Imagine healing from a broken wrist, only to find that months later, even the touch of clothing feels like fire. That was the reality for a 42-year-old homemaker from Mysuru—until pain specialists diagnosed her with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and gave her back her life.

Key facts

  • Victoria Hospital's pain clinic has treated over 4,000 patients since June 2023
  • More than 1,200 advanced pain intervention procedures performed
  • Chronic pain lasting beyond 3 months may indicate need for specialized care

The Hidden Epidemic of Persistent Pain

While September marks Pain Awareness Month, for millions of Indians, pain is a constant companion that doesn't fade with time. At Victoria Hospital, attached to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, doctors have seen firsthand how chronic pain can steal lives—and how specialized treatment can restore them.

The hospital's pain clinic, run by the Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, has become a beacon of hope since opening in June 2023. Their numbers tell a powerful story: over 4,000 outpatient consultations and more than 1,200 specialized procedures already completed.

Beyond Painkillers: A New Approach to Treatment

Dr. Satish Kumar M.N., associate professor at BMCRI and treasurer of the Karnataka Chapter of the Indian Society for Study of Pain, leads a team that's changing how we think about pain management. "Our team has performed over 1,200 advanced pain intervention procedures," he says, with quiet pride in what they've built.

This isn't about stronger medications. The clinic offers image-guided nerve blocks, joint injections, and radiofrequency ablation—a technique that interrupts pain signals at their source. The recent acquisition of a radiofrequency ablation machine means patients no longer need to seek expensive corporate hospital care for these advanced treatments.

"Many patients are told to simply live with pain because investigations do not reveal an obvious cause. But persistent pain can itself be a medical condition requiring specialized evaluation and treatment," says Dr. Sadasivan S. Iyer of Manipal Hospital.

When to Seek Help

Specialists emphasize that pain lasting beyond three months deserves attention—especially when it interferes with sleep, daily activities, or comes with burning, shooting sensations. They treat everything from cancer pain and neuropathic conditions to musculoskeletal disorders and post-surgical pain.

Dr. Murali T.S. of Apollo Hospitals captures the mission perfectly: "The goal is not simply to reduce a patient's pain score. It is to help them sleep better, return to work, perform daily activities and regain independence. Pain relief is ultimately about restoring quality of life."

For those living with persistent pain, the message is clear: help is available, and suffering in silence is no longer necessary.