with at least four of the following symptoms:

• Loss of memory or concentration
• Sore throat
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or armpits
• Unexplained muscle pain
• Pain that moves from one joint to another without swelling or redness
• Headache of a new type, pattern or severity
• Unrefreshing sleep
• Extreme exhaustion lasting more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Treatment

At this time, there is no cure for chronic fatigue syndrome. The goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms. Patients may be prescribed sleeping pills, antidepressants, physical therapy exercises and psychological counseling.

Patients will also be encouraged by a pain physician to create a healthy sleep schedule, reduce stress and keep activity on an even level at home.

For more resources on chronic fatigue syndrome, or to determine if the condition is the cause of your chronic pain, please contact the Tyler, Texas pain physicians at Pain Recovery Center of Tyler.