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Chronic Pain services offered in Towson, MD
Researchers report that more than 50 million Americans experience chronic (ongoing) pain. Without treatment, chronic pain can keep you from everyday activities like work and exercise. It can even color your outlook and affect your mental health. At the offices of Dr. Weng in Towson, Maryland, primary care physician Charles Weng, MD, offers medical cannabis as well as other cannabinoids to help decrease pain and inflammation. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book one online today.
Chronic Pain Q & A
What is chronic pain?
Every so often, all people suffer minor aches and pains. But chronic pain lasts for at least 12 weeks and beyond. Chronic pain can show up anywhere in your body, including the back, neck, abdomen, hands, and feet. But most chronic pain patients have some sort of back pain. The pain can be sharp, even stabbing, or it can be dull and achy often traveling down the side of the leg (sciatica). Treatment with conventional medications such as NSAIDS or Opiods long term may lead to severe side effects such as internal bleeding, renal disease,opioid addiction etc.
No matter what kind of pain you experience, if it gets worse or interferes with your daily life, it’s important to (make an appointment online) contact Dr. Weng's office to consider medical marijuana or CBD/CBG for pain management.
What are some common causes of chronic pain?
Common causes of chronic pain include:
- Sciatica
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Arthritis
- Back problems
- Cancer
- Recent surgery
- Recent trauma
- Pelvic disorders
- Headaches
- Interstitial cystitis (inflammation of the bladder)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
You might also experience chronic pain due to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. This condition causes your temporomandibular joints, which connect your jawbone to your skull, to become irritated and inflamed.
Who is at risk of chronic pain?
Chronic pain affects people of all ages, but it’s especially common in people 65 and older. Besides age, several other things increase your risk of experiencing chronic pain, including suffering an injury, undergoing surgery, and being overweight or obese.
How is chronic pain diagnosed?
To diagnose chronic pain, Dr. Weng and his team conduct a comprehensive exam and ask you about your symptoms. He needs to know how severe they are and if any activities, like exercising or lying down, make them worse.
Next, Dr. Weng gently presses on the affected area, feeling for areas of swelling or warmth. He might also have you undergo a series of tests, including some easy strength and range-of-motion exercises.
If Dr. Weng suspects that your pain is caused by an underlying medical problem, he’ll also order diagnostic imaging, like X-rays or an MRI, and lab work, like blood and joint fluid samples.
How is chronic pain treated?
Chronic pain is best treated in a comprehensive way to include multiple modalities. As a primary care physician Dr. Weng has found this approach most successful. This combination may include
- Physical therapy
- Losing weight
- Core strengthening
- Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
- Drinking plenty of water
- Cannabidiol (CBD,CBG)
- Medical marijuana
- PRP Joint injections PRP
- Corticosteroid injections
If your pain is caused by an underlying medical condition like arthritis or fibromyalgia, you might also benefit from prescription medicines.
Make an appointment for medical marijuana certification if you suffer from chronic pain. Call the offices of Dr. Weng or schedule online today.
