Denton County Living Well Magazine July/August 2018 | Page 48

Pain, Pain Go Away
Chronic pain doesn’t have
to be your everyday reality.
Courtesy Baylor Scott & White Health
W
specialist.
e all eventually discover that life holds little
aches and pains here and there. But some-
times little pains become big ones, or pain
grabs hold and won’t let go. That’s when it
might be time to consult a pain management
“A pain management specialist works to prevent, diagnose
and treat chronic pain conditions almost anywhere in the
body,” says Robert Haynsworth, MD, a pain management
specialist on the medical staff at Baylor Scott & White Med-
ical Center – Plano.
46
a personalized treatment plan for each patient. Goals of
treatment include:
• Identifying and eliminating the source of
pain, when possible
• Minimizing physical and emotional symp-
toms, including depression, anxiety or
anger
• Decreasing any disability caused by the
pain
• Helping patients resume a more productive
role at home and work
Make a Plan
Although these specialists most frequently treat neck, spine
and lower back pain, they also deal with pain in the ex-
tremities, postoperative pain, joint pain and headaches. Take Action
Treatment involves interventional procedures, medications,
physical therapy and other tools to reduce and, if possible,
eliminate a person’s pain.
To treat chronic pain successfully, pain management cen-
ters bring together an interdisciplinary team of physician
specialists and trained health professionals who can create For example, an epidural steroid injection relieves pain
caused by a degenerated spinal disk through decreasing
swelling and inflammation.
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | JULY/AUGUST 2018