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Pain Management Specialist

Yetunde Sannoh, MD -  - Internist

Total Wellness Healthcare Clinic

Yetunde Sannoh, MD

Internist & Aesthetic Specialist located in Upper Marlboro, MD & Waldorf, MD

If you’re one of the 11% of adults living with chronic pain, you should have a pain management plan that’s customized to meet your needs and considers diverse treatment options for optimal results. At Total Wellness Healthcare Clinic, Dr. Yetunde Sannoh has extensive experience treating the leading cause of chronic pain -- lower back pain -- as well as pain from all other causes. Please don’t continue to suffer with pain. Call one of the offices in Waldorf or Upper Marlboro, Maryland, or book an appointment online.

Pain Management Q & A

What are the different types of pain?

Acute pain is a sudden and often severe pain that goes away in less than three to six months after the cause of pain heals. Chronic pain is a constant or recurring pain that lasts longer than three to six months.

In some cases, chronic pain begins as an injury with acute pain, but then the pain continues long after the injury heals. Many patients experience continuing pain due to a chronic illness. It’s also possible to have chronic pain without identifying an underlying cause.

What are the most common causes of pain?

Dr. Sannoh treats pain from many different causes, but some of the most common include:

  • Low back pain: herniated or degenerative disc, sciatica, muscle sprain
  • Headache: migraine, tension, cluster
  • Rheumatologic: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia
  • Neuropathic pain: diabetic neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Musculoskeletal: sports injuries, soft tissue sprains and strains, repetitive use injury

What should you know about low back pain?

Following the common cold, low back pain accounts for the most visits to doctors. It’s also the leading cause of disability in people under 45 years of age, so it’s important to see Dr.Sannoh if your back pain doesn’t go away in a few weeks.

The most common causes of low back pain include:

  • Overuse
  • Disc herniation
  • Disc degeneration
  • Muscle injury
  • Arthritis
  • Narrowing of the spinal canal
  • Compression fracture

How is chronic pain treated?

Treatment for chronic pain is always individualized. Dr. Sannoh’s patients often achieve the best results with a responsible pain management plan that takes a multimodal approach. Your pain management plan may include one or more of the following:

Oral medications

Dr. Sannoh can choose from about 180 non-opioid pain medications, including steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, and nerve stabilizers. Some types of antidepressants also help relieve pain.

Topical medications

Topical lidocaine, NSAIDs, and capsaicin aren’t first-line treatments, but they can temporarily relieve pain and may help you stay active.

Physical activity

Exercise improves pain and helps restore physical functioning. Depending on the severity of your pain, Dr. Sannoh may help with an exercise plan or refer you to a physical therapist.

Alternative therapies

A variety of alternative therapies can alleviate stress and diminish pain. Dr. Sannoh can help you find providers for alternative options such as massage therapy.