- What are the most common pathologies?
Currently, the most common pathologies we receive in the Pain Units are those related to degenerative conditions. This is because the population has aged and has increased the need to have an optimal quality of life, without suffering chronic pain, which can be controlled or mitigated.
It seems that the world population has assimilated the message that pain treatment is a Human Right and that we are obliged to keep up with these new circumstances.
In general, the most common pathologies are those related to back pain, from the cervical region to the lumbar area, in addition to shoulder injuries or gonarthrosis of the hips and knees. All of them occupy a very relevant place.
2. What symptoms allow their detection?
Mainly our patients complain of pain and loss of functionality of the area, decrease in the degree of mobility, either in a particular region or in a generalized way. In more advanced cases we may see inflammation or deformity in the focus of pain.
3. What treatments are used?
First of all, treatments must be personalized. On many occasions, therapeutic exercise, diet and a change in lifestyle are sufficient for an evident improvement.
When these measures are not sufficient and the patient does not have surgical criteria, neuromodulation and neurostimulation therapies play an important role. Likewise, myofascial release techniques, blocks, magnetism, shock waves, etc., also allow a remarkable pain control.
On the other hand, regenerative medicine therapies constitute an inescapable present in healthcare practice, since they are responsible for a basal change at the tissue level, which can be the solution to many diseases that until now only had palliative treatments.
Finally, it should never be forgotten that the treatment of the person is a whole. Their experiences, their emotional side, their feelings, their doubts or concerns and their family situations are very important elements in the assessment and stratification of chronic pain, creating the path of interdisciplinarity, which is so necessary in this situation.
4. What causes can originate these pains?
Pain can be caused by different reasons:
- Neurological affections, such as arthrosis, osteoarthritis and different degrees of mechanical compression such as osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures.
- Oncological causes and inflammatory causes of different kinds, as well as neuropathic conditions and mixed causes with poor response of the autonomic nervous system or an excess of information or amplification of the central nervous system.
The complexity of multi-causal treatments means that the Spanish Pain Society (and the different international societies) is committed to the exhaustive training of professionals working in Interdisciplinary and Interventional Units. For this reason, teachers have a great responsibility for the future: to identify the cause, treat the symptoms and the disease that causes chronic pain and increase the quality of life of our fellow men and women.