Injuries or disorders of the brain, brain stem and spinal cord can cause constant pain. Conditions include stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, brain or spine trauma and Parkinson's disease.

When a tumor grows into nearby tissues, it can put pressure on bones, nerves and organs. There can also be pain from radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Many digestive problems can cause pain from swelling, irritation or pressure. Conditions include irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and pancreatitis.

If you regularly feel pain somewhere in your body, you know how much it can wear you down. Headaches and other types of pain are common, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay. When pain keeps you from your normal activities or causes anxiety or depression, it’s time to see a doctor.

PeaceHealth will help you learn what’s causing your pain. Your team may include specialists in neurology, neurosurgery, pain management and physical therapy. We’ll help you find ways to reduce or stop your symptoms — and relieve the pain.

We understand how pain impacts your physical and emotional health, and we’re here to help.

PeaceHealth is recognized for safe spine surgery

PeaceHealth has been named a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. This means our patients have lower readmission rates and fewer reoperations.

We offer noninvasive brain treatments

PeaceHealth is one of a few hospitals in the Northwest to offer Gamma Knife and CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery. It treats severe facial pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia without any surgical incisions.

Our headache care is comprehensive

Our headache specialists care for patients of all ages. Expert care includes treating headaches in children and adolescent migraine.

You have access to advanced spine surgery

PeaceHealth surgeons offer minimally invasive procedures to treat neck and back pain. These include discectomy, kyphoplasty, laminectomy and spinal fusion.

Headaches can come in many forms, including migraines, cluster headaches and headaches caused by strain in other areas of your body, such as your eyes or neck. Facial pain may be caused by nerve problems such as trigeminal neuralgia or occipital nerve pain.

Many conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and shingles, can damage nerves and cause pain. Nerve pain can also come from an injury — including amputation, which can lead to phantom limb pain.

Orthopedic conditions affect your bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. They can be caused by injuries, overuse or normal aging. These problems include degenerative disc disease, muscle tears, joint problems, and conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and spinal deformities.

Conditions such as complex regional pain syndrome, myofascial syndrome and fibromyalgia are complex, chronic pain disorders. The causes and symptoms are different, but they all cause ongoing pain.

Pain after surgery can be from the surgical wound, nerve irritation, swelling, tissue damage and scar tissue.

Living with pain can sometimes cause feelings of depression or helplessness. Behavioral health professionals at PeaceHealth can help you learn skills to feel better. They give you the power to improve your emotional well-being with one-on-one and group counseling. You learn coping skills through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation techniques and stress-management methods.

Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation to reduce pain and improve movement. They often combine chiropractic care with exercise and other nonsurgical treatments.

Pain management specialists at PeaceHealth work to determine the source of your pain by reviewing your health history and tests you’ve had. They may use advanced imaging — such as ultrasound, CT and MRI — to look for problems. Or they may use an electromyogram (EMG) to check your muscle function. This lets them create a plan based on your individual plan.

Image-guided injections (shots) get medicine right to the source of pain. Doctors use advanced, real-time imaging (fluoroscopy or ultrasound) to guide the injections to the correct spot. Medicines may include nerve blocks, steroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). 

Doctors at PeaceHealth use minimally invasive methods to treat pain. These include surgically implanted medicine pumps and spinal cord stimulation devices, as well as radiofrequency ablation (a procedure to help reduce pain) to block pain nerve signals.

As part of your treatment to help reduce symptoms, you may take medicines such as pain relievers, muscle relaxants and antidepressants. Medicines aren’t used as the only treatment for pain — they’re used along with other pain management therapies.

Physical therapists at PeaceHealth teach you about your condition and show you exercises and stretches to help lower your pain. They also use noninvasive electrical stimulation to relax tight or painful muscles. This includes transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS).

When pain is caused by a structural problem or disease — such as joint problems or cancer — surgery may be the best way to give you relief. Your doctor may refer you to a surgeon to treat the source of your pain.