Chronic Pain

Up to 25% of Americans live with chronic pain. At his practice in Dallas and Carrollton, Texas, double board-certified pain management specialist Mohammed Shaikh, MD, and his team offer minimally invasive, integrative treatments for chronic pain, including corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks, and spinal cord stimulation. Call today to schedule a chronic pain consultation, or make your appointment online.

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is persistent or occasional pain that lasts three months or longer. Chronic pain can occur anywhere in the body but is most common in the back and joints. It can worsen and interfere with your ability to work, exercise, or do other routine activities without treatment.

What are the common types of chronic pain?

Dr. Shaikh and his team treat various types of chronic pain, including:

• Neurogenic pain, including peripheral neuropathy
• Muscle pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Joint pain

Some people have chronic pain caused by underlying medical conditions, like fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome.

How is chronic pain different from acute pain?

Acute pain happens after a traumatic injury, like a fall. It may not last long and goes away once your body heals. Chronic pain lasts for months or even years after an injury or illness. Your nerves continue sending pain signals to your brain, even though you’ve long since healed.

How is chronic pain diagnosed?

In most cases, chronic pain is a symptom of an underlying health problem. 

Dr. Shaikh reviews your medical records and asks questions about your pain, including how severe it is, what makes it worse or better, and whether you have a history of illness or surgery. Answer his questions thoroughly. Your responses play a crucial role in guiding treatment.

Next, Dr. Shaikh completes a physical exam. He also orders several tests, including bloodwork, X-rays, and electromyography, which assesses muscle activity. Last, he checks your muscle strength, reflexes, and balance. 

He uses that information to develop a personalized care plan focused on relieving your symptoms and helping you feel better. 

How is chronic pain treated?

Dr. Shaikh and his team use minimally invasive and integrative treatments to manage chronic pain. They may recommend:

• Corticosteroid injections
• Muscle relaxers
• Nerve blocks
• Epidural steroid injections
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Medial branch blocks
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Depending on the cause of your pain, you may benefit from several types of treatment. 

Call the office near you today to learn more about the treatment of chronic pain, or book your appointment online.