Chronic Pain? Diagnosis, Management Plan is Key



Chronic pain is a part of daily life for many individuals. In fact, it’s estimated that 56 million Americans -- or 28 percent of the adult population -- experience chronic pain.

Fortunately, there’s much that doctors and other healthcare providers can do to reduce the severity of acute or chronic pain.

“It’s important to establish an early diagnosis and create a management plan that can either eliminate or help the individual function with his or her chronic pain,“ says Fady Nageeb, M.D., director of the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Center at Lakewood Hospital. It is the goal of Dr. Nageeb and his team to assess the situation, address the pain, and facilitate the individual’s return to a normal, productive lifestyle.

Many doctors and health care workers still have much to learn when it comes to the appropriate diagnosis of painful conditions. “Pain has traditionally been treated as a symptom, which is appropriate in terms of acute injury or medical disease,” says Dr. Nageeb. “But as anyone with back pain knows, chronic pain and disability may remain even after the injury has healed or the disease has subsided. The pain itself now becomes the medical problem.”

Oftentimes chronic pain patients have to accept that their goal is no longer to find out what the problem is, but rather to find out how they can live with it.

“Pain is a signal to our brains that something is not right, and if you realize this, it will help you deal with it,” says Dr. Nageeb.

A referral from a primary care physician is generally required before seeing a pain specialist, who could be an anesthesiologist like Dr Nageeb, or an internist, rheumatologist, neurosurgeon, or neurologist. During the initial “diagnostic workup,” patients also may be visited by an occupational therapist, physical therapist and psychologist.

“Like all good medical practice, a good treatment program can only be based on an accurate diagnosis,” says Dr. Nageeb. “Tell your doctor that the treatments that you tried previously are not resolving your chronic pain,” said Dr. Nageeb. “Then work with him or her to find the right combination of treatments for you.”

It’s also important for chronic pain sufferers to realize that they are not alone. “There are many local support groups for victims of chronic pain,” says Dr. Nageeb. “Consider building a network of people who can understand your situation and support you along the way.”

If you have chronic pain, ask your primary care physician for a referral to Dr. Nageeb at the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Center at Lakewood Hospital, 216.529.PAIN (7246). The Center is conveniently located at the Lakewood Hospital Professional Building, 14601 Detroit Avenue, Suite 260, Lakewood.