The transition from temporary, short-term pain to a chronic condition isn’t predictable or even obvious. You reach for the ibuprofen when pain flares, relishing its relief. Then at some point you realize you’re taking it every day.
Chronic pain needs a smarter solution. Medications like ibuprofen provide relief at a cost, particularly when they treat only pain symptoms. There are side effects and diminishing performance to consider.
Dr. James Nassiri and our team at Westside Pain Specialists in Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, are experts in full-range pain management plans that consider the impact of each aspect of your care.
Today, we look at why analgesic medications can’t successfully treat chronic pain.
Ibuprofen temporarily blocks certain enzymes in your body, proteins that speed the production of natural chemicals that drive inflammation. There’s less sensitizing of nerve endings leading to reduced pain, while also moderating your body temperature, reducing fever.
But these mechanisms do nothing to limit the causes of pain. Ibuprofen is a pain mask. The underlying reason for your pain isn’t addressed.
Taking ibuprofen daily may manage your pain condition, but it comes at a cost. Your risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers climbs, and ibuprofen limits blood flow to your kidneys, a characteristic that can lead to kidney damage with long-term use.
Chronic pain isn’t always a simple condition. It can involve multiple factors, including:
Rather than simply suppressing pain symptoms, effective pain management requires a more complete understanding about why you hurt.
The right pain management plan is often multimodal and personalized. Starting with a comprehensive examination that reviews your symptoms and medical history, Dr. Nassiri makes a diagnosis and recommends a plan for complete treatment, which may include approaches like:
Just as your chronic pain condition may be the result of multiple contributors, an effective pain management routine supports reduced pain while often slowing or stopping the progression of your underlying condition.
When you rely on pain relievers like ibuprofen daily, it’s time to see Dr. Nassiri. It’s also the case if your pain condition has lasted more than a few weeks, even if you’re not medicating daily.
Visit us when pain begins to interfere with your regular daily activities, at home or at work, or when your sleep begins to suffer due to pain. If the pain gets worse, in frequency or intensity, it’s another sign it’s time to address it.
Contact us at Westside Pain Specialists at the nearest of our three Southern California locations. Call your preferred office directly to schedule your chronic pain consultation today.
