Pain Management

Suffering from chronic pain can have a major impact on your health and overall quality of life. At Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC, in Wilmington, North Carolina, Francis Pecoraro, MD, DAPMR, SAAPMR, offers patient-centered pain management to help you achieve reliable, long-term pain relief. To schedule an appointment, call the office or request an appointment online today. 

What causes chronic pain? 

In most cases, chronic pain refers to long-term pain lasting several weeks, months, or even years. For many people, chronic pain becomes a part of everyday life. 

Although an underlying condition triggers most types of pain, chronic pain may persist even where there is no evidence of injury or body damage or after an injury heals. 

Chronic pain can result from a wide range of conditions, including:

• Injuries (e.g., sprains, strains, and fractures)
• Infections
• Arthritis
• Neuropathy
• Spinal stenosis
• Herniated discs
• Pinched nerves 
• Sciatica
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Degenerative disc disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Endometriosis

Many people suffer from issues like chronic back or neck pain, chronic arthritis pain, or chronic headaches that have major impacts on their quality of life. If you suffer from chronic pain, pain management can help you find relief and regain control of your life.

What is pain management? 

Pain management focuses on a number of useful and reliable methods of controlling and effectively relieving pain. Dr. Pecoraro specializes in several non-surgical treatments that can eliminate your pain and help you avoid the need for surgery. 

Pain management specialists typically combine several different traditional and advanced treatments to give you the best chances at successful pain relief. The goal of pain management is to give you the tools you need to control your pain and get back to your normal life. 

Because chronic pain comes with a wide range of potential causes, the first step is a thorough evaluation and diagnosis of your condition.  

How is chronic pain diagnosed? 

Chronic pain is complex and can sometimes prove difficult to diagnose. By gathering in-depth information about your pain, Dr. Pecoraro can best determine the most effective treatment. 

Your diagnosis begins with a review of your medical history and a discussion of symptoms. You and Dr. Pecoraro discuss the intensity and duration of your pain, as well as anything that increases or relieves your pain. 

In addition to a physical exam, he may conduct additional tests such as:

• X-rays
• MRIs
• CT scan
• Ultrasound
• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• Electromyography
• Spinal fluid tests
• Nerve conduction studies

Although treating the underlying condition is typically the best way to address chronic pain, sometimes chronic pain occurs without a clear cause. In these cases, Dr. Pecoraro focuses on ways to treat and effectively manage your painful symptoms. 

What are the available pain management treatments? 

Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC offers a number of different pain management treatments, including:

• Physical therapy
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulator
• Botox® injections (for migraines and chronic pain)
• Pain medication
• Steroid injections
• Joint injections like cortisone
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Nerve blocks
• Lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, weight loss, exercise)

Combining medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes gives you the best chances of eliminating your chronic pain. To get started on your pain management treatment plan, book your appointment at Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine by phone or online today.