Chronic pain is a persistent, debilitating pain that lasts for three months or longer.
It’s different from acute pain, which commonly results from injury or surgery and heals with time.
Chronic pain affects roughly 1.5 billion people worldwide and is most commonly located in the back.
The different types of chronic pain
Many patients have a mix of both types.
Mechanical pain
This type of chronic pain is generally caused by damage to the bones, ligaments, tendons, or muscles. Treatment for mechanical pain is best accomplished by treating the source, and options vary depending on location.
Nerve pain
Nerve pain is the result of damaged or malfunctioning nerve fibers sending false pain messages to the brain. With nerve pain, it is generally harder to identify the source. It may come from illness, injury, or no identifiable source at all. This is why it’s so difficult to manage.
Treating chronic pain can be a long frustrating journey.
Doctors may prescribe medications, surgery, or injections. The goal is to find a treatment tailored towards an individual’s needs. However, individual responses to these treatments vary, and may leave patients managing unwanted side effects.
Limitations of common treatments for chronic pain
Prescription medications
Shown to be effective for acute pain, however limited effectiveness for chronic pain. There are also significant risks of addiction and side effects, such as constipation.
Spinal surgery
Appropriate for correcting mechanical issues, but often ineffective for resolving debilitating nerve pain. It’s the most invasive option.
Epidural steroid injections
Often effective for short-term pain relief, but usually ineffective for sustained pain relief. Also requires frequent office visits.
HFX spinal cord stimulation: a next-generation treatment for chronic pain
Spinal cord stimulation, also known as neurostimulation, works by delivering mild electrical pulses to the nerves interrupting the transmission of pain signals to the brain, thus reducing pain. HFX is a next generation SCS treatment, offering multiple key benefits unavailable with other treatments.
See why thousands of people have chosen HFX.
