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Pain

Pain management services in Minnesota and western Wisconsin

Everyone experiences occasional aches and pains. However, nearly one-third of Americans experience some kind of lingering pain, which can make everyday activities a struggle. We can help make managing pain and doing everyday activities easier.

Our pain experts work as a team to evaluate your unique needs and create a personalized treatment plan that addresses all your concerns. We offer a variety of services including physical therapy, medication management, behavioral health services and interventional pain procedures.

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, our team of pain specialists includes physical and occupational therapists, pain psychologists and acupuncture specialists. They will work closely with your primary care doctor, along with others, to offer comprehensive care for conditions related to pain. We’ll work with you find the best way to increase function and manage your pain.

Types of pain we treat

We treat a variety of pain conditions, including: acute pain, chronic pain, back and neck pain, musculoskeletal pain, nerve disorders, sports injuries, osteoarthritis, neuromuscular pain, fibromyalgia, pre-and post-surgical pain, and more.

Acute pain

Acute pain is a term used to describe short-term pain caused by something specific. It’s usually caused by injuries or surgeries. Acute pain usually lasts less than three months, and often goes away on its own. We encourage people to remain active during acute episodes of pain, like acute low back pain, as motion is often helpful in returning to function sooner.

Chronic pain

Chronic pain is an ongoing condition that may not always have a specific cause. It can be caused by illness or injury, however someone can suffer from chronic pain without a history of either. Nerve pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, migraines, arthritis and other chronic conditions are linked to chronic pain. Chronic pain conditions can affect multiple aspects of your life, including your work, personal relationships and daily activities.

Symptoms of pain

Pain can have more symptoms than a body ache. Here are some of the most common symptoms of acute and chronic pain:

  • Constant muscle tightness and soreness
  • Fatigue
  • Mood – anxiety and depression
  • Poor sleep
  • Pain that affects your relationships
  • Weight gain

If you haven’t talked with a doctor about your pain before, we recommend getting started with one of our primary care doctors. Primary care doctors are experts at diagnosing hundreds of conditions. If you need the help of a specialist, your primary care doctor can connect you directly to one of our pain specialists.

Diagnosing the cause of pain

Depending on the type of pain you’re experiencing, the following are common tests that may be used to help determine the best course of treatment.

Physical exams

We’ll check your muscles, nerves and reflexes for signs of an injury or illness that could be an underlying cause of the pain. Sometimes a seemingly unrelated condition, like poor eyesight or stomach issues, could be the cause.

Laboratory tests

These are used to check for illnesses that might be causing pain. Pain can be a symptom of common illnesses like lupus or shingles.

Imaging tests

X-rays, CT scans and MRIs provide images of the bones, joints, spinal cord and other parts of the body. Our doctors will use this information to find any injuries or growths that could be causing your pain.

The exact cause of pain can’t always be diagnosed. If this is the case, our doctors will still work with you to find a treatment plan that helps optimize your function and improve your quality of life.

Treating and managing pain

At HealthPartners and Park Nicollet, our doctors have been working hard to advance and improve treatment options. Through years of research, we offer a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to pain management that directly targets the most common causes of pain. Once your doctor performs a medical history and diagnostic workup to develop a complete diagnosis, we’ll create a treatment plan to address your pain.

Our services include:

  • Addiction management
  • Alternative therapies (yoga, massage, acupuncture, healing touch)
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Image guided injections
  • Inpatient pain services
  • Medication management
  • Occupational therapy
  • Pain management procedures
  • Pain psychology
  • Physical therapy
  • Spinal cord stimulators
  • Surgery (if needed)

If you haven’t been referred to a specialist for your pain, we recommend starting with a visit to one of our primary care doctors. Our primary care doctors can help diagnose the cause of your pain and get you started with treatment. To make an appointment, please choose a primary care doctor. Or, if you have a referral, please choose one of the options below to get started.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)