We all know what pain feels like because most of us have experienced some sort of pain in our life. Sometimes, we hardly notice it, sometimes it's unbearable, usually it goes away on its own. Sometimes it goes away with treatment. Rarely, it doesn’t go away at all and becomes persistent which we call chronic pain.
What is pain:Medical definition of pain is unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage.
There are three main categories of pain
1 Acute pain – this typically comes on suddenly and has a limited duration between 0-6 days.
2) Sub-acute pain – this has gone beyond 6 days to 6 weeks. It's often continuation of acute pain which has either diminished in intensity or continues at the same intensity or the intensity has increased. Both the acute and sub acute pain can be caused by damage to the tissues such as bone, muscle or organs and the onset is often accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress.
3) Chronic pain – this pain is complex because it has a multifactorial input. Its natural history is unclear; it's characterised by pain which persists despite adequate treatment and therapy and also adequate time for healing. There is no clear definition but it is often defined as pain that has been present for more than 6 weeks.
All three of the acute, sub-acute and chronic pain can be debilitating and all can affect and be affected by a person’s state of mind. But the nature of chronic pain is the fact that it is ongoing and in some cases seems almost constant making the person who has it more susceptible to psychological consequences such as depression and anxiety. At the same time the depression and anxiety can amplify the pain.
Although it is essential to make an accurate diagnosis regarding any underlying cause for the pain, a great deal of care and skill is often required to avoid unnecessary and inappropriate investigations and referrals. Here at the City Clinic we take an in-depth medical history, physical examination which includes orthopaedic, neurological and bio-mechanical assessment. If it's necessary to complete the investigation requiring blood tests, x rays, ultrasound scan, MRI scan we will advise the patient and make appropriate referrals.
A balance must be struck between ensuring that important conditions are excluded whilst avoiding an endless quest for a physical diagnosis.
Most patients coming to our clinic may already have started treatment for their pain from their own general practitioner. The optimum approach is likely to involve other members of the primary care team, including Chiropractors, nurses, occupational therapists and councilors. Since 70% of all pain reported in the doctors' practice is of musculoskeletal or soft tissue in nature, our clinic is the most modern, well-equipped, technologically advanced independent establishment to serve our patients needs. As well as traditional treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic manipulations, we offer on site diagnosis and treatment of all musculosketal and soft tissue related conditions using state of the art electro-therapy modalities such as shockwave, lasers, electro muscular stimulation, ultrasound and electro acupuncture analgesic.
The treatment received at our clinic is not just aimed at pain relief, our goal is to focus on restoration of normal function, better quality of life, getting back to their sports and hobbies, reduction of medication and prevention of relapse.
The prognosis of a cure or control of pain depends on the nature of your condition; severity and aggravating factors associated with your condition. Most cases it is excellent but others are variable depending on individuals' life style. We advise patients to have periodic check ups or a maintenance programme to prevent early relapse or developing a weakness which may hinder their quality of life. Just as you have your teeth and eye check ups or you take your car for a service to ensure it's running well, your body’s more precious than any expensive car in the world – shouldn’t that deserve a regular check up?
Clinical evidence and research supports using ultrasound as the first diagnostic test for numerous musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Diagnostic ultrasound offers a number of important advantages compared to x-ray, computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), in terms of safety and effectiveness.
For Expert Consultation, Examination, Diagnosis and Treatment; City Clinic offer a complete service so you can find out what’s wrong, what to expect and how to put things right.
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