Post-Injury Pain

Everyone has experienced an injury at one time or another. This is always accompanied by acute pain, meaning it is temporary and will go away as the injury heals. But sometimes an injury can cause damage to nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and/or bones which may lead to long-lasting pain. This pain is called chronic pain. Chronic pain lasts longer than 3 months and is often associated with permanent disorders such as slipped disc or arthritis. Living with a chronic pain condition is always a challenge and often debilitating. It affects your daily activities, relationships, and emotional state.

The condition caused by an injury depends on the area affected and type of injury sustained. For instance, let’s say you injure your back. If the injury is muscular, it may cause trigger points (muscle spasms in a focal area) or myofascial pain (pain and inflammation in the soft tissue). However, damage to your vertebrae or discs might cause neuropathic (nerve) pain.

Physicians diagnose your condition based on symptoms, patient history, clinical examination, and diagnostic testing. Diagnosis is complicated by the fact that few patients display all possible symptoms of a condition and many conditions display the same or similar symptoms.

Symptoms of Post-Injury Pain:
  • Severe pain following injury or trauma
  • Persistent, long-term pain in affected area after healing process is complete


Treatments for Post-Injury Pain:

  • Medication Management
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation
  • Pain Pump
  • Toradol Injection
  • Steroid Injection
  • Major Joint Injection
  • Epidural Injection
  • Trigger Point Injection
  • Medial Branch Nerve Block
  • Genicular Knee Radiofrequency Ablation
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Warm Water Therapy
  • Relaxation Therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Hot/Cold Treatments
  • Stretch and Spray Technique
  • TENS Unit
  • Surgery

Tips for Managing Post-Injury Pain:

  • Create an interdisciplinary pain team
  • Wear bracing equipment (knee brace, back brace, etc.) during activities and whenever necessary
  • Use assistive devices, if necessary
  • Avoid activities which may cause pain or further injury

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