Pain management can treat pain without surgery — specialists

AMMAN — Pain management can help relieve acute and chronic pain without the need for surgeries and invasive procedures, according to experts. 

Pain management is concerned with the study of pain, prevention of pain, and the evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons in pain.

Mohamed Hamarsha, a pain management consultant, indicated that the pain management discipline in medicine is “a relatively new entity in developing countries”, noting that it falls under the umbrella of anesthetics. 

“Pain medicine is concerned with the prevention of pain, and the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of any patient in pain through certain interventional procedures to the sensory neural pathways which transmit pain signals,” Hamarsha told The Jordan Times in a recent interview.

According to Hamarsha, pain management includes the treatment of people suffering from acute (less than three months in duration) or chronic (over three months in duration) pain. 

Acute pain is typically related to pain that occurs after an operation, or during tissue damage and repair. For example, during a sudden illness, surgery, trauma or burns, this type of pain can be dealt with through injectable materials, meaning different type of painkillers, Hamarsha said.

However, untreated acute pain can eventually become chronic pain. This type of pain, which is considered a disease in itself, is a long-term condition. It is mostly neuropathic pain, as there is damage to neural pathways and signals, Hamarsha noted.

“Chronic pain is treated through interventional procedures, rather than putting patients on painkillers. These procedures stop the neural pathways from carrying the pain signal, which happens by paralysing, burning or blocking the nerves,” he said.

One such procedure, known as the radiofrequency procedure, uses special needles to burn the sensory nerves (not motor nerves), which gives long-term pain relief. 

“This depends and differs from one patient to another, as some could need another procedure later,” Hamarsha continued.

According to Hamarsha, of all chronic diseases, pain-related conditions have the biggest impact on quality of life.

He said that pain can impact individuals and affect their day-to-day physical activities and emotional wellbeing, in addition to affecting a person’s ability to work.

“It is important to realise the economic impact of these conditions, as many people lose tens of working days due to suffering from pain,” he said.

“Pain management can save people time and money,” he added.

Firas Hamdan, another pain specialist, highlighted the benefits of pain prevention, such as the reduced use of opioids, long-lasting pain management with minimal or non-invasive procedures, which is safer and has fewer side effects.

“Interventional pain treatments target and treat the source of pain to offer relief, instead of depending on oral medications which have a negative impact on the entire body and brain on the long run,” Hamdan told The Jordan Times.

According to Hamdan, many people in Jordan suffer from acute and chronic pain without knowing the exact cause.

He noted that people need more knowledge regarding pain management and prevention, as well as awareness of pain specialists.

Yasmeen Adel, a 28-year-old who suffered from chronic back pain for almost a year, said that pain management helped her get rid of the pain.

“I spent lots of time and money on different doctor visits, physical therapy sessions, personal training sessions and massages, until I researched more and found pain specialists, who helped me through blocking the neural pathways responsible for the pain,” Adel told The Jordan Times.

She noted that her life “changed” after she got rid of the pain.  

“I thought I would have to live with the pain forever. It was mentally and physically exhausting. I am very happy that I found the right doctors to help me,” she said.