Comprehensive Pain Management

Possible Pain Sources
Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. It can result from an injury to an organ or tissue such as a torn ligament or muscle, a disease such as arthritis or cancer, or damage to a nerve from injury, aging, disease (like diabetes), compression, or inflammation. Pain can result from a psychological condition. It can also be a disease -- not just a symptom -- that can occur when nerve cells are out of whack.

Acute Pain vs. Chronic Pain
Pain that occurs suddenly and is short-lived -- days to weeks -- is called acute pain. Persistent pain that lasts for three to six months or longer is chronic pain. It can come in intermittent waves or be a constant presence. No matter where it occurs in your body, pain can be debilitating, physically and psychologically, especially when the cause is unknown.

Pain-Specific Clinics
Duke maintains several clinics and specialists who provide care for people with chronic pain and pain in specific areas of the body such as facial and jaw pain, back pain, and migraines. They offer treatment options tailored to specific sources and sites of pain.

Comprehensive Pain Management Clinics
Often, however, the source of your pain isn’t that clear. For example, while it may reside in your back, other factors may be at play. Duke comprehensive pain management clinics are staffed by specialists who can determine the source of your pain, assess your needs, and connect you with the resources you need to feel better faster.

A Team Approach to Managing Your Pain
Our team specializes in the disease of pain and includes anesthesiologists, physiatrists (physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists), neurologists, physical therapists, behavioral health specialists, and more. We work with you to create a personalized pain management plan.

Researching New Ways to Treat and Manage Pain
Because we are part of an academic medical center, our pain management specialists are involved in research to better understand how and why pain develops and are studying new, personalized therapies to treat pain. As a Duke patient, you may have access to these therapies through our clinical trials before they are widely available.

Proactive Pain Management
In addition to providing the full spectrum of treatment options, our comprehensive pain management clinics can help you be proactive about your pain management. That’s important if you’ve had pain episodes in the past and want to prevent them from recurring.

Pre- and Post-Surgical Pain Management
If you have an upcoming surgery, our specialists work with you to identify your pain management needs before and after your surgery and to reduce your risk of developing persistent post-surgical pain.

During a comprehensive evaluation, your doctor will ask questions to understand the type and location of your pain, when it began, its intensity, and how it affects your life. They will also conduct a thorough physical exam.

Tests to diagnose pain may include:

• Blood and urine tests
• Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans
• Nerve conduction tests to identify nerve damage
• An electromyogram (EMG) to assess muscle function

If more conservative options fail to adequately control your pain, you may be a candidate for surgery. Duke surgeons offer advanced surgical options, and we are equipped to care for the most complex patients.