Tackling Pain

9/7/2004

Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Centers  
www.clevelandclinic.org/painmanagement  
     In the last several years, health-policy makers, health professionals, regulators, and the general public have become increasingly interested in the provision of better pain therapies. Pain is often managed inadequately, despite the ready availability of safe and effective treatments. According to Dr. Nagy Mekhail, Chairman of the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Centers, “Pain should be treated as a disease as opposed to a symptom.” The Cleveland Clinic Pain Management centers are embarking on a mission to increase the awareness and understanding of chronic pain in the adult population and to provide an understanding of the interdisciplinary team approach to pain management. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine: “the undertreatment of pain in today’s society is not justified. The mission of this organization is to serve people in pain by advancing research, education, treatment and professional practice.” The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Pain Management Center shares that mission.  
     In Ohio, the State Medical Board has been required to establish standards and procedures for physicians to follow in the diagnosis and treatment of intractable pain. This includes standards for managing intractable pain by prescribing, dispensing, or administering dangerous drugs in amounts that may not be appropriate when treating other medical conditions. This speaks to the importance of pain management in the State of Ohio as well as other states. Health care professionals are trying to wrap their arms around the appropriate treatment of pain management and to direct the individuals that suffer with chronic pain to the experts.  
   Back in February of 1999, The American Pain Society conducted a survey and found that more than four out of every ten people with moderate to severe chronic pain have yet to find adequate relief saying that pain is out of control. That survey of  805 individuals also revealed a population of sufferers who often don’t receive the type of care experts consider necessary --- despite the fact that nearly half switched physicians at least once and more than 50% have been in pain for more than five years. These people don’t need to suffer. Treatment options available by experienced professionals can change a person’s life. Testimonials from some of the patients treated at the Pain Management Center at The Cleveland Clinic reveal outcomes that improve the quality of life.  
     The Pain Management Center at the Cleveland Clinic directly supports The Cleveland Clinic mission to provide world-class quality care in a setting of education and research. The Center provides a team approach to the evaluation of treatment of chronic pain. The center is directed by pain management physicians who work in collaboration with a specially trained nursing staff, psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational and physical therapists, and social workers as well as other health care professionals as needed.  
     Pain can affect every part of your life, every hour of the day. The treatment goals are very simply to help you manage your pain and not let the pain manage you. A variety of diagnostic tests include,  diagnostic nerve blocks, thermographic imaging; to access the integrity of peripheral circulation, discography,  MRI’s and CAT scans. Treatment options include, Therapeutic nerve blocks, spinal drug delivery systems, spinal cord stimulation, intradiscal electrothermal therapy, TENS, Acupuncture bioelectric treatment, as well as psychological counseling, physical and occupational medicine, and dietary and nutritional counseling.  
     Nurses specializing in the care of chronic pain patients work closely with the pain management specialists to educate the patients on the many treatment options available. The pain management setting offers the nurses the ability to work with a wide range of specialists that all work together to deliver a comprehensive pain program.  
    The good news for those that suffer chronic pain is that there is help available. To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Centers treatment options that are available and eight convenient locations,  you can access our website at: www.clevelandclinic.org/painmanagement or call 216-444-PAIN (7246)  
For a FREE copy of Medical Miracles, Tackling Pain. e-mail us at painmanagement@ccf.org.  
 
 

Producer and Host: Lori Schmitt R.N.

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