Can pain care help you return to activity?
Pain management may help some people take part in daily activities again, though the amount of progress and response to treatment varies. Complete pain relief is not always possible, but meaningful improvements in function may still be within reach.
Success can mean walking more comfortably, managing household tasks, or returning to an activity that matters to you, even if some pain remains. The goal is personal, and treatment should be adjusted to your needs rather than measured against someone else’s story.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, UCLA-trained, and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. She works with patients to understand what is causing their pain and to set realistic goals for daily life.
A pain plan may combine patient education, medication management, image-guided injections, or coordination with other clinicians and therapies. The right approach depends on the person and the condition, and progress may take different forms over time.
What can progress look like?
Progress in pain care can mean doing more of what matters to you, even if some pain remains. One person may hope to walk farther; another may want to dress more easily, sleep better, return to work, or join family and social activities.
These goals are personal, and they can change as your needs change. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained physician who is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years, works with patients to understand their condition and set practical goals.
A University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences patient account describes a person with complex regional pain syndrome who reported being able to walk, dress, and put on shoes after treatment. She then worked to rebuild strength after a long period of limited leg use. This is an individual account from another institution, not a California Pain Institute patient story or a typical result.
The UAMS stories describe different conditions, treatments, and responses. They illustrate that function may improve alongside pain, but they cannot predict what will happen for someone else. At California Pain Institute, Dr. Kerr’s care includes patient education and coordination with other clinicians, with treatment choices based on each person’s needs.
Hope and support can help people cope, but attitude does not control illness or guarantee a medical outcome. Stanford Medicine’s discussion is about cancer, not chronic pain; its broader guidance on realistic goals, partnership with a care team, and support may still be useful when living with a health condition. Stanford Medicine’s guidance emphasizes realistic expectations and active communication with clinicians.
To learn about Dr. Kerr’s background, visit Dr. Rebecca Kerr.
What does pain management involve?
Pain management starts with listening: what you feel, your health history, treatments you have tried, and how pain affects daily life. Pain is real even when its cause is not clear at first. An evaluation may include an examination and, when appropriate, tests or imaging.
For back pain, care is based on your needs and may include medication management, image-guided injections, education, or coordination with physical therapy and other specialists. Pain management can focus on improving function as well as reducing pain; no single plan works for everyone.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, UCLA-trained, and with more than 25 years practicing pain management exclusively, discusses options and helps patients understand their diagnosis. When appropriate, her approach emphasizes non-opiate, non-addicting medicines and image-guided injections. Medication or an injection is not needed by every patient.
A referral may be considered when pain is ongoing, complex, or not improving with initial care. For example, sciatica may be one possible cause to assess. Seeing a specialist does not mean the pain is not real or that another clinician has given up.
At California Pain Institute, Dr. Kerr coordinates with other clinicians as needed, including physical therapy and behavioral health providers. The practice performs ultrasound- and X-ray-guided spinal, nerve, joint, soft-tissue, and trigger point injections, including X-ray-guided epidural steroid injections. Learn more about Dr. Kerr.
What does pain management involve for back pain?
It involves reviewing symptoms, health history, and daily impact, then discussing a personal plan. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Why might my doctor refer me to a pain management specialist?
A specialist can review your symptoms and past care, explain possible causes, and discuss options when pain persists or is complex.
Request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles (310) 642-7900.
What treatments might be considered?
Chronic pain care is tailored to the person, and a plan may combine more than one approach. The aim may be to ease symptoms and support daily function and quality of life, not to promise that pain will disappear.
At California Pain Institute, treatment may include medication management and ultrasound- or X-ray-guided injections for the spine, nerves, joints, soft tissue, or trigger points. The practice also provides X-ray-guided epidural steroid injections; its services are selected according to a patient’s condition and goals.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, UCLA-trained, and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. Her approach includes explaining the diagnosis and options, considering non-opioid, non-addicting medicines when appropriate, and coordinating referrals for physical therapy or behavioral health care.
What treatments may be part of a chronic pain management plan?
Depending on the situation, a clinician may discuss referral options such as radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to affect pain-signaling nerves, or spinal cord stimulation, which uses electrical signals to change pain signaling. California Pain Institute does not perform either procedure, but patients can ask whether a referral may be appropriate.
Medication safety depends on the person. There is no single pain medicine that is safest for everyone over the long term, so discuss benefits, risks, health conditions, side effects, and possible drug interactions with your physician. Do not start, stop, or change a medicine without medical guidance.
What is the safest pain medication for long-term use?
No one medication is safest for every patient. Opioids may be part of care for some people, and their benefits and risks should be reviewed with the prescribing clinician without judgment; patients should not change opioid treatment on their own.
Can gentle activity support daily function?
Gentle, appropriately adapted activity may help maintain strength, mobility, and daily function when you live with chronic pain. It is not a cure, and it does not replace medical evaluation or an individualized care plan. Research reviews describe movement as one possible part of chronic pain care, with benefits and limits that vary between people (NIH review; Harvard Health).
Rest may ease symptoms for a while, but prolonged inactivity can make movement harder for some people. Before starting or changing an activity plan, ask your physician or physical therapist what may be suitable for your health, pain, and abilities.
Begin at a manageable level and build gradually. Pacing means breaking activity into parts and avoiding the temptation to do too much on a better day; stop and seek guidance if you develop severe or new pain.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained physician who is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. At California Pain Institute, with offices in Torrance (South Bay) and Los Angeles near LAX, she provides patient education and coordinates care with other clinicians, including physical therapy, so activity advice can fit the person’s broader plan.
For people with back pain, fever with back pain, sudden weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control requires emergency care. These symptoms need prompt assessment, not an exercise adjustment. After emergency care, consult a pain specialist like Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained physician dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, for ongoing management.
Can exercise help when you have chronic pain, and how should you approach it?
It may support strength, mobility, and everyday tasks, but it does not help everyone in the same way or guarantee pain relief. Ask a physician or physical therapist about a suitable plan, start at a manageable level, and increase gradually rather than pushing through severe or new pain.
To discuss your pain and activity options, request an appointment with Dr. Kerr.
How can I cope with pain day to day?
How can I manage daily tasks with pain?
Ongoing pain can affect sleep, mood, relationships, and everyday tasks, and your experience is real even when others cannot see the pain. Care may aim to improve function and quality of life, not necessarily remove every trace of pain, as the Cleveland Clinic explains.
Pacing can make daily demands more manageable: divide tasks into smaller parts, plan rests, and build activity gradually rather than pushing through a flare or avoiding movement altogether. Gentle movement, a steady sleep routine, relaxation, counseling, or peer support may also help. Ask your clinician which steps are safe and suitable for you.
How can Dr. Kerr help?
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and UCLA-trained, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. She focuses on patient education, non-opiate, non-addicting medicines when appropriate, image-guided injections, and coordination with specialists, physical therapy, and behavioral health. These supports complement medical care rather than replace it.
California Pain Institute sees patients at its Torrance office in the South Bay and its Los Angeles office near LAX. Dr. Kerr, who is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, also discusses realistic goals and helps patients understand their condition and care options.
When should I seek emergency care?
For sudden weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, seek emergency care. Fever with back pain also needs urgent medical attention.
Frequently asked questions
What is pacing? Pacing means breaking tasks into smaller parts and planning rest periods. It can help you stay active without overdoing it.
Can gentle movement make pain worse? Gentle movement is usually safe, but you should ask your clinician what is right for you.
How do I know if I need emergency care? Sudden weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or fever with back pain are signs to seek emergency care.
What treatments does Dr. Kerr offer? Dr. Kerr provides medication management, image-guided injections, and coordinates care with other specialists.
How can I make an appointment? You can request an appointment online or call the office.
To discuss a plan, request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
How can I prepare for an appointment?
A little preparation can help your pain specialist understand what you are experiencing and what matters most to you. Bring relevant medical records and imaging, along with a list of medicines and treatments you have tried.
It may also help to note where the pain occurs, when it began, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects sleep, work, movement, or other daily activities. Do not stop or change a medicine before discussing it with your physician.
Bring questions about possible causes, treatment choices, and realistic goals. Dr. Rebecca Kerr is dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, trained at UCLA, and has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. Learn about Dr. Kerr.
Appointments are available in Torrance, serving the South Bay, and in Los Angeles near LAX. To request an appointment with Dr. Kerr, call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
What is a realistic next step?
A realistic goal may be doing more of a daily activity, even if pain remains. Progress and treatment responses differ, so care should be guided by your needs and reviewed over time.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained, dual board-certified physician in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology with more than 25 years in pain management, provides care at California Pain Institute’s Torrance and Los Angeles near LAX offices. Learn about Dr. Kerr or explore care for back pain.
Frequently asked questions
Does an injection mean I will not need other care? Not necessarily. Your plan may also include medication management or coordinated therapy.
Can pain be real if tests show no clear cause? Yes. Pain is real even when tests do not identify its source.
Will every patient have the same result? No. Response varies from person to person.
Should I keep moving if activity changes my symptoms? Discuss a safe, adjusted activity plan with your clinician.
Request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Torrance: (310) 504-0632. Los Angeles: (310) 642-7900.
