Monday, June 27, 2016

Understanding Chronic Pain


An anesthesiologist, Annie Burton, MD pursues fellowship training in interventional pain management through the University of Minnesota Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Earlier, Dr. Annie Burton earned her MD from the University of Minnesota Medical School.

When doctors diagnose a patient with chronic pain, it means that the patient has experienced pain lasting more than half a year. In the United States, chronic pain is fairly common, with an estimated 100 million Americans living with this condition. Often, the pain centers on problem areas such as the back, head, and joints. Chronic pain can also degrade physical and mental health.

The field of pain management seeks to help patients impacted by chronic pain. Doctors who specialize in pain management have a wide variety of tools at their disposal, including medications and physical therapy. Moreover, patients may benefit from mental health counseling that teaches them how to effectively cope with feelings of hopeless and anger associated with chronic pain.

For those with especially severe symptoms there are pain centers around the country that offer both inpatient and outpatient care.

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