Pain is an individual experience. While everyone experiences and tolerates pain differently, long-term pain can be linked to sleeplessness and depression, says Dr. Ryan Clark a physiatrist with BayCare Clinic Pain & Rehab Medicine.
Clark recently participated in a Facebook Live discussion on pain, pain management, and the common causes of certain types of pain.
“People can experience and tolerate pain differently,” says Clark. “We have common things we see again and again, but everyone’s pain experience is their own. We try to help people experiencing all varieties of pain, from the onset of acute pain symptoms to those suffering from chronic, long-lasting pain.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 50.2 million Americans reported living with daily chronic pain.
Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting longer than six months, Clark says.
“It’s a hard thing to deal with. It can affect your mood, it can affect your sleep... There are all sorts of studies showing that (chronic pain) can make you miserable if you’re dealing with it every day. Our job is to work with you to figure out what’s causing that pain and try to make it better.”
Common types of chronic pain include neck and low back pain, knee pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain.
“There are hundreds of conditions that can be treated, and we pride ourselves on addressing them all,” Clark says.
In the video, Clark discusses several common causes of both acute and chronic pain, but also delves into how he and his colleagues at BayCare Clinic Pain and Rehab Medicine can help.
“People are often times hesitant to seek help, but the sooner we get to you the better (it is) and the more nerve damage and potential long-term problems we can avoid.”
Watch the video to learn more.