You may consider visiting a pain management clinic when discomfort continues for several weeks or months, returns repeatedly, or begins interfering with sleep, mobility, work, exercise, or daily responsibilities. An evaluation may also be appropriate when pain has not improved with initial care or when its cause remains unclear. Chronic pain is complex, and treatment may help even when the condition cannot be eliminated.

Common reasons to schedule a pain management evaluation include:

• Persistent back, neck, joint, or nerve pain
• Pain accompanied by tingling, burning, or numbness
• Reduced mobility or difficulty completing routine activities
• Discomfort that affects sleep or concentration
• Limited improvement after previous treatment
• A need for more specialized diagnostic or treatment options

At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab in Fayetteville, NC, we evaluate how pain affects your health, movement, and everyday function. We use the findings to develop a personalized care plan that may include appropriate nonsurgical or interventional pain-management options.

A pain management doctor focuses specifically on evaluating persistent or complex pain, identifying possible pain generators, and determining how symptoms affect physical function and quality of life. Although primary care physicians may provide initial treatment and coordinate general healthcare, a pain doctor has a more concentrated role in assessing musculoskeletal, spinal, joint, and nerve-related pain.

The evaluation may involve a detailed symptom history, physical examination, review of previous medical records, and diagnostic testing when clinically appropriate. A pain doctor may also coordinate care with physical therapists, primary care physicians, surgeons, or other specialists when a multidisciplinary approach is needed. Chronic pain assessment generally considers the location, duration, severity, characteristics, triggers, physical limitations, and possible underlying mechanisms of the discomfort.

At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab, our approach extends beyond temporarily addressing symptoms. We work to understand the possible source of discomfort and create an individualized plan designed to support pain control, mobility, function, and participation in everyday activities.

A pain management doctor can evaluate numerous conditions affecting the spine, joints, muscles, and nerves. Because similar symptoms may have different causes, the doctor first determines whether the pain appears musculoskeletal, mechanical, inflammatory, neuropathic, or related to another health concern.

Conditions commonly evaluated may include:

• Chronic back and neck pain
• Arthritis and joint discomfort
• Sciatica and radiating pain
• Nerve pain, numbness, or tingling
• Spinal or musculoskeletal conditions
• Chronic migraines and certain recurring headaches
• Persistent pain following an illness or physical injury
• Pain that limits movement and daily function

Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab offers care for chronic joint, nerve, spinal, and musculoskeletal discomfort. Depending on the diagnosis and individual health needs, our services may include arthritis care, epidural steroid injections, joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, and Botox injections for chronic migraines.

A pain doctor begins by asking detailed questions about when the pain started, where it occurs, how it feels, what makes it better or worse, and whether it spreads to another area. The evaluation also considers previous conditions, treatments, medications, activity level, sleep, mobility, and the ways pain affects work and everyday activities.

A physical examination may assess posture, range of motion, strength, reflexes, sensation, tenderness, balance, and movement patterns. The doctor may review previous imaging or laboratory results and recommend additional diagnostic testing when medically appropriate. These findings are considered together because an imaging result alone may not fully explain a person’s symptoms. A comprehensive history and physical examination are central to identifying or confirming a possible pain generator.

At Cape Fear Physical Medicine and Rehab, we use a detailed clinical evaluation to better understand the nature and possible source of your chronic pain. We then personalize treatment recommendations according to your diagnosis, overall health, functional limitations, and response to ongoing care.

Dr. Meisha K. Abbasinejad, MD, evaluates chronic pain by reviewing each patient’s symptoms, medical history, previous treatments, current medications, and functional limitations. She considers where the pain occurs, how long it has been present, what triggers or relieves it, and whether it affects sleep, mobility, work, or daily activities. A focused physical examination may assess strength, range of motion, sensation, reflexes, tenderness, posture, and movement patterns. She may also review prior imaging or recommend additional diagnostic testing when clinically appropriate.

After identifying the possible source of discomfort, Dr. Abbasinejad develops a personalized management plan based on the patient’s diagnosis, overall health, pain severity, and functional goals. Care may include nonsurgical treatment options, appropriate interventional procedures, lifestyle guidance, and follow-up monitoring to evaluate progress. Contact us today for more information or schedule an appointment online! We are conveniently located at 1540 Purdue Dr, Ste. 200, in Fayetteville, NC 28303. We serve patients from Fayetteville NC, Woodfield NC, Hope Mills NC, Fort Bragg NC, Eastover NC, and surrounding areas.