For many people, simply taking a shower, walking across the room – even watching television – can be extremely uncomfortable. For the 48 million chronic pain sufferers in the United States, pain is woven into every aspect of their lives. Yet not all sufferers understand the root of their pain. In fact, pain that began as the result of an illness or injury and persisted after the normal healing time can become an illness in itself. Others become so accustomed to living with pain, they may not realize treatment can help.

Who May Benefit

Pain can result from many conditions, including:

• spine/back problems
• sciatica
• arthritis
• headaches
• surgery
• shingles
• diabetes
• nerve problems
• spine compression fracture
• cancer treatment

Those who are suffering from pain that has persisted for weeks, months or even years may benefit from pain management services, particularly those who have developed a heightened sense of pain, have become unresponsive to medication, suffer from poor sleep quality due to pain, or feel anxious or depressed as a result of their pain. Some people live with pain for so long, it becomes a lifestyle. Treatment can change their lives dramatically.

Treatment Plan

Morris Hospital’s Pain Management Services is staffed by physicians and nurses who are experienced in evaluating and treating chronic pain. The team first determines the cause of the patient’s pain and then develops a treatment plan based on the diagnosis, as well as the patient’s goals. For example, if a chronic pain sufferer wants to play golf again, the goal is to manage the pain and to get the patient back on the golf course so he or she can lead a functional and fulfilling life.

Treatment Options

Because the cause of pain is different for each person, the pain specialists at Morris Hospital use a variety of pain management techniques and treatments. Some patients may require only one visit, while others may need multiple appointments. Most treatments fall into one of these categories:

• Physical Rehabilitation & Exercise - Physical therapy can help reduce and prevent pain through strengthening  and stretching. The development of an independent home exercise program is key to long term pain reduction. 
• Injections - Injections can be used to either diagnose the source of pain or provide relief. For example, spine pain can be very difficult to diagnosis, even with an MRI test. By injecting local anesthetic in different areas of the spine, pain management physicians are able to pinpoint and then treat the specific site causing the pain. 
• Medical Management - Individualized medical management therapies are directed at the underlying source of the patient's pain. 
• Advanced Pain Management Therapies- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty offer dramatic pain relief for compression fractures. Radiofrequency techniques and spinal cord/peripheral nerve stimulation are also available for the treatment of multiple chronic pain problems.  

Our Location

Patients coming to Morris Hospital for Pain Management Services are encouraged to use the Outpatient entrance off Lisbon Street.

For more information on Pain Management Services at Morris Hospital, call 815-942-2932, ext. 2429.