General Pain Management
General Pain Management: At a Glance
What it is: Pain management is a medical approach that uses therapies, procedures, and lifestyle strategies to reduce or control pain from spinal, neurological, or musculoskeletal conditions.
How it affects people: Chronic or severe pain can limit mobility, disrupt sleep, and impact quality of life.
Key concern: Untreated pain can lead to long-term disability, reliance on strong pain medicine, and reduced independence.
Diagnosis: Pain is assessed through clinical examination, imaging such as MRI or CT scans, and sometimes nerve conduction studies.
Treatment options: Physiotherapy, medications, interventional pain procedures, non-surgical pain management, and in selected cases, spinal surgery.
Outlook: With expert care, most patients achieve significant relief, improved function, and a better quality of life.
What is Pain Management?
Pain management involves medical care designed to provide effective pain relief treatments, restore movement, and improve quality of life. For patients with spinal conditions, this may mean reducing inflammation, protecting nerves, and supporting recovery from surgery or injury.
A consultant neurosurgeon like Mr Kailaya-Vasan works closely with healthcare professionals in a multidisciplinary pain management team, including pain specialists and physiotherapists, to deliver tailored treatment plans that address both short term and long term pain.
Symptoms Pain Management Can Address
Pain management can help with a wide range of symptoms, including:
Back pain and neck pain
Shooting leg pain (such as sciatica)
Numbness, tingling, or weakness caused by nerve compression
Persistent pain following spinal surgery or trauma
Pain linked with conditions such as degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis
Emergency or severe pain, particularly if linked with sudden neurological changes such as weakness or bladder/bowel problems, requires urgent specialist assessment, so call 999 immediately.
Causes of Chronic Pain
Chronic spinal and neurological pain can arise from:
Herniated disc putting pressure on the nerves
Spinal stenosis narrowing the spinal canal
Degenerative disc disease causing ongoing stiffness
Arthritis in the facet joints
Past spinal trauma or surgery
Rarely, spinal tumours or infections
Reducing Your Risk
You may not be able to prevent all pain, but you can lower your risk by:
Staying active with core and back-strengthening exercises
Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce strain on the spine
Avoiding smoking, which reduces blood flow to spinal tissues
Practising good posture and ergonomic support at work and home
Getting a Diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis ensures the most effective treatment plan. Tests may include:
MRI scan or CT scan: To assess nerves, discs, and spinal structures
X-rays: To detect fractures or spinal alignment changes
Nerve conduction studies: To confirm whether nerves are under pressure
Diagnosis and treatment planning often require input from multiple health professionals to achieve the best outcomes.
Treatment Options for Pain Management
Effective pain treatment strategies may include:
Medications
Anti-inflammatories, analgesics, or pain medication such as muscle relaxants.
Physical Therapy
Targeted exercises to strengthen muscles, improve posture, and restore movement.
Injections and Nerve Blocks
Common forms of interventional pain management used to reduce inflammation and nerve irritation.
Lifestyle Care
Ergonomic adjustments, stress reduction, and soft tissue therapy where appropriate.
Surgery
For complex cases, spinal surgery may be considered to relieve pressure on nerves or stabilise the spine.
Every treatment plan is highly individualised, combining non-surgical pain management methods with surgical options when necessary.
Living with Chronic Pain
Persistent pain can affect every aspect of life, from work to relationships. Strategies for living with chronic pain include:
Long-term rehabilitation through physiotherapy
Stress reduction, relaxation, and psychological therapies
Spinal cord stimulators or interventional options in selected cases
A focus on overall wellbeing and maintaining activity
With tailored support, patients can achieve both short-term pain relieving benefits and sustainable improvement in their quality of life.
Book a consultation with Mr Ahilan Kailaya-Vasan
Receive a clear diagnosis and a tailored treatment plan from a leading consultant neurosurgeon. Appointments are available at top London hospitals, with remote options for international patients.
Seeking a second opinion?
If you have already received a diagnosis elsewhere, Mr Kailaya-Vasan can provide an independent review of your scans and medical notes, and explain the safest and most effective next steps.
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It is a specialist medical approach that uses pain relief treatments, therapy, and sometimes surgery to reduce pain and improve function
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If pain is severe, long-lasting, or interfering with daily life, referral to a pain clinic or pain management specialist is recommended.
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No. Most patients improve with non-surgical pain management such as physiotherapy, medication, or nerve blocks. Surgery is reserved for cases where pain is severe or linked to nerve compression.
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Yes. Rehabilitation, injections, and interventional pain management are often essential after surgery to reduce inflammation and support recovery.
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Recovery varies, but with the support of a multidisciplinary pain management team, most patients achieve lasting results and improved mobility.
FAQs about Pain Management
If you have any further questions, please get in touch.