Many individuals for whom pain is a chronic condition seek treatment at a trustworthy Tampa pain management clinic. Such clinics offer help for those suffering from painful conditions for which long-term management is necessary. The approach taken with regard to one's treatment will depend on a variety of factors, including the underlying cause of the pain and the person's age and overall health.

There are numerous reasons a person may suffer from chronic pain. These include Crohn's disease, tendinitis, bursitis, lupus, arthritis, back injuries, headaches, shingles, degenerative disc disease, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Other individuals may be afflicted with catastrophic diseases that are associated with such symptoms, including certain types of cancer. In many instances, doctors refer patients to the aforementioned facilities when all other approaches to treatment have been exhausted and satisfactory results have not been achieved.

As previously mentioned, the treatments recommended that such clinics will depend on the source of one's symptoms. Many times, a combination of therapies are used to treat clients. Facilities of this type also offer services to individuals whose pain is idiopathic, the latter of which means there is no known cause for the condition.

Therapies offered at medical clinics of this kind generally include nerve blocks, transcutaneous electrical stimulation, and physical therapy. Medications are prescribed as well for certain individuals, but the goal of most long-term pain management is to discover an alternative to the administration of medications, especially if the latter are habit forming. In certain cases, such facilities perform diagnostic procedures that are used to pinpoint the area from where one's discomfort is originating.

The aforementioned nerve block is one of the most popular treatments for chronic painful conditions. One frequently used variation of this is called an intercostal nerve block. The procedure involves the injection of local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory drugs between the ribs. It is often the first course of action for those suffering from the painful effects of herpes zoster, otherwise known as shingles.

Another treatment performed at such establishments is called nucleoplasty. This type of procedure is not very invasive and is completed by inserting a transmitter catheter into one or more of the patient's discs. Radio waves are then sent into the nucleus of these discs in order to reduce nerve root pressure and minimize swollen tissue.

Such clinics also sometimes recommend intrathecal drug delivery procedures. The latter involve the insertion of a catheter into spaces referred to as intrathecal areas. In this way, the medication is released directly into the spinal cord. Many medications can be effectively delivered in this way, and the procedure allows for smaller amounts of drugs to be used that would otherwise be necessary with traditional administration methods, such as medication that must be taken in pill form.

Another type of treatment that is virtually always provided at any Tampa pain management clinic is physical therapy. Such treatments help to enhance the strength of one's muscles and increase his or her range of motion. In some instances, such therapies eliminate the need for drugs, depending on the patient's individual circumstances. Ultimately, anyone afflicted with chronic pain should speak to his or her family physician about the option of visiting one of the aforementioned clinics.