Living with chronic or recurring pain can affect everything from how you sleep to how you move throughout your day. Managing pain requires more than symptom relief; it involves pinpointing the underlying cause and identifying treatments that support long-term function.
Dr. Brandon Claflin, a board-certified physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, works with patients to build practical and personalized plans that address both the cause of pain and its impact. He’s here to discuss five treatment options seen in modern pain management. They span clinical treatments, daily habits, and supportive strategies that, when combined, can help improve overall function and reduce discomfort.
Since no two patients are the same and treatment should be customized on an individual level, speak to your healthcare provider about what might be best for you.
1. Physical Therapy and Strength Building
When pain begins interfering with daily movement, physical therapy is often one of the first approaches used to improve mobility and reduce strain. A licensed physical therapist can guide patients through exercises that increase flexibility, strengthen weak muscle groups, and support better alignment.
Over time, this can help stabilize joints and improve balance. Physical therapy is particularly helpful for individuals recovering from an injury like a hip fracture or managing conditions like sciatica.
Movement-based approaches are also central to managing chronic back pain, especially when caused by postural issues or muscle imbalances. For example, building strength in the core and surrounding muscle groups helps ease the load on the spine, which can reduce pain over time.
While physical therapy alone may not fully resolve severe conditions, it’s often a foundation for other treatments to build on or work with.
2. Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs)
When inflammation affects the nerves around the spine, it can lead to sharp, radiating pain most commonly in the back, legs, or neck. In cases like these, an epidural steroid injection may offer targeted relief. The procedure involves injecting a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication (glucocorticoid) into the area around the spinal nerves (in the epidural space) to help reduce inflammation and ease nerve irritation.
Dr. Brandon Claflin of Oklahoma states that this type of treatment can be helpful for patients who haven’t found relief through medications or physical therapy alone. ESIs are commonly used to manage conditions like herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and nerve-related pain.
Since they’re minimally invasive and guided by imaging, many patients experience improvement without the need for more aggressive interventions. While results vary, ESIs can offer weeks to months of relief and may be repeated, with physician approval, if necessary.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition
What you eat can play a meaningful role in how your body responds to pain. A balanced diet filled with anti-inflammatory foods like:
- Berries (like raspberries, strawberries, blueberries)
- Leafy greens (like spinach or kale)
- Oily fish (like salmon)
- Olive oil (or flaxseed oil)
These foods can help regulate the body’s inflammatory response. Over time, these habits may reduce pain flare-ups. While nutrition alone may not resolve complex conditions, it can be a valuable piece of a broader plan. Pain management treatments often benefit from long-term lifestyle support, especially for individuals managing arthritis, autoimmune-related discomfort, or recurring muscle inflammation.
Patients are encouraged to focus on consistency rather than perfection. Even small changes like switching from processed snacks to whole foods or staying hydrated can make a difference over time.
4. Gentle Stretching and Movement
For individuals with tension, stiffness, or postural strain, gentle daily movement can help the body recover and stay more resilient. Stretching helps increase blood flow, support muscle flexibility, and reduce tightness, especially for those who spend long hours sitting or working in repetitive positions.
Options like yoga, walking, and mobility exercises are commonly used in supportive care routines. Top tips for exercising with chronic pain emphasize the importance of starting small and working within your limits. This might mean five minutes of guided movement in the morning or a short walk in the evening, whatever supports comfort without overexertion (with your doctor’s guidance).
In many cases, combining movement with other forms of care (such as physical therapy or injections) offers better results than using one method alone.
5. Medial Branch Blocks
Some types of spine-related pain are caused by the facet joints, small joints located between the vertebrae that help stabilize the spine. When these joints become irritated or inflamed, they can cause persistent discomfort in the neck or lower back.
A medial branch block is a diagnostic and therapeutic injection that targets the nerves responsible for transmitting pain from these joints. The procedure involves placing a small amount of anesthetic near the medial branch nerves to block pain signals and help determine if the facet joints are the source of discomfort.
This method is often used when other imaging or exams haven’t clearly pinpointed the cause of pain. For patients who respond well, longer-term procedures (like radiofrequency ablation (RFA)) may be considered to provide ongoing relief.
Dr. Claflin typically reserves this option for individuals whose symptoms suggest facet joint involvement and who may benefit from more specialized care beyond general physical therapy or medication.
Choose the Right Strategy for Your Pain
No single treatment works for everyone, which is why pain care should always be tailored to the individual. Dr. Brandon Claflin emphasizes a well-rounded approach, one that considers the physical, lifestyle, and medical factors contributing to each patient’s symptoms.
Incorporating methods like strength-building, nutritional support, and targeted procedures can help manage pain more effectively over time. Sometimes, even your environment plays a role in recovery; the setting where you receive care can influence your comfort and confidence throughout the process.
Working with a qualified provider helps ensure each step is based on your goals, condition, and needs, one adjustment at a time.
