Chronic pain can devastate a person's life. Besides ongoing and excruciating physical discomfort, the patient with chronic pain may suffer a dramatic loss of function. Mobility, self-care skills, sleep and sexual function may be impaired. Patients may be unable to work. Normal social and familial roles are disrupted. Depression and anxiety often ensue. Johns Hopkins Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) offers Pain Rehabilitation services targeted to the specific needs of the patient with subacute or chronic pain. The PM&R pain service has a very specific goal: to restore function to the chronic pain patient while simultaneously improving comfort as much as possible. We enlist an interdisciplinary team of trained professionals to treat all of the various manifestations and complications of living with pain. By teaching patients effective coping skills and involving them actively in their own pain management, we seek to return pain patients to productive and fulfilling lives. Hopkins PM&R pain treatment begins with an extensive interview and physical evaluation performed by a physiatrist (rehabilitation physician) with expertise in pain management. The examination includes detailed medical, vocational and psychosocial histories and comprehensive neurologic and musculoskeletal examinations. Once a diagnosis is made, a treatment plan is developed and explained to the patient in detail. Treatment may include the following: - individualized exercise prescription
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- nursing care
- relaxation training and behavioral management
- supportive counseling
- occupational assessment and rehabilitation
- accupuncture
Patients who require additional behavioral psychotherapy, psychiatric care or specialized neurosurgical, anesthesiologic or pharmacologic management may be referred to our colleagues at Hopkins' Blaustein Pain Treatment Center. PM&R physicians work closely with other Blaustein professionals to ensure comprehensive and effective care. Hopkins PM&R pain specialists have helped patients with many conditions, including: - low back pain
- neck pain
- limb pain
- arthritic pain
- pain related to nerve injury
- post-spinal cord injury pain
- post-amputation pain
- pain related to trauma or disuse
- myofascial (muscular) pain
- fibromyalgia syndrome
- reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Patients with chronic pain are seen at all of our clinic locations, including The Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Bayview Medical Center, Green Spring Station, and the Good Samaritan Professional Office Building. | 
