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Mirror Pain: What You Need to Know.

What is mirror pain? Maybe you had been in pain for a while because of a broken arm or leg. Then one day, the opposite limb started hurting — even though it wasn’t injured. That’s mirror pain. Mirror pain happens in the exact same body part or body area on the opposite side of a […]

5 Ways to Help You Describe Your Pain to Your Doctor

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, General /by

It can be hard to give your doctor an accurate depiction of your pain issue. But it’s necessary to get the treatment you need. So, we created this list of five ways you can better describe your pain to your doctor to help prepare for your next visit. 1. Be ready to describe how severe it […]

Mirror Pain: What You Need to Know.

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain /by

5 Ways to Help You Describe Your Pain to Your Doctor

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, General /by

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Mirror Pain: What You Need to Know.

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain /by

What is mirror pain?

Maybe you had been in pain for a while because of a broken arm or leg. Then one day, the opposite limb started hurting — even though it wasn’t injured.

That’s mirror pain.

Mirror pain happens in the exact same body part or body area on the opposite side of a trauma-affected or diseased body part.

And it can strike anywhere in the body — even in healthy teeth on the other side of diseased, painful teeth. Fortunately, mirror pain is usually not as bad as the injured side.

When does mirror pain strike?

Mirror pain symptoms usually begin after the nerve pain has turned chronic, typically three or more months after the original injury.

Chronic neuropathic pain can lead to nerve sensitization or increased sensitivity and spread the pain around the body.

In general, the greater the pain and inflammation in the injured area, the more likely the uninjured side will develop mirror pain.

How does mirror pain work?

You aren’t imagining it.

When you suffer an injury, your body’s immune response kicks on, and it starts attending to the injured limb or area.

That’s part of the healing process, and that’s good.

But sometimes, long after an injury, the body’s immune response affects the opposite, non-injured area. And that can cause nerve damage and pain.

Why does your body do this?

Though it may seem like the opposite of helpful, mirror pain may be the body’s way of sending you the message that you need to stay out of harm’s way for a while.

It may be trying to communicate something like, “Double the pain, double the caution.”

Is mirror pain treatable?

Like other nerve pain, mirror pain is treatable — but it’s also preventable. Indeed, nerve pain resulting from injury does not have to evolve into chronic nerve pain and spread to otherwise healthy limbs.

When treating patients with acute nerve pain from trauma or disease, doctors and pain specialists need to devise the most effective pain management plan and apply it early and aggressively.

But even if you already have mirror pain, there’s no reason to worry because it’s very treatable.

Pain specialists can effectively manage and treat it using medicines, therapies, and non-invasive techniques like electrical nerve stimulation.

Pain Treatment You Can Trust

Do you have mirror pain or think you may have it? Our pain management specialists can devise a pain treatment plan that works for you.

To find out how our multidisciplinary, interventional pain management treatment options can change your life, please give us a call or book an appointment online.

5 Ways to Help You Describe Your Pain to Your Doctor

/in Acute Pain, Chronic Pain, General /by

It can be hard to give your doctor an accurate depiction of your pain issue.

But it’s necessary to get the treatment you need.

So, we created this list of five ways you can better describe your pain to your doctor to help prepare for your next visit.

1. Be ready to describe how severe it is.

At your visit, doctors and nurses typically ask you:

How bad your pain is on a scale of one to ten.
Whether your pain is mild, moderate, or severe.
To choose from several or more faces with expressions showing varying degrees of pain.

Coming to your appointment prepared with answers to these questions will give your doctor a clearer picture of your pain issue.

2. Keep a detailed record of your pain.

A “pain journal” is a great way to gather and organize your thoughts into a detailed, accurate pain record.

Here are some questions to consider:

When did it start? Is it constant, or does it come and go?
If it comes and goes, what time of day do you feel it? In the night, morning, afternoon, evening, or more than one?
Does any action like sitting down, laying down, or standing up make the pain better or worse? Does applying cold or heat to the affected area relieve or worsen it?
Is there any discomfort along with the pain, such as numbness, coldness, or warmth?

3. Choose a few words that accurately describe how it feels.

Ask yourself whether the pain is dull, sharp, throbbing, radiating, or something else. Here are some words for inspiration:

Aching, burning, cramping, grating, lingering, penetrating, piercing, radiating, searing, scraping, shooting, splitting, stabbing, stinging, tearing, throbbing, tingling, tugging, wrenching, sharp, tender, tight, dull

4. Be prepared to talk about any previous pain treatments.

Have you tried acupuncture, chiropractic, or any other natural treatments or therapies?

5. Write down everything your pain keeps you from doing.

List all the things you would do in your daily life if pain-free or in less pain. Can you lift objects and twist, turn, and bend freely? Can you climb stairs and stand for extended periods?

Pain Management and Treatment with Kindness

The pain specialist team at Texas Pain Physicians provides friendly, compassionate care — from your first consultation to your last treatment.

If you’re in pain, please visit one of our locations in Dallas, Houston, Irving, or elsewhere in Texas. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment or book online.

Our Locations

PEARLAND - HOUSTON
2243 Park Ave,
Pearland, TX 77581

(281) 616-3314
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(972) 666-1504

IRVING
7200 N. State Highway 161, Ste. 200
Irving, TX 75039

(972) 559-3501
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(972) 559-3529

MESQUITE
910 N Galloway Ave, Ste 302
Mesquite, TX 75149

(972) 301-8897
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(972) 997-1299

NORTH DALLAS
10 Medical Pkwy Plaza 3 Suite 106
Farmers Branch, TX 75234

(972) 636-5727
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(972) 666-1504

PLANO
5068 W. Plano Parkway ste 170
Plano, Texas 75093.

(972) 636-5727
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(972) 666-1504

ROCKWALL
3013 Ridge Road, Ste. 101
Rockwall, TX 75032

(972) 636-5727
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(469) 264-5192

STONE OAK - SAN ANTONIO
1202 E Sonterra Blvd, Ste 101
San Antonio, TX 78258

(210) 546-1410
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(210) 546-1419

SOUTHLAKE
241 W. Southlake Blvd., Ste 140
Southlake, TX 76092

(972) 301-8896
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(972) 997-1298

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
8221 Mid Cities Blvd, Ste 100
North Richland Hills, TX 76182

(214) 666-8077
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(469) 640-6400

WAXAHACHIE
600 Ferris Ave
Waxahachie, TX 75165

(972) 497-2655
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(214) 238-5242

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Mirror Pain: What You Need to Know.

5 Ways to Help You Describe Your Pain to Your Doctor

Mirror Pain: What You Need to Know.

5 Ways to Help You Describe Your Pain to Your Doctor

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Mirror Pain: What You Need to Know.

What is mirror pain?

When does mirror pain strike?

How does mirror pain work?

Why does your body do this?

Is mirror pain treatable?

Pain Treatment You Can Trust

5 Ways to Help You Describe Your Pain to Your Doctor

1. Be ready to describe how severe it is.

2. Keep a detailed record of your pain.

3. Choose a few words that accurately describe how it feels.

4. Be prepared to talk about any previous pain treatments.

5. Write down everything your pain keeps you from doing.

Pain Management and Treatment with Kindness

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