HJAR Nov/Dec 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  NOV / DEC 2022 57 Julio Olaya, MD Pain Medicine Specialists of Arkansas therapy. This treatment approach helps manage pain and improve movement problems that may impact an individ- ual’s daily life. Physical therapy may include heat or cold on the area that hurts, massage, stretching exercises, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS units). 11 • Occupational therapy. • Counseling — one-on-one or group therapy. • Braces. • Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. • Biofeedback. • Spinal cord stimulation. • Nerve blocks. • Surgery to treat the condition that caused the pain. • Additionally, people may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, to help reframe any negative thought patterns. Research shows that this form of talk therapy may be valuable for some in- dividuals with chronic pain. 6 • Individuals may also find relief from chronic pain through alternative ther- apies such as acupuncture. Although research states this technique yields mixed results, acupuncture may pro- vide relief for some individuals, par- ticularly those who do not respond to standard treatments. 3 n REFERENCES 1 WebMD. “What is Chronic Pain Syndrome?” Reviewed Nov. 23, 2020. https://www.webmd. com/pain-management/chronic-pain-syndrome- overview 2 Hayes, B.J.; Craig, K.D.; Wing, P.C. “Diagnostic judgment: Chronic pain syndrome, pain disorder, and malingering.” British Columbia Medical Jour- nal 44, no. 6 (July-August 2022): 312-316. https:// bcmj.org/articles/diagnostic-judgment-chronic- pain-syndrome-pain-disorder-and-malingering 3 National Center for Complementary and In- tegrative Health. “Chronic Pain: In Depth.” Last updated September 2018. https://www.nccih.nih. gov/health/chronic-pain-in-depth 4 Singh, M.; Patel, J.; Gallagher, R.M. “Chronic Pain Syndrome Treatment & Management.” Medscape (updated Jan. 14, 2020). https://emedicine.med - scape.com/article/310834-overview 5 Healthwise. “Chronic Pain Syndrome.” St. Luke’s Health System (current as of Dec. 13, 2021). https://www.stlukesonline.org/health-services/ health-information/healthwise/2017/11/14/22/51/ chronic-pain-syndrome#hw46070-sec 6 Medical News Today. “What to know about chronic pain syndrome.” Reviewed Jan. 19, 2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ chronic-pain-syndrome 7 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “VHA Pain Management.” Last updated Oct. 3, 2022. https:// www.va.gov/PAINMANAGEMENT/index.asp 8 Kids Health. “Repetitive Stress Injuries in Sports.” Reviewed January 2019. https://kid- shealth.org/en/parents/repetitive-stress-sports. html#catexercise-safety 9 Mayo Clinic. “Fibromyalgia.” Oct. 26, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi- tions/fibromyalgia/symptoms-causes/syc- 20354780 10 Mayo Clinic. “Endometriosis.” July 24, 2018. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656 11 Frontera, W.; Silver, J.; Rizzo, T. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Elsevier, 2014. “Around 25.3 million adults in the United States live with chronic pain every day, which affects their emotional and physical health.” Symptoms: 1,6 CPS affects your physical health, your emotions, and even your social life over time. The pain can lead to other symptoms, such as: • Anxiety. • Depression. • Poor sleep. • Feeling very tired or wiped out. • Irritability. • Guilt. • Loss of interest in sex. • Drug or alcohol use. • Marriage or family problems. • Job loss. • Suicidal thoughts. • Some people with CPS need to take more and more medicine to manage their pain, which can make them de- pendent on these drugs. Treatment: 1,6 Chronic pain requires other treatments besides medication. Firstly, pain-relieving medication may be recommended, including anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. They may also prescribe antidepressants to reduce pain signals, such as: • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. • Tricyclics. • Gabapentinoids. • People may also require physical