Differences between outpatient and inpatient
Whether an inpatient treatment is necessary depends on the pain symptoms and the intended treatment. Patients who are unable to cope with their everyday life due to their pain can be admitted as inpatients. In addition, there are some treatment strategies that make an inpatient admission necessary.
Epidural anaesthesia is usually performed as an in-patient, so that closer monitoring is possible. Many other therapies, such as CT-guided pain therapy and infusions, can be performed well on an outpatient basis if the patient can visit a practice. In principle, the advantage of inpatient admission is that problems can be clarified directly and close monitoring is possible.
However, outpatient therapies are often more comfortable for the patient, as they can stay in their familiar surroundings. In some cases a mixture is also possible. Initially, an inpatient therapy takes place and the treatment is continued on an outpatient basis.
Duration of pain therapy
The duration of a pain therapy varies greatly from individual to individual. Some patients can live pain-free after a few therapy sessions with infusions or injections. Others suffer from recurring back pain for the rest of their lives and must be treated repeatedly. Here, the cause of the back pain is also decisive, since in some cases the cause itself cannot be eliminated and the pain reoccurs.
