Everyone’s experience with pain is highly unique, and the same treatment approach may not work in the same way for everyone, regardless of its general effectiveness. Anyone who struggles with pain requires a personalized pain management approach that is suited to their individual characteristics, needs, and lifestyle. Dr. Darryl D. Robinson provides highly tailored, comprehensive biopsychosocial pain management in Oklahoma City that takes into account the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to pain.
What Is Biopsychosocial Pain Management?
According to the biopsychosocial pain model, pain does not develop in isolation or only due to medical reasons. It emerges from a complex and dynamic interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors, which are not mutually exclusive. Biopsychosocial pain management ensures a holistic application of this model, where a healthcare provider assesses these factors in the patient’s life history before recommending a suitable treatment method. As a result, the doctor can determine the roles played by physiological pathology, emotions and behaviors, and the patient’s socioeconomic environment before starting treatment for chronic pain.
The Role of the Biopsychosocial Model in Pain Management
The biopsychosocial model is an evidence-based approach and one of the most well-regarded methods of pain management. It offers many advantages in the treatment of chronic pain:
- Treats the root cause instead of masking symptoms
- Understands how mental health and lifestyle affect pain
- Provides long-term relief by considering the mind and the body as one interconnected whole
- Reduces reliance on opioids and invasive procedures
- Encourages enduring coping skills and resilience
- Offers a supportive care team including therapists, physical trainers, and nutritionists
- A holistic approach that focuses on lasting rather than temporary relief
How Biopsychosocial Pain Management Works
Biopsychosocial pain management involves two stages. It evaluates the biological, psychological, and social factors in the patient’s life and then tailors the treatment to provide lasting results. Below is a brief overview of the approach.
Comprehensive Evaluation
The first step of biopsychosocial pain management is thoroughly evaluating the patient’s history. The evaluation assesses the following factors.
- Biological history: A review of the bodily functions affected by pain.
- Psychological aspects: Thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, including psychological distress, fear, and coping mechanisms.
- Social factors: Socioeconomic circumstances, the patient’s environment, work, and family.
Multidisciplinary Treatment
Dr. Robinson determines the most appropriate multidisciplinary treatment based on a biopsychosocial evaluation. The treatment methods may include the following.
- Medical interventions: Medications or physical therapy
- Psychological therapies: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and stress management
- Social support: Family counseling, support groups, and lifestyle adjustments
There is no single multidisciplinary approach that works for all patients. Treatment plans are personalized and adjusted depending on the patient’s needs and the results of their evaluation.
Conditions That Benefit From Biopsychosocial Pain Management
Various physical conditions have been demonstrated to benefit from the biopsychosocial pain management model.
Chronic Back Pain
Chronic back pain refers to back pain that is consistent and repetitive for longer than three months, persisting even after the injury or the underlying condition has healed. Biopsychosocial pain management is commonly used to treat chronic back pain because of the model’s effectiveness.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that refers to widespread pain, often accompanied by fatigue, cramps in the lower abdomen, depression, headache, trouble thinking, or poor memory. Fibromyalgia is a multidimensional chronic pain condition, and the biopsychosocial model helps understand its many nuances.
Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is a persistent type of pain caused by dysfunction or damage to the nervous system, often resulting from a lesion or a disease such as diabetes. Neuropathic pain is characterized by stabbing, burning, or tingling sensations. The biopsychosocial model helps healthcare professionals understand all the factors relevant to this condition and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Migraines
Migraines are a complex neurological disorder characterized by frequent and periodic episodes of mild to severe headaches. The headaches may be accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. The biopsychosocial model helps explain and manage migraines by providing an integrative approach.
Arthritis Pain
Arthritis pain is caused by swelling and tenderness of one or more joints. There are various types of arthritis, and depending on the type, pain can occur in different areas, including the hands and the wrists, the knees, the hips, the feet and the ankles, the shoulders, and the lower back. Biopsychosocial pain management helps understand and explain the specific type of arthritis and suggests an encompassing approach to pain relief.
Post-Surgical or Injury-Related Pain
Injury and surgical treatment are common causes of pain. Sometimes the pain can persist even after the injury is healed, and post-surgical pain is often viewed as the body’s natural response to trauma. The biopsychosocial model of pain management is a way to understand the complexities involved in post-surgical and injury-related pain, and offers an appropriate treatment approach.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
CRPS, sometimes referred to as hyponyms reflex sympathetic dystrophy or reflex neurovascular dystrophy, is a rare condition characterized by chronic pain that usually affects the arms or the legs. It is a severe form of neuroinflammatory disorder that also results in neuropathic symptoms. Biopsychosocial pain management helps doctors evaluate CRPS patients, taking into account their biological, psychological, and social factors before recommending an integrated treatment.
Why Choose Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management for Biopsychosocial Pain Management?
Dr. Robinson at Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management offers a comprehensive and personalized treatment approach through the practical application of the biopsychosocial pain model. Below are some of the reasons why patients throughout Oklahoma City trust our treatment center.
- Experienced doctors: The clinic’s experienced doctors, including the award-winning orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Robinson, have a deep understanding of the biopsychological approach, which supports accurate evaluation and a personalized treatment approach.
- Multidisciplinary team: We are a multidisciplinary team of pain management specialists who work together to provide the best possible patient care.
- Evidence-based treatments: We believe in evidence-based treatment, which is why we only implement tailored treatment programs that are proven to work.
- Supportive environment: Our doctors provide more than just the minimum necessary treatment. We create a supportive care environment for our patients where they can conveniently access the most appropriate treatment programs.
What to Expect When Visiting Dr. Robinson for Biopsychosocial Pain Management
After you schedule an appointment with Dr. Robinson for biopsychosocial pain management, here is what the next steps look like.
Initial Assessment
The initial assessment involves a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s medical history, underlying biological and pathological factors, emotions and behavior, and lifestyle choices.
Collaborative Goal-Setting
Based on the evaluation, Dr. Robinson collaborates with patients to determine the appropriate goals that promote wellness. These goals typically include pain reduction, improved mobility, and mental wellbeing, along with setting milestones for the healing journey.
Ongoing Adjustments in the Care Plan
Dr. Robinson understands that pain treatment should always be personalized according to the individual’s biological, psychological, and social factors. That is why he implements ongoing adjustment protocols to identify the optimal care for his patients.
Integration of Mind-Body Therapies Alongside Medical Treatment
In addition to medical treatment, we recommend integrating therapies for the mind and the body to help explain, understand, and resolve psychological and social factors that may be contributing to pain.
Schedule an Appointment With Our Biopsychosocial Pain Management Specialists Today
If you are experiencing any type of pain, there is a good chance of recovery through a reliable, comprehensive pain management model. Dr. Robinson and the team of specialists at Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management offer the biopsychosocial model of pain management, along with other integrative approaches, to help you live a pain-free life. Schedule your appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Traditional pain management methods assume that pain develops in isolation, often due to a single biological or medical reason. The biopsychosocial model of pain proposes that, in addition to biological reasons, psychological and social factors also play a role in pain. This model helps assess different aspects of a patient’s life, including their emotions, stressors, family dynamics, and socioeconomic circumstances, to create a holistic and comprehensive treatment plan.
Book a ConsultationNot necessarily. The biopsychosocial approach suggests that psychological factors, such as your emotions, behaviors, and stressors, may also be playing a role in your pain, in addition to the biological factors, rather than replacing them.
Book a ConsultationSince biopsychosocial pain treatment is highly personalized to address the patient’s needs, it has no specific, predetermined duration. It may take from a few weeks to more than a year. The doctors at Oklahoma Spine and Pain Management focus on approaches that provide long-term pain relief rather than temporary solutions.
Book a ConsultationYou don’t need to see multiple specialists for biopsychosocial pain management if you are currently working with a reliable healthcare provider. Dr. Robinson is an award-winning orthopedic surgeon specializing in biopsychosocial pain management, working individually with each patient to provide lasting pain relief in a single location.
Book a ConsultationYes, biopsychosocial pain management has been demonstrated to work for chronic pain that does not improve with medications. That is because medications only target the biological reason for the pain. Biopsychosocial pain management considers the psychological and social factors as well, increasing the likelihood of success.
Book a ConsultationYes, insurance typically covers the treatment methods involved in biopsychosocial pain management, such as physical therapy, mental health services, and medications. For more information, please contact your insurance provider.
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