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Up to 20% of adults suffer from chronic pain, keeping them from work, exercise, and other activities. At Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr. & Associates in Roanoke, Virginia, with five satellite offices throughout Virginia and another in North Carolina, interventional pain management physician Murray E. Joiner Jr., MD, offers complete care for chronic pain. This includes pain management injections, physical therapy, and minimally invasive orthopedic surgery. Call the nearest office today to schedule chronic pain treatment, or book your appointment online.
Chronic Pain Q & A
How can I tell if I have chronic pain?
Everyone experiences musculoskeletal pain from time to time. But if your symptoms continue for three months or longer and fail to improve, it’s considered chronic.
Without a diagnosis and treatment, chronic pain will interfere with activities like work, exercise, and socialization. It can even increase your risk of other health problems, including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Various things can be done to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and promote your body’s healing process.
What are some examples of chronic pain?
Dr. Joiner diagnoses and treats various types of chronic pain, including:
- Fibromyalgia
- Neck pain
- Lower back pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Neurogenic pain (damage to the nerves and/or nervous system)
Some people experience chronic pain in scar tissue from previous injuries or surgery.
What does chronic pain feel like?
Chronic pain affects everyone differently. For some, it’s sharp, stabbing, or burning; for others, it’s dull and throbbing. Regardless of your symptoms, if your pain lasts more than a few weeks and fails to improve, make an appointment to see Dr. Joiner.
How does an interventional pain management specialist diagnose chronic pain?
Dr. Joiner reviews your medical records and asks about your symptoms, including when the pain started, how often you feel it, and how intense it is on a scale of one to 10.
Dr. Joiner completes a physical exam and orders various tests, including bloodwork, electromyography (to assess your muscle activity), and imaging tests like X-rays or an MRI. He also completes a nerve conduction study and reflex and balance tests.
These procedures help Dr. Joiner pinpoint your pain’s source and determine the best treatment.
How does an interventional pain management specialist treat chronic pain?
Dr. Joiner treats chronic pain using a conservative, minimally invasive approach. He might suggest:
- Prescription anticonvulsant medication to relieve nerve pain
- Prescription antidepressants
- Prescription muscle relaxers
- Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medication
- Topical pain relievers
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Nerve block injections
- Epidural steroid injections
- Physical therapy
- Stress management
- Manual therapy, like massage or acupuncture
- Ultrasound-guided stem cell injections
- Intrathecal pain pump
- Spinal cord stimulation
Most people with chronic pain benefit from several treatments, but if your symptoms continue or get worse, Dr. Joiner might recommend orthopedic surgery. Surgery addresses the pain at its source and speeds up your body’s healing process.
Call Dr. Murray E. Joiner Jr. & Associates today to schedule chronic pain treatment, or book your appointment online.