Chronic Pain
Treatment Options for Chronic Pain at Black Horse Health
Conquer chronic pain at Black Horse Health. Our treatments target specific symptoms, offering relief and empowering you to reclaim a fulfilling life.
What Is Chronic Pain?
We all have some aches and pains now and then, but when does this turn into chronic pain? Typically, chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts for three months or longer. It can be present every day or come and go throughout that time.
Recurring pain can make it hard for individuals to participate in daily activities, such as keeping up with work and family responsibilities. Not only that, but ongoing pain can also cause many other issues like depression, anxiety, or sleep problems. When left untreated, the pain and co-occurring conditions can exacerbate each other and become worse.
Receive Help for Chronic Pain
If you or someone you care about is struggling with chronic pain, know that you’re not alone. Approximately 20 million U.S. adults struggle with chronic pain.
Get the personalized care you deserve. At Black Horse Health, we treat the whole you, not just your symptoms.
Our team uses advanced diagnostics to build a treatment plan, including physical therapy and whole-body options, all designed to get you back to doing what you love.
What Are Some Causes of Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain doesn’t always have a clear cause, sometimes making it difficult to know how to treat it. Black Horse Health partners with you to pinpoint the source and develop an effective treatment plan.
Some of the most common causes of chronic pain include:
- Health Conditions or Illnesses: Some diagnosable health conditions like arthritis, cardiovascular problems, or cancer, can cause chronic pain. Diagnosing these conditions is imperative for holistic healing.
- Injuries: When an individual sustains an injury, it will often leave them with persistent pain until it’s treated. However, some injuries that are more severe, like an ACL or rotator cuff tear, can leave patients with lingering pain even after the injury has been treated.
- Infections: After infections are treated, the pain will usually go away. However, in some cases, it can trigger an immune response in the body that leads to prolonged pain.
In addition to the direct causes of pain, there can also be some indirect causes. The most common is psychosomatic or psychogenic pain, which means that the pain is caused by psychological factors.
Serious depression, anxiety, or stress, among other mental health concerns, can cause psychosomatic pains. In that instance, it would be important to also treat all co-occurring disorders to help reduce pain symptoms.
What Does Chronic Pain Feel Like?
- Aching
- Throbbing
- Burning
- Stiffness
- Squeezing
- Stinging
These symptoms can range from mild to severe. When you receive treatment at Black Horse Health, our medical team can help identify the level of pain you’re experiencing and provide you with solutions that help relieve it. We are here to ensure that your needs and goals during recovery are met.
Symptoms of Chronic Pain
Navigating the complexities of chronic pain can be difficult, especially when the underlying causes remain unclear.
However, here are some common symptoms of lingering pain that individuals may notice:
- Lasting pain that doesn’t go away or frequently comes back
- Soreness
- Tightness
- Aching
- Shooting pain
- Trouble partaking in specific activities due to pain
- Feeling overly fatigued or worn out
- Consistently having trouble falling asleep due to pain
- Making lifestyle changes to cope with pain
- Having anxiety about activities that make the pain worse
Common Types of Chronic Pain
Along with the varying causes of chronic pain, there are different types of pain that can occur. Here’s a breakdown to give you an idea of what you may be struggling with, along with some of the treatments we can provide to help you manage your pain.
Neuropathic pain (or neuropathy) is caused by damage to the nerves or tissues. This happens when the nerves themselves are damaged. For example, it can happen as a result of diseases, surgeries, or infections.
Neuropathic pain is one of the most common types of long-lasting pain. It is estimated that around 20 million Americans suffer from neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathy include:
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Facial nerve problems
• Parkinson’s disease
What Demographics Are Primarily Impacted by Chronic Pain?
Although specific demographics may exhibit higher prevalence, chronic pain can affect anyone at any stage of life.
For example, those who are under 18 years old generally have the lowest chance of struggling with chronic pain. However, a child may have an ongoing condition that causes them to also have arthritis at an early age. It’s always important to look at pain from multiple angles during treatment and diagnosis.
With that being said, here’s a breakdown of demographics that are more likely to struggle with persistent pain:
Adults Age 65+
As we age, it’s common to develop more aches and pains over time since our muscles and joints have gone through a lot of use throughout the years. Also, certain health conditions can be more common in older adults, which is why over 30% of those who are 65 or older struggle with recurring pain.
Additionally, about 26% of those who are aged 45-64 also struggle with persistent pain.
Divorced or Widowed
Over 32% of those who are divorced or widowed struggle with frequent pain, which is significantly more than the 21% of married adults and 13% of unmarried individuals that have ongoing pain.
This is often due to the stress of going through a divorce or losing the support or relationship of a previous loved one. Stress is a factor in many individuals developing chronic pain or other co-occurring disorders.
Veterans
Almost 32% of veterans report struggling with chronic pain after returning home from service. Due to the intensities of training requirements and the wear and tear of combat, veterans are at a much higher risk of struggling with pain.
Symptoms of PTSD can also contribute to a higher likelihood of experiencing chronic pain. These symptoms often stem from neuropathic pain.
ATHLETES
Athletes who train hard are also more susceptible to serious injuries that can cause chronic pain. Research has found that 67% of Division I athletes suffered from at least one major injury, with 50% of those individuals saying this injury resulted in chronic pain of some sort.
How Can Black Horse Health Treat Your Chronic Pain?
Black Horse Health provides personalized and effective solutions to everyone who comes to our Houston, Texas facility.
With over 100 years of combined experience, our highly trained and compassionate specialists leverage a vast array of evidence-based pain treatment options to uncover the root cause of your pain and develop a personalized plan for sustainable healing.
Below is an overview of some of the treatment programs, therapies, and holistic options we provide that can help treat your chronic pain.
Treatment Programs
Those who are struggling with ongoing pain can often benefit from a complete and thorough treatment program that helps rehabilitate your body and mind. We have the solutions that will fit your needs, goals, and experiences.
Inpatient Residential Treatment
If you’ve experienced a serious injury or face mobility challenges, our tranquil, private, and luxurious residential facility offers comprehensive care and support to help you achieve your recovery goals.
Residential treatment will provide you with a structured program and 24/7 support.
Some chronic pain treatments we utilize include aqua therapy, stretching, yoga, and cold plunges.
We also provide care for co-occurring disorders, such as substance use or mental health disorders. This may involve treatment modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma focused therapies, and the 12-step model.
Outpatient Treatment
Those who have less severe pain but still need a structured approach can benefit from an outpatient care program. We’ll get you set up with physical therapy, mental health services, and any other approaches needed for sustainable well-being.
Alumni Support
Even after you’ve completed your program, we still provide ongoing support for all of our patients. Since many forms of chronic pain can be ongoing, it’s important to continuously manage it to ensure it’s kept under control. These programs provide support and remind patients that they are not alone in their healing journeys.
Therapies Offered at Black Horse Health
Because chronic pain manifests uniquely in each person, we tailor our diverse therapeutic approaches to address your specific needs and achieve lasting relief.
Here are some of the common therapies we offer for chronic pain:
Water-based and sauna therapies can often help with joint and muscular pain, especially when temperatures are adjusted for specific treatment needs. Our upscale facility is equipped with amenities that will make these rehab practices as comfortable and effective as possible.
Deep tissue massage or chiropractic treatments can help individuals who experience muscular or joint-related pain. All sessions can be customized to specific injuries to ensure comfortable treatment that gets the best results.
Engaging in regular stretching exercises and yoga routines can help improve flexibility, enhance joint mobility, and alleviate muscle tension. These activities promote relaxation and mindfulness, which can contribute to a reduction in stress and tension.
Holistic Options for Chronic Pain Treatment
We also provide a range of holistic activities and resources that can help you live a pain-free life, as well as build positive habits that you can continue after you complete your treatment.
Those options include:
Nutrition and fitness assessments
Sleep, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques
Movement therapy
Black Horse Health is here to provide you with effective solutions for chronic pain at our comprehensive treatment center in Houston, Texas. Since everyone’s path to recovery is unique, we will provide you with the personalized care you need to regain autonomy over your life and wellness.
We start with an in-depth assessment that will look at the whole body. This way, we can determine the specific issues that may be causing or exacerbating your chronic pain. Then, we will work with you every step of the way to ensure you get effective and interconnected care.
Contact our team today to learn more about getting started. We’re here to help you harness the power of wellness.
