Pain management
Get more information about managing
chronic pain.
Visit
and
click on “Pain Management”
under “Services.”
If you or a loved one has chronic pain,
consult with your family physician
and ask for a referral to ACMC’s
Interventional Pain Center.
AS PLAYERS ON THE STAGE
of life,
we are sometimes handed scripts
we aren’t expecting. That’s certainly
true when chronic pain takes a
leading role in everyday living.
“We define chronic pain as pain
which lasts six months or longer,”
said pain management specialist
John Hill, MD,
who leads the
Interventional
Pain Center
at Ashtabula
County Medical
Center.
“It is pain
that keeps you
from enjoying
life, and it can be
difficult to treat,” said Hill. “Over-
the-counter medication may ease
the symptoms, at first, but the pain
never really goes away.”
However, that does not mean you
should give in to the pain.
“The temptation is to avoid
activity and hope the pain will go
away,” Dr. Hill said. “That’s exactly
what you shouldn’t do. We know
that staying active actually helps
ease the pain.”
Chronic pain won’t have an easy
fix—in fact, there may be no cure
for the pain. However, you have the
power to limit the part pain plays in
your life.
You can direct the action in four
pain-management acts:
Act 1: Gather information
Do you know how many types
of treatments are available for
chronic pain? Do you know which
healthcare professionals can help
you? The more you know, the closer
you come to bringing down the
curtain on pain.
Act 2: Meet with your doctor
This scene takes place in your
primary care physician’s office. He
or she will help determine the cause
of your pain. You may undergo
imaging tests or electrodiagnostic
procedures. You may also be
referred to a pain specialist for
further evaluation.
Act 3: Create a plan
A cast of healthcare professionals
will work together to help you put a
strategy into place. Your script for
pain management may draw upon
a variety of treatment options. Your
plan could include a combination of:
➜
Medication.
➜
Physical therapy and
rehabilitation.
➜
Biofeedback and electrical
stimulation.
➜
Relaxation techniques.
“We look at multiple approaches
to treating your pain,” Dr. Hill said.
“We may start with prescription
medication and blend it with a
course of physical therapy. This
often can help alleviate the pain.”
Act 4: Follow-through
Dr. Hill said the key is to stay
consistent and meet all treatment
goals. It may mean changing your
lifestyle (eating healthier, exercising
more, watching stress) or adhering
to a strict schedule of visits to the
doctor for pain medicine or surgery.
ACMC pain
management
specialist
John Hill, MD
Don’t let pain slow you down. Get a referral
from your physician; then call
440-997-6700
to schedule an appointment with pain
management specialist John Hill, MD.
take control
Act
to
of your chronic pain
ACMC Pulse •
5
