A patient may be referred to a pain clinic when discomfort is persistent, recurring, difficult to diagnose, or interfering with sleep, mobility, work, and everyday activities. Referral may also be appropriate when initial treatments have not provided sufficient improvement or when pain involves a complex condition affecting the spine, joints, muscles, or nerves. Pain specialists evaluate both the symptoms and their functional impact rather than focusing only on the pain score.

A pain clinic may provide a more detailed physical assessment, review imaging and previous treatments, coordinate rehabilitation, and consider specialized non-surgical procedures when clinically appropriate. The goal is generally to reduce discomfort, restore function, and help patients participate more comfortably in daily life through an individualized plan.

At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab, we review the patient’s symptoms, previous care, diagnostic findings, and daily limitations to better understand the source of ongoing discomfort. We then provide tailored recommendations designed to support pain control, safer movement, and a more active, independent lifestyle.

Pain may improve with rest and basic self-care, but medical evaluation is important when it is severe, unexplained, persistent, or affecting everyday life. You should consider seeing a doctor when:

• Pain continues for several days or gradually becomes worse
• Discomfort repeatedly returns or becomes more frequent
• Pain interferes with sleep, walking, work, exercise, or daily activities
• Severe pain makes it difficult to move or find a comfortable position
• Symptoms begin after a fall, collision, or other physical injury
• Pain occurs with weakness, numbness, tingling, or loss of coordination
• A joint becomes painful, swollen, red, or difficult to move
• Pain is accompanied by fever, unexplained fatigue, or unintended weight loss
• Home care and nonprescription measures do not provide improvement

Sudden pain occurs with chest pressure, breathing difficulty, confusion, fainting, or new weakness, which requires emergency medical care
At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab, Dr. Meisha K. Abbasinejad, MD, evaluates the location, severity, duration, and functional impact of pain. We use the examination findings and medical history to help identify appropriate next steps and provide individualized guidance focused on comfort, movement, and daily function.

During your first pain clinic appointment, you can expect a detailed discussion of where the pain occurs, how long it has been present, what it feels like, and how it affects sleep, mobility, work, and everyday activities. The physician will review your medical history, current medications, previous treatments, imaging, and diagnostic results. A physical examination may assess strength, sensation, reflexes, range of motion, tenderness, posture, and movement. These findings help identify the possible source of pain and guide an individualized care plan.

At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab, we take time to understand each patient’s symptoms, functional limitations, and treatment goals. We explain the findings, discuss whether additional testing may be helpful, and review appropriate non-surgical pain management options. Patients should bring a current medication list, relevant medical records, and available imaging reports so we can complete a thorough evaluation.

Pain is subjective, meaning each person may experience and describe it differently. Healthcare professionals often use a 1-to-10 pain scale to help patients communicate the intensity of their discomfort, how it affects daily activities, and whether symptoms are improving or worsening. While the descriptions below offer general guidance, the same pain level may feel different from one person to another.
On the scale, the different levels are defined as follows:

• Level 1 is barely noticeable and can be compared to a mosquito bite.
• Level 2 is mild pain or discomfort, like pinching a fold of skin using your fingernails lightly.
• Level 3 is noticeable but tolerable pain, such as a cut or injection, and after some time won’t be noticeable.
• Level 4 is a deep and strong pain like stubbing your toe hard. It is noticeable and not adaptable, piercing at first, and then becoming dull.
• Level 5 is deep, strong, and piercing pain that is always noticeable and can start to impact your life as you become preoccupied with finding ways to manage the pain.
• Level 6 is intense and will affect your ability to think clearly. It can start to impact your focus at work, as well as your social relationships.
• Level 7 is similar to level 6 but more intense and greatly affects your ability to think clearly about half the time, as well as rendering the sufferer effectively disabled and impacting their ability to live alone.
• Level 8 is incredibly intense, and sufferers can’t think clearly. This is comparable to childbirth.
• Level 9 is intolerable and excruciating. For chronic pain sufferers, suicide is common at this level.
• Level 10 is unimaginable pain so intense it causes the sufferer to lose consciousness. Most people will never experience this pain level.

At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab in Fayetteville, NC, we evaluate the location, intensity, duration, and daily impact of each patient’s pain rather than relying on a number alone. Our board-certified physician, Dr. Meisha K. Abbasinejad, MD, uses this information to help guide personalized care focused on improving comfort, mobility, and everyday function.

Dr. Meisha K. Abbasinejad, MD, uses the pain scale as one part of a broader evaluation to understand how severe a patient’s discomfort feels and how it changes over time. As a board-certified physician, she also asks about the location, duration, frequency, and quality of the pain, along with factors that make it better or worse. She considers how symptoms affect sleep, concentration, mobility, work, exercise, and routine daily activities rather than relying on the pain score alone.

Dr. Abbasinejad combines the patient’s pain rating with medical history, physical examination findings, previous treatments, and personal goals. We use this information to develop individualized recommendations, monitor progress, and determine whether adjustments may be appropriate. This comprehensive evaluation helps us focus care on improving comfort, movement, and everyday function. Contact us or schedule an appointment to begin your path to relief! We are conveniently located at 1540 Purdue Dr, Ste. 200 Fayetteville, NC 28303. We serve patients from Fayetteville NC, Woodfield NC, Hope Mills NC, Fort Bragg NC, Eastover NC, and surrounding areas.