What is Pain?

Chronic Pain and Surgical Treatments

The Neurocenter for Pain and Tremor has prepared the following informational guide for patients suffering from chronic pain and chronic pain with tremor disorders.

The Neurocenter for Pain and Tremor provides neurological and neurosurgical evaluations, diagnoses and treatment for all types of chronic intractable pain and involuntary movement disorders. Neurocenter specializes in procedures and therapies to deal with difficult to treat chronic pain conditions. We use the latest innovative procedures and techniques available to achieve pain control.

What Is Pain?

Pain is a natural response that acts as a warning to indicate harm or potential danger to tissues in our bodies.

When pain persists for more than six months and is not adequately relieved by standard medical treatments, it is said to be “chronic” or “intractable”.

Such pain no longer serves a useful purpose for the body. Instead, it makes normal living almost impossible. Often depression accompanies the pain and can become as disabling and demoralizing as the pain itself.

What Causes Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain may result from an initial traumatic event that has long since healed. It may be related to nerve damage. It may have an ongoing cause such as arthritis, cancer, infection or any of a number of ailments, including Parkinson's Disease.

What Is Non-Maligant Pain?

Chronic pain from an initial traumatic event, from nerve damage, or from an ongoing cause such as arthritis or infection is called “non malignant” pain.

Patients with chronic “non-malignant” pain are often diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions:
Failed Back Syndrome
Arachnoiditis
Radiculopathy
Neuralgia
Peripheral Ischemic Pain
Osteoporosis
Axial Somatic Pain

How Is Non-Malignant Chronic Pain Treated?

Treatment begins with systemic, non-surgical techniques including pain medication, physical therapy, and pain management therapy.

Most patients will respond to a combination of physical therapy, oral medication and other conservative therapies.

Some patients require surgery to treat the underlying mechanical condition that causes the pain.

Some patients require more advanced surgical interventions to treat their chronic pain. (See below, section on surgical techniques)

What Is Malignant Pain?

Chronic pain caused by cancer is called “malignant pain”. Approximately 70% of advanced or terminal cancer patients suffer from chronic pain.

Most cancer pain comes from the cancer tissue itself as it presses on or invades nearby body tissues such as bones, nerves, organs or other structures.

Some cancer pain is caused by the cancer treatment itself. Side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy can produce pain.

Cancer pain may have more than one cause and may manifest itself in a number of ways. It can vary considerably from a dull throbbing pain to a sharp burning sensation.