Total Chronic Pain Care at UPMC

If you have chronic pain that doesn't respond to standard treatments, we can help.

Our UPMC chronic pain management team will work with you to control or decrease your pain. Our goal is to help you return to your normal activities feeling better.

What Is Chronic Pain?

Doctors define chronic pain as pain that persists or is long-lasting — at least 3 to 6 months. This means pain lasts beyond the expected healing time of an injury or illness.

Chronic pain can result from issues like:

• Disorders of the joints, bones, muscles, and binding (connective) tissues.
• Neuropathic issues.
• Autoimmune diseases.
• Injuries.

Chronic pain can have a huge impact on your physical and emotional well-being. It can affect how you function on a daily basis and your overall quality of life.

Who's On the Chronic Pain Care Team at UPMC?

Because chronic pain can affect all aspects of your life, your expert care team may include a:

• Physiatrist.
• Licensed clinical social worker.
• Physical therapist.
• Career counselor.
• Biofeedback therapist.

We'll review your issue to decide if chronic pain management is right for you.

Chronic Pain Conditions We Treat

Chronic pain includes a wide range of health problems that can have a serious impact on your quality of life.

Some common chronic pain issues we treat at UPMC include:

• Arthritis.
• Bursitis.
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Neuropathy.
• Plantar fasciitis.
• Sciatica.
• Scoliosis.
• Sjogren's syndrome.
• Tendonitis.
• Traumatic brain injury.

Complete Chronic Pain Care

At UPMC Pain Management, we understand that chronic pain can affect you physically, socially, emotionally, and financially. That's why we also offer combined care.

To manage chronic pain, we use a total approach that may include:

• Health interventions.
• Physical therapy.
• Psychological support.
• Lifestyle changes.
• Self-management strategies.

Our specialists will also help you to learn skills to better manage your pain. They work with you to help you increase your level of physical activity and help improve your overall physical fitness.

We designed our physical therapy program for people with chronic pain. We do not typically ask patients to push through pain to exercise.

Advanced chronic pain management

We use the latest methods to treat chronic pain including:

• Aquatic therapy.
• Improving body mechanics/posture.
• Heart fitness.
• Stretching.
• Strengthening.
• Biofeedback.
• Relaxation strategies.
• Disease-specific techniques to reduce symptoms.
• Pilates core strengthening.
• Activities related to job stimulation.
• Stress management.
• Coping skills.
• Pacing and self-care techniques.

How Effective Is Total Chronic Pain Care?

Being able to better manage pain and function and increase your quality of life are outcomes of pain management. But it isn't always possible to take away your chronic pain 100%.

Our goal is to help you achieve the best results you can.

And because chronic pain management is first and foremost self-management, how involved you are is crucial in your results.

A Tailored Plan To Treat Your Chronic Pain

As part of the program, you'll receive a custom treatment plan. This plan will help you learn skills to decrease and manage your pain while you improve function.

During your treatment, you may receive one-on-one:

• Mental health counseling.
• Biofeedback.
• Relaxation and mindfulness training.

Our team will help you learn behavioral techniques that can help decrease pain and improve your quality of life.

Total Chronic Pain Treatment Recommendations

After your first visit, we'll tell you what we suggest for treatment. Sometimes, we need more time to decide what to advise, and will follow up with you at a later date.

Our suggestions are specific to your pain-related needs, and your treatment plan will likely involve a mix of techniques.

We welcome your feedback. If you don't agree with the suggested treatment plan, we'll work with you to find a plan that you prefer.