Pain Management
Types of Pain
Whether you’re dealing with a migraine headache or neuropathy in your feet, our skilled pain management team offers comprehensive care for pain conditions from head to toe.
Medically reviewed by David Copenhaver, M.D. and Ravi Prasad, M.D. on Nov. 02, 2024.
Expert Care for All Pain Conditions
Everyone feels pain at some point – whether from a stubbed toe, broken arm or something more serious. Acute pain comes on suddenly, often from an injury, and then goes away. Chronic pain persists for months or sometimes years after the original injury has healed. Some chronic pain has no clear cause.
At UC Davis Health, experts at our Division of Pain Management treat all types of pain. You benefit from comprehensive treatments at our Pain Management Center. We help restore your ability to live, work and play with as little discomfort as possible.
On this page
Pain Symptoms
Pain is an unpleasant sensation your nervous system picks up on and responds to. Pain symptoms vary depending on the cause and affected area.
Common Symptoms
Everyone experiences pain differently. You may experience:
- Aches
- Burning or stinging
- Pulsing or throbbing
- Radiating pain that moves from one area of your body to another
- Stiffness
- Tension or tightness
Other Symptoms
Chronic pain can lead to physical and emotional issues, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Irritability
Causes of Pain
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common causes of joint pain, neck pain and inflammation.
Back and spine problems
Muscle strains, herniated (slipped) discs and degenerative spine conditions are primary causes of back pain.
Cancer
Certain cancers and cancer treatments can cause pain in your bones, nerves, soft tissues or near cancer tumors.
Headaches and migraines
Chronic headaches and migraines can cause severe head pain.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage from diabetes, neurological diseases, injuries and other conditions can cause nerve pain (neuropathy).
Neuromuscular Diseases
Nerve and muscle (neuromuscular) diseases, muscle strains and conditions like fibromyalgia cause pain.
Diagnosis and Testing for Conditions That Cause Pain
Many conditions can cause pain. Our team may recommend one or more of these tests to pinpoint what’s causing your pain:
- Blood tests: A blood test can rule out infections and certain conditions that cause pain.
- Imaging tests: Imaging tests, including X-rays, CT scans and MRIs, can show spine problems, arthritis and tumors that cause pain.
- Neuromuscular tests: A nerve conduction study checks for nerve damage. It often takes place with electromyography (EMG) to assess electrical activity in your muscles.
Comprehensive Pain Management
Pain treatments vary depending on the cause and symptoms. At the UC Davis Health Center for Advancing Pain Relief, we're always exploring new ways to manage and prevent pain symptoms. We offer comprehensive treatments that address the full impact of pain on your life.
Ablation
Ablation uses heat from radio waves to stop nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.
Cancer Pain Services
We offer specialized pain services for patients who have pain from cancer or cancer treatments.
Injections
Our doctors inject steroids, nerve-blocking medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and botulinum toxins to ease joint pain.
Nerve Stimulation (Neurostimulation)
Nerve stimulators (neurostimulators) are surgically implanted devices that send electrical impulses to disrupt pain signals. Some devices help strengthen specific muscle groups. We offer dorsal root ganglion stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, spinal cord stimulation and multifidus muscle stimulation.
Pain Medications and Pain Pumps
Our team manages prescription pain medications that provide you relief. We also place pain pumps underneath your skin to deliver pain medicine directly into your body.
Spine Spacers
Our doctors surgically place spacers between vertebrae in your spine to take pressure off your nerves and ease back pain.
Physical Therapy
Our physical therapists help you correct muscle weaknesses or imbalances that may contribute to pain.
Behavioral Medicine
Psychotherapy (talk therapy), biofeedback and other behavioral health therapies can help change your response to chronic pain. These therapies also help with depression and anxiety brought on or worsened by pain.
Pain Prevention
You can’t always prevent conditions that cause pain. However, these steps can minimize some risk factors.
Maintain a healthy weight
Excess weight puts pressure on joints, worsening pain.
Stay active
Activities like walking, swimming and yoga are easy on your joints and muscles.
Move with care
Use good form when lifting heavy objects or performing repetitive movements.
Practice good posture
Standing and sitting straight eases pressure on your spine and joints.
Who does it affect?
51MAmericans have chronic pain
Chronic pain impact
#1Cause of long-term disability in the U.S.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Chronic Pain Among Adults – United States, 2019-2021”
National Pain Advocacy Center: “About Pain”
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Awards and Recognitions
Ranked among the nation’s best hospitals
A U.S. News & World Report best hospital in cancer, cardiology, heart & vascular surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ENT, geriatrics, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, and pulmonology & lung surgery.
Ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals
U.S. News & World Report ranked UC Davis Children’s Hospital among the best in neonatology, nephrology, orthopedics*, pediatric & adolescent behavioral health, and pulmonology & lung surgery. (*Together with Shriners Children’s Northern California)
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital
Ranked Sacramento’s #1 hospital by U.S. News, and high-performing in back surgery, COPD, colon cancer surgery, gynecological cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, hip fracture, kidney failure, leukemia, lymphoma & myeloma, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, prostate cancer surgery, stroke, TAVR, and gastroenterology & GI surgery.
The nation’s highest nursing honor
UC Davis Medical Center has received Magnet® recognition, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence.
World-class cancer care
One of ~56 U.S. cancer centers designated “comprehensive” by the National Cancer Institute.
A leader in health care equality
For the 13th consecutive year, UC Davis Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.
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