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Treatments for Chronic Pain
How is chronic pain treated?
Treating chronic pain can be challenging. And it may take several types or combinations of treatments before you find relief. The goals of treatment are to reduce your pain and help you be able to function.
It's important to build a clear treatment plan with your doctor. Part of this plan includes finding ways for you to manage your pain. Only you know how bad your pain is and how it affects your life. Be sure to ask your doctor if you aren't clear about what steps you can take when pain occurs or gets worse.
Be sure to seek treatment early. It may help prevent the pain from getting worse.
Treatment options
There are many treatments you can try to manage your pain. Often people think of taking medicine to treat pain. But there are many non-medicine treatments that may be just as helpful. They may include:
- Physical treatments. These can be things like physical therapy, massage, or heat or cold.
- Behavioral health treatments. These are things like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR).
- Mind-body treatments. These may include relaxation exercises or yoga.
Your doctor may recommend these treatments with or without medicine.
You may be able to manage your pain with over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
If over-the-counter medicines aren't enough, other treatments may be needed. They include:
- Medicines. These are medicines like anticonvulsants or certain antidepressants that can help with chronic pain. Sometimes medicines you put on your skin may be used.
- Injections. Shots like a nerve block or a joint injection may be tried.
- Surgery. For example, intrathecal drug delivery or spinal cord stimulation may be helpful.
If your chronic pain isn't relieved after you have tried numerous treatments, you may want to think about going to a pain management clinic. Treatment is provided by a team of doctors who work together to address all the things that may cause your chronic pain.
Condition Spotlight
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.