Treatment/Treatment Details/Chronic Pain Treatment

Chronic Pain Treatment

Chronic pain is pain lasting longer than expected—often beyond 3 months. Effective treatment starts by identifying the primary pain generator(s) and building a plan that improves function, sleep, and mobility.

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Structured Chronic Pain Evaluation & Treatment

Chronic pain treatment begins by identifying the main pain generator or combination of generators. Pain that lasts for months can involve joint degeneration, nerve compression, prior surgery changes, tendon disease, muscle guarding, scar tissue, and sensitized nerve pathways. A useful plan must separate those contributors rather than treating all chronic pain the same way.

Mountain Spine & Orthopedics uses history, physical exam, imaging review, and diagnostic injections when appropriate to determine whether pain is primarily spine-related, joint-related, nerve-related, post-surgical, inflammatory, or mixed. Treatment may include medication review, activity modification, outside-guided rehabilitation, image-guided injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, surgical evaluation when a correctable structural problem exists, or neuromodulation discussion for selected refractory cases. PPO Insurance Accepted.

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Who Benefits from Chronic Pain Treatment?

Patients with chronic back pain or chronic neck pain that has persisted beyond 3 months
Individuals with chronic joint pain (shoulder, hip, knee) that limits function despite prior care
Those with neuropathic pain or nerve pain (burning, shooting, numbness)
Patients with failed back surgery syndrome or persistent pain after spine surgery
Individuals with fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), or myofascial pain syndrome
People who want to reduce reliance on opioids while improving function and sleep

What Conditions does Chronic Pain Treatment Help Ease?

This procedure may help with:

Chronic Pain Nerve Pain

Specialist evaluating chronic pain patient at Mountain Spine & Orthopedics

How Chronic Pain Treatment Works: Evaluation & Options

Step 1: Comprehensive Evaluation
Your specialist takes a detailed history (triggers, timeline, prior care), performs a physical exam (joints, nerves, movement), and reviews imaging when needed. The goal is to identify the primary pain generator(s) and rule out serious underlying conditions.
Step 2: Movement and Outside Rehabilitation Guidance
When appropriate, outside-guided rehabilitation focuses on movement retraining, strengthening, pacing, and posture or ergonomic corrections. This helps restore function while reducing reliance on passive treatments alone.
Step 3: Medication Management
Medication management aims to minimize opioid use while optimizing neuropathic medications (e.g., gabapentin, duloxetine) and anti-inflammatory options when appropriate. The goal is better pain control with fewer side effects.
Step 4: Image-Guided Injections
When a specific pain generator is confirmed (e.g., facet joint, SI joint, nerve root), injections—such as epidural steroid injections or joint blocks—can provide both diagnostic confirmation and therapeutic relief as part of a larger plan.
Step 5: Advanced Procedures When Indicated
If conservative care and injections are insufficient, options may include radiofrequency ablation for facet or SI joint pain, or neuromodulation (spinal cord stimulation) for certain refractory conditions. These are considered when clearly indicated and after shared decision-making.

Benefits of Chronic Pain Treatment

Comprehensive evaluation identifies the true pain generators instead of relying on imaging alone.
Multimodal approach addresses pain from multiple angles (outside-guided movement care, medications, injections, procedures when needed).
Minimizes medication dependence, especially opioids, while improving pain control and function.
Improves function and sleep and helps you return to activities that matter to you.
Provides tools for long-term pain self-management so you can maintain progress over time.
Personalized treatment plan that adapts as you improve and as new options become appropriate.

What to Expect After Starting Chronic Pain Treatment

Recovery Timeline: Weeks to Months, Depending on Complexity

Progress depends on the diagnosis, duration of symptoms, prior surgery, nerve involvement, and overall health. Goals focus on improved function, sleep, mobility, and reduced medication reliance when safe rather than promising complete pain elimination. Treatment milestones are adjusted as diagnostic information becomes clearer and as the patient responds to each step.

Related Pain Management Treatments

Explore other pain management treatment options:

Orthopedic Injections Anti-Inflammatory Injections for Joint and Spine Pain Fracture Fixation Non-Surgical Treatments for Pain Management Sacroiliac Joint Injection Nerve Block Injection Joint Pain Treatment Arthritis Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does pain persist even after imaging looks 'mild'?

Pain is multifactorial and doesn't always correlate with imaging severity. Factors include nerve sensitization, muscle dysfunction, joint mechanics, inflammation, and central pain processing. Effective treatment addresses the actual pain generators, not just imaging findings.

Are injections a cure for chronic pain?

Injections are both diagnostic and therapeutic—they help identify pain sources AND provide relief. They're part of a comprehensive plan, not a standalone cure. Combined with rehab and activity modification, injections can facilitate functional improvement.

What if I have pain in multiple areas?

Common in chronic pain. Strategy is to prioritize PRIMARY drivers (which pain limits you most?) and stage care appropriately. Treating the main pain generator often improves secondary pain as movement and function improve.

How long until improvement with chronic pain treatment?

Depends on pain duration and complexity. With a structured plan, many patients see measurable progress within 4-8 weeks. However, chronic pain that developed over years may take months to significantly improve. Focus is on functional goals, not complete pain elimination.

When should I see a specialist urgently for chronic pain?

Red flags include new or progressive weakness, numbness spreading proximally, loss of bowel/bladder control, severe pain with fever or unexplained weight loss, or pain after significant trauma. These warrant prompt evaluation to rule out serious underlying conditions.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Schedule a consultation for comprehensive chronic pain evaluation and personalized treatment planning. Free MRI review and second opinion available.

Locations Offering Evaluation

Our board-certified specialists offer chronic pain treatment evaluation and treatment at locations across Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Schedule a consultation at a clinic near you.

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Meet our Doctors

Dr. Clay Shumway

Foot & Ankle Podiatric Surgeon

Dr. Clay Shumway is a fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeon specializing in advanced, minimally invasive techniques, including total ankle replacement and 3D bunion correction. His patient-first philosophy prioritizes conservative care, utilizing surgery only when necessary to restore mobility and ensure lasting relief.

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Dr. Christopher McCarthy

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

With elite training from Princeton, Harvard, and Brown University, Dr. Christopher McCarthy is an orthopedic spine surgeon whose expertise is uniquely enhanced by a second residency in emergency medicine. This powerful combination of skills enables him to treat complex spinal conditions with unmatched precision and compassionate care.