Michael Stein

How Anesthesiologists Treat Pain

While most of us are familiar with the role of the anesthesiologist as the doctor who is responsible for sedating you before surgery or other medical procedures, they are also pain management doctors who help those with chronic pain get relief. Like any specialist, the anesthesiologist begins his/her education by earning a college degree before completing a four-year medical school degree. They continue their studies by sending an additional four years learning the field of anesthesiology and pain medicine. Many anesthesiologists spend additional time in training to earn the title of sub-specialists in pain medicine. As pain management doctors, they will work with all types of patients in an attempt to provide pain relief.

Some doctors in the field of anesthesiology do research to obtain certification in pain medicine from the American Board of Anesthesiology. They are the only recognized board by the American Board of Medical Specialties to offer certification in pain medicine. If you want to talk to Board certified doctors in Chicago, you may visit the following website - Pain management doctors Chicago.

When Pain Management Doctors are Needed

Many pain specialists work in pain clinics with a group of doctors with specialties in a number of areas of medicine. Patients who continue to have pain after an illness or surgery is healed can go to a pain clinic to have treatment for chronic pain. If a method of treatment has been successful in the past but is currently not working, or if pain becomes worse over time, a pain doctor can help you get relief.

Cancer patients often experience pain that is manageable with the services of a pain specialist. Often, the treatment for the cancer-related pain is given at the same time as the cancer treatment. The individual may be experiencing pain due to the cancer tumor, the surgery, or the treatment methods being used. Pain management doctors are trained to treat a large variety of conditions.

The Role of the Pain Doctor

The pain doctor’s role begins with the diagnosis of the patient’s condition. They will use a variety of diagnostic tools to see why the pain is there and treat it as needed. Sometimes individuals experience acute pain after they have had surgery, an illness or other situation. The pain doctor will treat these types of conditions as well.

The pain doctor will rarely work independently. In addition to collaborating with your primary care physician, they will also frequently work with other specialists that pertain to your situation. They will evaluate your medical records and talk with you about your pain and your experience with it. In addition to asking you to describe your pain in full detail, they may also ask you to complete a questionnaire that they can use as a reference. Finally, they will do an overall assessment of your condition to determine the source of your pain. The next step will be to develop a personalized pain treatment plan.

Pain management doctors accomplish a wide breadth of education in order to provide you with the best possible treatment options. If you are experiencing pain that is making it difficult for you to function normally, a visit to a pain management center could bring the relief you have been waiting for.

Potential Side-Effects and Knee Problems Post-Surgery

Knee problems can result naturally over time due to minor sports injuries or improper stretching before strenuous activities. They can also result due to one specific incident causing a dislocation break, or strain. Knee replacement surgeries are somewhat rare but are over 90% successful although occasionally, problems can develop.

Possible Side-Effects

Minor problems which can occur after a knee replacement surgery can vary but some of the more common ones are creaking, squeaking, cracking, and popping noises. These are not out of the usual and will typically subside after a couple months of recovery. Once you are completely healed, if these sounds do not ease up, it’s important to contact the best knee doctor and set up a consultation.

A less common problem found with knee replacement surgeries is numbness around the incision or scar. This happens due to nerves supplying feeling to your skin are cut during the surgery. Some scars never gain feeling back but if they do, it could take up to two years to regain full feeling. Once two years have passed, the chance of gaining back feeling are slim to none.

Knee Surgery Risks

Along with the post-surgery side-effects, there are also many risks that go along with any type of surgery. Anesthesia could pose many risks such as adverse reactions to the medications or problems breathing. Many types of infections could also result as well as unwanted bleeding.

Additional Risks of Knee Surgery

• Blood Clots – This is one of the most problems associated with any type of surgery. Blood clots can be very dangerous, resulting in a possible heart attack or stroke.

• Swelling –The possibility of excess fluid building up around the knee joint is fairly high. Because of this, swelling can occur which can lead to fatigue and discomfort.

• Nerve Damage–If there is a wrong cut at any time, permanent blood vessel or nerve damage can occur. This will affect the sensation around the area where the nerve damage occurred.

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – The chances of CRPS happening are very rare but it is still a risk to be aware of. This affects circulation around the knee joint and will lead to pain and swelling. This can be treated but not cured.

• Long-Term Knee Problems – Knee replacement surgery is meant to fix current limitations you are facing but in rare cases, it could lead to more painful problems. One of the more common side-effects is trouble kneeling. You may not be able to kneel on that knee without feeling pain or you may need to use a cushion.

Long Term Knee Problems

Knee replacements are meant to last the rest of your life but often times, wearing will occur, especially if you are very active. Over 85% of knee replacements last for a minimum of 20 years. This does mean that there is a 15% chance your knee replacement will wear out in less than 20 years, creating the need for a second surgery. Loosening of the prosthesis also happens in 1.4% of patience which leads to a second total knee replacement. Lastly, even years after surgery the possibility of infection is possible. These are all potential problems when facing a knee surgery so consider consulting with the best knee doctor possible before your surgery.