September is Pain Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize the millions of people living with chronic pain and to raise awareness about the importance of proper evaluation, treatment, and support.
Pain is more than a physical sensation. When it continues for weeks, months, or even years, it can affect nearly every part of daily life—from sleep and mobility to work, relationships, mood, and overall quality of life.
For people living with chronic pain, Pain Awareness Month is an important reminder that persistent pain deserves attention. You don’t necessarily have to accept ongoing pain as something you simply have to live with.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Pain is often the body’s way of signaling that something may be wrong. Acute pain typically occurs in response to an injury, illness, or procedure and generally improves as the underlying problem heals.
Chronic pain is different. It may continue for three months or longer and can persist even after an initial injury or condition has healed.
Chronic pain can have many causes, including:
- Arthritis and joint conditions
- Back and neck problems
- Herniated or degenerative discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Nerve-related pain
- Fibromyalgia and other widespread pain conditions
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Headaches and certain facial pain conditions
- Pain following surgery or other medical conditions
Sometimes the source of chronic pain is relatively straightforward to identify. In other cases, several factors may contribute to a person’s symptoms. That’s why a thorough evaluation is an important part of developing an appropriate treatment plan.
Why Pain Awareness Matters
Chronic pain can be difficult to explain to other people. Unlike an obvious injury, pain may not always be visible, even when it significantly affects someone’s daily life.
People living with chronic pain may find themselves limiting activities they once enjoyed, missing work or social events, sleeping poorly, or constantly planning their day around their symptoms.
Pain can also create a cycle in which discomfort affects sleep and activity, while poor sleep, stress, and reduced physical activity can make pain more difficult to manage.
Pain Awareness Month helps bring attention to these challenges and encourages people experiencing persistent pain to seek appropriate care.
How Is Chronic Pain Treated?
There isn’t one treatment that works for every type of chronic pain. Effective pain management begins with understanding the underlying cause and considering the patient’s symptoms, medical history, physical examination, imaging, and individual goals.
Depending on the type and source of pain, treatment may include a combination of approaches.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Physical therapy can be an important part of chronic pain treatment. A physical therapist can help patients improve strength, flexibility, balance, mobility, and body mechanics while developing exercises appropriate for their condition.
For some patients, gradually increasing physical activity can help improve function and reduce limitations caused by chronic pain.
Medication Management
Depending on the diagnosis and individual circumstances, medications may be used as part of a comprehensive pain management plan.
Treatment may include medications designed to address inflammation, nerve-related pain, muscle pain, or other specific causes of discomfort.
Medication isn’t appropriate for everyone, and the risks and benefits should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
Epidural Steroid Injections
For certain types of spine-related or nerve-related pain, an epidural steroid injection may be considered.
These injections deliver medication near the nerves in the spine and may help reduce inflammation and pain in appropriately selected patients.
Facet Joint Injections and Medial Branch Blocks
The facet joints are small joints located along the back of the spine. In some patients, these joints can be a source of chronic neck or back pain.
Facet joint injections or medial branch blocks may be used to help determine whether these joints are contributing to a patient’s pain and, in appropriate cases, provide temporary pain relief.
Radiofrequency Ablation
For certain patients with chronic pain originating from the facet joints, radiofrequency ablation may be considered.
This procedure uses radiofrequency energy to interrupt specific pain signals from targeted nerves. It may provide longer-lasting relief for appropriately selected patients following diagnostic nerve blocks.
Trigger Point Injections
Muscle-related pain can sometimes involve areas of tight or irritated muscle known as trigger points.
Trigger point injections may be considered for certain patients with localized muscle pain or muscle spasms when other treatments have not provided adequate relief.
Joint Injections
For certain painful joint conditions, injections may be considered as part of a broader treatment plan.
Depending on the joint and diagnosis, a healthcare provider may discuss different types of injections and whether one may be appropriate based on the patient’s symptoms and medical history.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks involve delivering medication near specific nerves or groups of nerves associated with pain.
They may be used for certain types of localized or nerve-related pain and, in some circumstances, can also provide useful diagnostic information about the source of pain.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Pain Management
Interventional procedures are only one part of chronic pain care.
For many patients, the most effective approach involves combining different strategies. Depending on the individual, this may include physical therapy, exercise, medication management, behavioral strategies, lifestyle changes, and interventional treatments.
The goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate every sensation of pain. Instead, treatment may focus on reducing pain, improving function, increasing mobility, supporting better sleep, and helping patients return to activities that are important to them.
When Should You See a Pain Specialist?
Consider talking with a healthcare professional if pain:
- Continues for several weeks or longer
- Interferes with your sleep
- Makes it difficult to work or participate in daily activities
- Limits your mobility or exercise
- Requires ongoing medication to manage
- Continues despite treatment from another provider
- Is associated with numbness, tingling, burning, or shooting sensations
A pain specialist can evaluate your symptoms and help determine whether additional testing, treatment, or referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate.
You Don’t Have to Ignore Chronic Pain
Pain Awareness Month is more than an annual reminder about pain. It’s an opportunity to recognize how significantly chronic pain can affect individuals and families—and to encourage people to seek help when pain begins interfering with their lives.
If chronic pain is interfering with your life, don’t wait. At Midtown Pain and Spine, we specialize in advanced pain relief options to help you move and live with less pain. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with one of our five pain management providers — Dr. Thomas Weber is board certified, and fellowship trained in Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Dr. Jeremy Naber is board certified, and fellowship trained in Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Brittany Hodorowicz (PA-C), Patricia McGrail (NP), Heather Allen (FNP-C) — self-referrals welcome!
