Chronic pain typically results from conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat, and that often take a long time to reverse. Some examples include cancer, neuropathy, and back pain. The pain itself is frequently managed separately from the underlying condition of which it is a symptom.
Pain management generally benefits from a multidisciplinary approach that can include drug therapy and/or other interventional procedures such as physical therapy, physical exercise, or the application of ice and/or heat. In certain cases, psychological measures, such as biofeedback and cognitive therapy, are also used to help provide relief to patients with chronic pain.
Pain management specialists come from all fields of medicine, including anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists, and psychiatrists.