Pain & Medicine

Pain & Medicine

Pain is the one symptom in clinical medicine that makes most patients seek medical help. It is such a ubiquitous entity that most people forget it had been the very reason that sparked the evolution of clinical medicine as we see it today. Medicine came about over time as a collection of knowledge, tools, and techniques to alleviate suffering in mankind. Today, after all these centuries, we still stay face to face with the original adversary.

At Center for Advanced Orthopedics and Pain Management our goals are to improve quality of life, alleviate suffering, and help patients cope with long-term painful conditions. Even though pain is considered by a number of people as a simple problem; after all it has been around since the birth of the first human during labor, it can be a very complex and challenging situation. Numerous neurotransmitters, chemicals, nerve pathways, and psychosocial situations mixed with an array of coexisting medical disorders have been implicated in the generation, maintenance, and perception of pain.

So how do pain specialists deal with a patient in pain?

Our primary objective is to try to identify the insult from which the painful condition may have arisen. One should then consider rather complex differential diagnoses and come up with a well-rounded plan. Since pain can impact so many different aspects of one’s life and general well-being, a multidisciplinary plan must be employed. We try to combine the latest in invasive modalities, medication management, behavioral techniques, physical therapy, and even alternative medicine such as acupuncture to make a difference for the better in a patient’s life.

Managing pain is challenging, and many times we realize that there are some patients that we can not cure. We hope to decrease suffering and help our patients develop skills to lead more productive lives. It is a great feeling to see an old adversary weakened day by day, and more importantly, to contribute to the health and well-being of others.

Sassan Hassassian, M.D.