Chronic pain can result from inflammation, neuropathy, mechanical malfunctions of nerve cells, or muscle pain. Traditional pain relievers often don't help. However, chronic pain can be managed with drug-free treatments and specialized therapies.
Pain that persists, repeatedly returns, or lasts longer than an average amount of time is referred to as chronic pain. It continues even though the cause of the pain has healed.
At his practice in Wilmington, Delaware, and Springfield, Pennsylvania, Dr. Steven Grossinger provides relief for many kinds of pain. Depending on your situation and pain level, he may recommend treatment that includes supplements, medication, or therapeutic procedures.
No matter what kind of pain you’re dealing with, Dr. Grossinger can provide fast relief with remarkable results.
Chronic pain refers to pain that’s almost always present or pain that returns even after an illness or injury has healed. It may also refer to pain that recurs frequently and affects you physically (loss of mobility, functional impairment), cognitively (mood, emotions, thoughts), and socially.
For chronic pain sufferers, pain is the chief complaint.
In contrast to acute pain, chronic pain is no longer a meaningful alarm signal that indicates damage to your body from injury or illness. It usually accompanies other complaints, such as sleep disorders, poor appetite, increased irritability, and depressive moods.
In addition, chronic pain means severe restrictions in everyday life, whether work or leisure.
While acute pain is often treated effectively with pain medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen, drugs often fail to provide relief for many people with chronic pain.
Even strong pain relievers like opioids don't usually help. Given that opioids can become addicting, it’s best if you can find a treatment plan that explores other pain-relieving options.
In creating your customized treatment plan, Dr. Grossinger explores nonsurgical solutions for your pain, including procedures that can reduce inflammation and block pain signals. Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following:
If you have spine dysfunction, you may experience pain, tingling, or numbness throughout your body. An epidural injection uses medications, including steroids, to reduce inflammation and pain in your legs, arms, neck, or back.
Dr. Grossinger uses an X-ray and a special dye to inject the medication into the right spot along your spine to reduce or eliminate your chronic pain.
Other injections Dr. Grossinger may recommend and perform are:
Steroids and epidural procedures don't use opioids, so there’s no risk of dependency.
Nerve blocks control pain by numbing the affected area or relieving inflammation. An occipital nerve block relieves pain emanating from between the first and second vertebrae of your spine.
When you experience pain or inflammation here, you may notice referred pain such as headaches, migraines, or a tender and painful scalp. The nerve block stops pain signals coming from the nerves in that specific part of your body, so it’s possible to find total pain relief.
Dr. Grossinger uses an ultrasound, fluoroscopy, or CT scan to guide the needle to the proper location.
Regenerative medicine is a unique and exceptional treatment that uses your body’s natural healing processes by stimulating cell regeneration. This approach — which includes stem cell and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapies — relieves pain without risky, invasive surgery.
Dr. Grossinger provides nonsurgical and nonpharmaceutical options like physical therapy to relieve your chronic pain. He may also suggest light exercises that you can do on your own at home. Physical therapy may include massage or heat/cold therapy.
You should see a doctor if:
Don’t let chronic pain rule your life. Call Dr. Grossinger at the location most convenient to you, or request your appointment online.
