Multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Management in Lithuania

Chronic back pain is a common ailment linked to modern lifestyles. Sedentary work, insufficient physical activity, obesity, poor posture, and improper movement all negatively affect human health. Chronic pain restricts one's ability to enjoy life, work, engage in activities, and travel. Constant pain often contributes to psychological challenges as well.

Ignoring or assuming that pain will simply go away often leads to more significant issues for the patient and their loved ones. Timely assistance from specialists can prevent the pain from becoming a central issue in the patient’s life.

Chronic Back Pain: A Common Problem

Clinic AGATAS, specializing in pain treatment and spinal surgery in Lithuania, is staffed by a multidisciplinary team including pain management doctors, spinal neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiotherapists, and dietitians. Each of these specialists aims to help patients who suffer from chronic back pain.

“In recent years, there’s been a significant increase in patients experiencing chronic back pain,” explains pain management specialist Dr. Asta Zavackienė. "The large volume of patients and complex pain evaluation processes often result in long waiting lists at state-run facilities, with some patients waiting up to six months for an appointment. Such long periods of constant pain can severely impact a person’s psychological well-being, quality of life, and productivity."

By contrast, private clinics can offer quicker appointments, allowing time to examine symptoms thoroughly and assess overall well-being. This attentive approach enables a better understanding of potential pain causes, making patients feel safer and more relaxed.

Despite the fact that 45% of Lithuanians experience chronic back pain, many delay seeking help, often due to a lack of knowledge about which specialist to consult or fear of ineffective treatments. On average, patients wait two years before seeing a neurosurgeon, pain management doctor, or neurologist.

Such procrastination is natural for humans but detrimental to health. The primary obstacle preventing individuals from seeking the right specialist immediately is the lack of knowledge about which doctor to consult for chronic back pain. Initially, it is advisable to see a pain specialist. However, this medical specialization is not yet well understood. Patients often do not know what to expect during a visit to a pain specialist. Naturally, this can lead to anxiety, postponement, and self-persuasion that the pain will resolve on its own. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that the longer one delays seeking help from a specialist, the more complex the treatment becomes, and it may take longer to achieve results.

A Comprehensive Approach to Pain Management

Modern medicine offers various methods to manage pain, including medication, invasive procedures, and surgery. The most important aspect is selecting an appropriate treatment method that can prevent pain from significantly impacting one’s quality of life.

Clinic AGATAS specialists emphasize that chronic pain often requires a team-based approach. Pain affects both physical and psychological health, and a multidisciplinary approach is essential. By involving various specialists, this approach provides a clearer understanding of the pain's causes and the most suitable treatments for each individual.

Patients with chronic pain may expect a quick fix after one visit to a specialist, but effective chronic pain management is rarely a "one-stop solution." The source of chronic pain can be highly complex and varied, which is why a team-based approach yields the best results.

A common patient with chronic back pain mistakenly believes that only a neurosurgeon can help. In fact, the best results are achieved when the patient is cared for by several specialists in their field. A neurosurgeon, after assessing the patient's clinical case, will often not rush to prescribe surgical treatment immediately, but on the contrary, will first prescribe conservative methods, for example, drug or invasive treatment performed by a pain doctor, physiotherapy. Consultation or treatment by a neurologist may also be necessary. Such a holistic approach to the patient's health and the treatment process of the neurosurgeons of Clinic AGATAS encourages them to first use all possible conservative treatment methods before placing the patient on the operating table. As a result, only 10 percent. of patients visiting neurosurgeons are prescribed surgery.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Bronius Špakauskas confirms that "although there are several spinal conditions that require surgery, many back problems can be treated without surgery. It all depends on each individual medical case. For example, more than 90 percent of herniated discs can be treated with conservative treatment methods, such as physiotherapy or nerve root blocks, epidural drug injections."

Benefits of Multidisciplinary Treatment for the Patient

The foundation of effective multidisciplinary treatment lies in a highly skilled, empathetic team of professionals. Clinic AGATAS combines experienced, compassionate doctors who assess each patient comprehensively, consult with various specialists, and tailor the most appropriate treatment approach.

“Pain affects our emotions, and our emotions can influence how we experience pain,” says Dr. Zavackienė. "If we are anxious or depressed, pain often becomes more intense and intrusive. Positive emotions, on the other hand, help us handle pain better. Pain is not just a feeling or a physical limitation—it’s a complex experience affecting the entire body, both emotionally and physically."

At Clinic AGATAS, patients suffering from non-specific chronic back pain are initially referred to a pain management specialist. During the consultation, the doctor examines the patient’s back, assesses their ability to sit, stand, walk, and lift, and may ask the patient to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10.

Jei pacientą kankina nespecifinis lėtinis nugaros skausmas, pirmiausia klinikoje Clinic AGATAS jis yra nukreipiamas į skausmo gydytoją. Šio specialisto konsultacijos metu gydytojas ištiria paciento nugarą bei įvertina jo galimybes sėdėti, stovėti, eiti bei pakelti kojas. Taip pat gydytojas gali paprašyti įvertinti juntamą skausmą pagal skalę nuo 0 iki 10 balų bei aptarti, kaip jausdamas skausmą pacientas geba užsiimti kasdienine veikla.

This helps determine the pain's origin and the patient’s range of movement and muscle response.

A well-chosen pain management strategy not only improves the well-being of those suffering from chronic pain but also boosts productivity and speeds up recovery. The specialists at Clinic AGATAS are experts in managing chronic and acute pain, spinal and spinal cord diseases, traumatic injuries, and spinal tumors. Consultation with a specialist is the first step toward effective pain management!