“Algology, or pain science, is a branch of science that investigates the causes of pain and aims to treat it by identifying its source.”

What Is Algology? Unknown Facts About Algology…

According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is an unpleasant emotional and sensory experience. This experience is associated with tissue damage. Pain can be defined by existing or potential tissue damage.

Pain is one of the most common complaints in daily life. Almost everyone has experienced pain at least once in their lives.

Pain is a signal telling you that something is wrong in your body. This signal can sometimes indicate a minor condition or sometimes a serious disease. For example, mild headache or cancer pain.

Pain actually encompasses all the features that include our entire existence and life. Pain may arise from damage or destruction anywhere in our body. This is an important stimulus that leads us to see a doctor.

On the other hand, pain is directly related to past experiences. People’s cultural characteristics, lifestyles, and environments also affect pain. Additionally, education level, gender, language, religion, and other beliefs are also important.

Pain comes with physical symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and difficulty walking. It can also show emotional symptoms such as anger, depression, or irritability.

What Diseases Does the Algology Department Treat?

Algology, the pain department, diagnoses and treats all types of chronic pain and severe pain of unknown cause. This is not a traditional or complementary medicine method. Algology mostly performs applications for chronic pain.

» Chronic Headaches:
Migraine, cluster headache, tension-type headache, occipital neuralgia.

» Neuropathic Pain:
Neuralgias including trigeminal neuralgia, shingles-related neuralgia, and diabetes-related pain. Also phantom limb pain and complex regional pain syndrome.

» Neck Pain:
Cervical disc herniation, nerve compression, calcification, post-trauma neck pain.

» Shoulder-Arm Pain:
Pain originating from the shoulder joint, rotator cuff, and upper extremity structures.

» Low Back Pain:
Lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, and piriformis muscle-related pain are common. Failed back surgery can also cause pain. Sacroiliac joint pain and facet syndrome are also important problems.

» Abdominal and Chronic Pelvic Pain:
Endometriosis, rectal cancer, coccyx pain.

» Cancer Pain:
Lung, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small and large intestine cancers.

» Rheumatic Pain:
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoporosis-related pain.

Who Is an Algology Specialist?

An algology specialist, or pain specialist, earns this title after receiving special training. These doctors deal with pain treatment. In our country, anesthesiology and reanimation, neurology, and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists pass the subspecialty exam. They must go through a 2-year training process to obtain this specialty title.

An algology specialist examines pain sources and causes. Treatment is applied considering the patient’s general condition, pain location, severity, and type. Algology doctors are people who specialize in prolonged, chronic pain and its treatment.

How Is the Diagnosis of Algology Diseases Made?

» Careful History Taking (Anamnesis):
Taking a careful anamnesis, that is, recording the patient’s history and complaints in detail, is one of the most important steps of the medical diagnosis process. The anamnesis includes the patient’s health status and past illnesses. Additionally, family health history, lifestyle, and environmental factors are also important.

» Physical Examination:
The patient’s examination also plays an important role in the diagnosis process. Physical examination allows the doctor to evaluate the patient’s general health status and detect sensitivities or abnormalities in certain areas. During the examination, the doctor checks the patient’s vital signs including pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate.

» Imaging Methods:
The doctor may use various diagnostic methods to better evaluate the patient’s condition. X-ray films are used for imaging internal organs and bones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows detailed examination of soft tissues. Computed tomography (CT) helps evaluate more complex structures by obtaining cross-sectional images of the body.

» Electromyography (EMG):
EMG plays an important role in the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases by measuring the electrical activity of muscles and nerves.

These tests provide the necessary data to better understand the patient’s condition and make an accurate diagnosis.

What Are the Algology Treatment Methods?

For algology treatment, if the cause of your pain cannot be found or you cannot receive effective treatment, it is recommended that you definitely consult an algology (pain) specialist. In algology outpatient clinics, all kinds of pain treatment is provided for patients from 7 to 70.

Drug Treatment

Pain specialists investigate the cause of pain in the pain clinic and primarily apply drug treatment. These drugs contain special active ingredients that can only be prescribed by pain specialists.

Interventional Treatments

For patients who do not benefit from drug treatment, pain specialists perform interventional treatments according to the location and character of the pain.

» Nerve Blocks:
Injection of local anesthetic and/or steroid medications around specific nerves to interrupt pain signals.

» Radiofrequency Ablation:
Using heat generated by radio waves to target specific nerves and reduce pain signals.

» Intra-articular Drug Injections:
Injection of medications directly into joints for pain relief.

» Epidural Steroid Injections:
Injection of anti-inflammatory medication into the epidural space.

» Selective Nerve Root Blocks:
Targeted injection to specific nerve roots.

» Facet Joint Radiofrequency Ablation:
Treatment for facet joint-related pain.

» Intradiscal Radiofrequency Ablation:
Treatment for disc-related pain.

» Spinal Cord Stimulation (Pain Pacemaker):
For stubborn, persistent pain, effective pain control can be achieved with the spinal cord stimulation method.

Procedure Information

Interventional algological treatments are performed as low-risk procedures with local anesthesia, without general anesthesia (narcosis). Procedures are performed in the operating room, under sterile conditions, under local anesthesia, with fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance. After the procedure, a significant reduction in the patient’s pain is observed and the patient can go home the same day.

Remember, chronic pain is not just physical suffering. It can also affect the person’s psychological state. This condition can leave permanent marks on health. Regardless of the cause, effective pain treatment is the most natural right of every patient.

After Algology Treatment

Algology treatment is a medical branch that focuses on pain management and treatment. This treatment process aims to reduce patients’ pain levels and improve their quality of life. However, there are a number of important processes that patients may encounter after algology treatment.

The post-pain treatment period is a serious process. This process varies depending on the patient’s response to treatment, treatment methods, and individual health status. Post-treatment monitoring is critical for evaluating the patient’s pain level and making necessary adjustments to treatment.

» Regular follow-up appointments to assess treatment effectiveness
» Adjustment of medications and therapies as needed
» Physical therapy and rehabilitation when appropriate
» Psychological support for chronic pain management
» Lifestyle modifications to support pain relief