By Benjamin Duckles, MD, Virtua Pain Management Physician

Most people experience aches and pains in the course of life. Sometimes it just goes away. And, sometimes a little self-care like ice therapy, heat therapy, or over-the-counter medication provides relief.

However, pain that persists or worsens may require treatment from a doctor who specializes in treating pain. If you experience the following, it may be time to seek treatment:

• Your pain is severe and interferes with your daily function: A pain management physician often can provide minimally invasive treatments that target pain at its source and restore function quickly.
  
  
• Your pain is chronic or hasn’t decreased significantly despite self-care: Even if your own efforts have provided some relief, you have chronic pain that interferes with your everyday routine.
  
  
• You want to find an alternative to prescription pain medicine: When prescribed by a doctor and taken correctly, prescription pain medicine can safely and effectively treat temporary bouts of pain. However, a pain management specialist can recommend other treatments that relieve chronic pain and reduce your reliance on medication for pain relief.

While you probably can’t live pain-free all the time, chronic pain shouldn’t hamper your everyday life. If you’ve tried self-care and it hasn’t relieved your pain, it may be time for a pain-management consultation.

Download the Virtua Health Guide to Back Pain or call 856-246-4272 to request a consultation with a Virtua back pain specialist.