The following content is created in consultation with Cooper University Health Care. It does not reflect the work or opinions of NBC Philadelphia's editorial staff. To learn more about Cooper University Health Care, visit cooperhealth.org.
As we age, chronic pain can become a reality for many of us. In fact, some 100 million Americans suffer from pain lasting six months to a lifetime. This type of constant discomfort — ranging from the manageable to the incapacitating — can be the result of previous trauma or something more ongoing, and can manifest in the form of everything from headaches and backaches to tendinitis, sinus pain, joint pain, and other conditions.
However, just because chronic pain is common doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong, which means you should see a doctor.
Fortunately pain can be controlled and managed. The Pain Management Center at Cooper University Health Care offers the expertise and state-of-the-art capabilities to diagnose, evaluate, and treat your particular type of pain.
Cooper uses a multidisciplinary approach, which means that a team of specialists with diverse expertise works with you and your primary care physician or specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment. This team includes anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, oncologists, palliative care, surgeons, and social workers.
To learn more about Cooper's comprehensive approach to pain management register for their free August - Pain Management webinar, taking place at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 31. Lead by Dr. Michael Sabia, Director of Pain Management at Cooper, the webinar will cover typical areas for chronic pain, the role of physical therapy in managing your pain, and prevention going forward.
Education is key to your treatment and your ability to deal with the pain you're feeling. Working with you and your doctor, Cooper University Health Care’s goal is to help you learn to:
- Keep pain at a tolerable level.
- Increase your independence.
- Reduce the restrictions of daily living.
- Improve your sense of well-being and control over pain.
- Decrease and possibly eliminate the need for narcotics and sedatives.
- Develop a capacity to return to work.
Don’t let chronic pain dictate your life! Register for Cooper University Health Care’s free webinar and take control of your chronic pain by learning about symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
