Virtual Visits, Real Relief: Telemedicine and Chronic Pain Management

Last Updated on September 5, 2024 by Laura Turner

In discussions surrounding telemedicine, the spotlight often turns to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden surge in telemedicine’s importance stemmed from the limitations imposed on physical movement during the pandemic. While initially embraced for COVID-19 consultations, online medical services quickly extended their reach to encompass a wide array of health concerns. This shift towards a more virtual healthcare landscape, driven by the “new normal,” compelled us to view telemedicine through a fresh lens. When harnessed effectively, telemedicine stands poised to revolutionize the realm of chronic pain management.

Pain, a complex phenomenon, typically falls into two broad categories – acute and chronic pain. Acute pain acts as a protective signal, indicating injury or illness within the body. In contrast, chronic pain (CP) presents a formidable challenge. Defined by its persistence for three months or longer, CP can profoundly debilitate individuals on multiple levels.

According to a CDC study, a staggering 20% of Americans grapple with chronic pain, with nearly 7% experiencing severe limitations in their daily activities. This leaves over 50 million individuals ensnared in the throes of chronic pain. A practical and accessible solution is urgently needed, and telehealth emerges as a promising avenue for relief. By leveraging telehealth services, individuals suffering from chronic pain can potentially access convenient and cost-effective care, breaking free from the constraints imposed by traditional healthcare approaches.

Causes and Impacts of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain often manifests as a consequence of underlying conditions such as arthritis and rheumatism. Nerve-related disorders like multiple sclerosis and neuropathy can also contribute to long-term pain. Additionally, factors like accident-induced injuries, post-surgery trauma, unresolved fractures or sprains, and malnutrition play a role in chronic pain development. The psychological response to pain perception further influences its intensity and persistence.

Chronic pain presents a complex web of challenges that extend well beyond physical discomfort. It hampers mobility, impairs performance, disrupts social interactions, strains relationships, leads to absenteeism, and diminishes productivity in professional settings. The ramifications of chronic pain encapsulate a broad spectrum of issues that affect various aspects of an individual’s life.

Holistic Management Approach

Managing chronic pain involves a multifaceted strategy that goes beyond just conventional medications. Healthcare providers must tailor treatment plans to address each patient’s unique needs comprehensively. This may encompass a blend of pharmaceutical interventions, therapeutic exercises, physical therapy sessions, topical applications, psychological support, and lifestyle adjustments to foster holistic healing and pain relief.

Revolutionizing Treatment through Telemedicine

Traditionally, chronic pain management relied on in-person consultations, necessitating frequent visits to healthcare facilities for diagnosis and follow-ups. However, this conventional approach exacerbates the challenges faced by individuals grappling with chronic pain. The advent of telemedicine offers a paradigm shift by enabling patients to access comprehensive care conveniently from their homes. By facilitating virtual consultations with healthcare professionals at the click of a button, telemedicine eliminates logistical barriers, providing a more accessible and patient-centric platform for chronic pain management. Embracing telehealth not only streamlines the care process but also heralds a new era of efficient and patient-friendly healthcare delivery.

Effectiveness of Telehealth Services for Battling Chronic Pain

Although telemedicine can’t help in every CP case from the beginning, it is beneficial in certain scenarios such as helping patients follow up with their physicians and gaining remote support to ease their pain.

Online health appointments allow us to beat the place-time barriers. It means no need to miss work or the much-needed resting time. Whether one lives in rural or remote areas, the distance between the facility and the individual is inconsequential as the meeting is conducted via the internet. It also eliminates the extra cost. Plus, the patient can schedule the follow-ups as frequently as required.

Due to the cumbersome and expensive process of visiting a physician, many CP patients just give up on getting help and rather learn to live with the pain. However, it causes even more health complications as time goes by, not to mention the emotional, social, and professional spiraling down.

On the other hand, with telehealth, there’s that ray of hope for CP patients. Along with providing prescriptions, doctors help patients connect with physical therapists and other support groups. Patients might also get linked to articles and videos addressing their specific condition, rather than having to rely upon random internet searches. Most of all, because of the time-saving quality of online therapy, patients can focus on self-care activities such as exercising, relaxing, and socializing.

Moreover, with physical pain comes a plethora of other behavioral side effects such as mood disorders, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and loneliness. In such cases, the doctor can also refer the individual to a telepsychiatrist, and the medics could work as a team to accelerate the recovery.

Is Telemedicine a Cure-all?

Certainly not! One has to contemplate the overall circumstances and make the most constructive choice. Many ailments just can’t be treated without an face to face interaction. Many of us aren’t tech-savvy at all or don’t have access to the required hardware, software, and IoTs. At such times, a suitable amalgamation of modernity and traditionalism has to be pursued.

For those with accessibility issues, there are government initiatives such as Lifeline (funding for patients) and The Rural Health Care Program (RHC) (funding for care providers).  It’s also important to know that the government is actively supporting healthcare professionals by providing them with regular awareness-building training. The topics are inclusive of, but not limited to – how telehealth practitioners can best cater to people with disabilities, with limited knowledge of English, or the underprivileged.

Support is Just a Click Away

The flexibility, easy accessibility, and efficiency of working online with medical support help in eliminating the despair of chronic pain, particularly when the patient is starting to believe that they are beyond help.

Any form of medical support promises a better standard of living. Be it traditional medicine, complementary therapy, physical therapy, or psychotherapy – when applied individually or collectively, it upgrades one’s well-being. So does telemedicine, and many people might find it more feasible than in-person care.

In a world where innovation meets compassion, telehealth emerges as a beacon of hope for chronic pain sufferers, revolutionizing the way we approach pain management and fostering a future where holistic well-being is within reach for all.

Why consider telehealth services? If anything, we have learned to use the internet to our best advantage since the lockdown era. We work from home, get all our essentials delivered to our doorsteps, and socialize with people located at varied places. Then why not use the same resources for one of our most necessities – our health? Especially when a fifth of the population struggles with pain and when the required medical support is just a click away, telehealth is the best shot at enhancing the way one lives. Here the question is why not?

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9244466/ – Challenges in Utilizing Telehealth for Chronic Pain
2. https://www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/chronic-pain/pros-and-cons-of-telehealth-technology-for-the-treatment-of-chronic-pain/ – Telemedicine: Changing the Management of Chronic Pain
3. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm?s_cid=rr7103a1_w – CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain
4. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7215a1.htm – Chronic Pain Among Adults — United States, 2019–2021
5. https://getinternet.gov/apply?id=nv_home&ln=RW5nbGlzaA%3D%3D – Lifeline is a federal benefit that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service.
6. https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/resources/federal/federal-funding/federal-communications-commission-rural-health-care-program – Federal Communications Commission – Rural Health Care Program