What Is Pain Management?

According to the American Academy of Pain Management, approximately 50 million Americans experience chronic pain as a result of disease, disorder or accident.

“Chronic pain is pain that lasts beyond that which is expected for a given injury,” says Jim Chimiak, MD, Medical Director of CVMC’s Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic. “There are several things that can contribute to chronic pain, including psychological and social factors.”

Patients with chronic pain that is not improving under their physician’s care may be referred to CVMC’s Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic for more aggressive treatment.

“At the pain management clinic, we help patients whose goal is to return to work or the activities of daily life without an ongoing reliance on the healthcare system,” Dr. Chimiak continues. “We provide medical, psychological and interventional therapies all under one roof.

“Our three-to-four month program typically involves interventional procedures such as injections or implants, medications, physical therapy and psychological assessments. However, the program is individually tailored to each specific patient. We also monitor their progress after they leave by maintaining contact with their referring physician.”

For more information about CVMC’s Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic, please call 828/326-2473.