When Is It Time to Get Help?
Consider a medical evaluation if pain lasts beyond the expected healing period, keeps returning, worsens, or disrupts sleep or daily activities. You do not need to wait a set number of months when pain is severe or limiting. Persistent pain can have several causes, and it is real even when the cause is not yet clear.
An evaluation does not mean you will need an injection, surgery, or a particular medicine. A clinician can review your symptoms and goals, assess possible causes, and discuss options, including non-opioid approaches when appropriate. The CDC guideline on opioid prescribing supports individualized care and a range of treatments, whether or not opioids are part of a plan.
At California Pain Institute, 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 explains the diagnosis and coordinates care with other clinicians when needed. Learn more about Dr. Kerr or request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Torrance (310) 504-0632; Los Angeles (310) 642-7900.
What Is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain lasts or returns for more than three months, or continues beyond the time an injury would usually take to heal. Acute pain is short-term pain that often starts suddenly and eases as an injury or illness heals. The Cleveland Clinic’s explanation of chronic pain describes how it can persist or come and go.
Pain may remain after an injury or illness has resolved, or occur without a clear cause. When tests do not point to one direct physical source, that does not mean the pain is imagined. The experience is real, and assessment can consider symptoms, health history, function, and other factors.
Persistent pain can affect more than the area that hurts. It may make it harder to sleep, move, work, care for yourself, maintain relationships, or take part in usual activities. Living with these changes can be draining, even when the cause is uncertain; care can focus on understanding the problem and supporting function without promising complete relief.
For example, fibromyalgia can involve widespread pain and affect daily life. At California Pain Institute, 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. She explains diagnoses and care options, and coordinates with other clinicians when needed.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, uses an approach that often begins with non-opiate, non-addicting medications and may include image-guided injections to target the source of pain. She emphasizes patient education so you understand your condition and treatment options. Dr. Kerr sees patients at offices in Torrance (South Bay) and Los Angeles near LAX.
Frequently asked questions about chronic pain
How long does chronic pain last? Chronic pain lasts or returns for more than three months, or continues beyond the time an injury would usually take to heal.
What causes chronic pain? Pain may remain after an injury or illness has resolved, or occur without a clear cause. When tests do not point to one direct physical source, that does not mean the pain is imagined.
Can chronic pain affect my daily life? Yes. Persistent pain can make it harder to sleep, move, work, care for yourself, maintain relationships, or take part in usual activities.
What treatments are available? Treatment options vary. Dr. Kerr’s approach often begins with non-opiate, non-addicting medications and may include image-guided injections. She also coordinates care with other specialists and emphasizes patient education.
When should I see a doctor for chronic pain? If persistent pain is affecting your life, it may be helpful to discuss an evaluation with a pain specialist.
If persistent pain is affecting your life, you can request an appointment with Dr. Kerr to discuss an evaluation. For more information or to schedule, call Torrance (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles (310) 642-7900.
What Symptoms Should Prompt an Evaluation?
Pain may feel aching, burning, sharp, shooting, stiff, stinging, squeezing, or throbbing. It may stay in one place or spread, and its intensity and pattern vary from person to person. Cleveland Clinic’s guide to chronic pain describes several ways persistent pain can feel.
Numbness, tingling, or weakness may also occur, depending on the cause. Pain can make movement, concentration, sleep, and everyday tasks harder, and it may come with fatigue, irritability, mood changes, anxiety, or depression. These effects do not mean the pain is imagined.
Contact a healthcare provider if pain worsens, returns after treatment, causes troublesome treatment side effects, disrupts sleep, or makes usual activities difficult. Pain that limits daily life deserves attention even when it comes and goes. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained, dual board-certified physician in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. At California Pain Institute, she evaluates conditions including neuropathy and explains the diagnosis and care options to patients.
Seek emergency evaluation, not a routine pain-clinic appointment, for new loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden or worsening weakness, or fever with back pain. These symptoms need prompt medical attention.
Dr. Kerr’s approach includes medication management that emphasizes non-opioid, non-addicting options when appropriate, image-guided injections, and coordination with other clinicians. Learn more about Dr. Kerr. California Pain Institute has offices in Torrance, serving the South Bay, and in Los Angeles near LAX.
To discuss symptoms, request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
Why Might a Doctor Refer You?
Your doctor may refer you to a pain management specialist when pain persists, limits daily activities, has not improved with initial care, or needs closer assessment. A referral can help clarify possible causes and coordinate a plan; it does not mean you need a procedure or surgery.
Referral may also help when an initial evaluation has not found a clear cause, several sources of pain may overlap, or the current treatment plan needs review. A specialist can discuss your history, examine you, consider whether tests are useful, and explain possible next steps. Pain is real even when its cause is not easy to identify, and the American Academy of Pain Medicine referral guidance supports collaboration between primary care clinicians and pain specialists.
California Pain Institute evaluates adults with conditions such as neuropathy, fibromyalgia, sciatica, headache and migraine, neck pain, back pain, and arthritis, including complicated and rare pain disorders.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained, dual board-certified physician in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years. She explains the diagnosis and likely course of pain and coordinates with other clinicians, including primary care and relevant specialists, to shape individualized care. Learn more about Dr. Kerr.
What Happens at a First Appointment?
At a first pain management appointment, the clinician asks about your symptoms, health, and past care, then may perform a physical examination and review existing test results. You can bring questions, records, and goals for daily life so the visit can focus on what matters to you.
Expect to discuss where the pain occurs, how it feels and when it happens, what triggers or eases it, and how it affects sleep, work, and daily activities. The clinician may also ask about your medical history, current medicines and supplements, and treatments you have tried.
A physical examination and review of available imaging or test results can help guide the assessment. Further tests are chosen when they may clarify the suspected cause or change care; not everyone needs new imaging or testing. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine describes a first specialist visit as including a pain history, examination, and review of prior tests.
If available, bring a current medication list, relevant medical records, imaging reports or images, and details of prior procedures and their effects. It may also help to think about functional goals, such as sleeping more consistently or completing daily tasks with less difficulty.
You should be able to raise concerns and ask questions without judgment. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a dual board-certified physician in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology with more than 25 years devoted exclusively to pain management, explains the diagnosis and likely course, then discusses possible next steps with you. Her background and training include UCLA, and care planning is collaborative; treatment response varies.
At California Pain Institute, Dr. Kerr also coordinates with other clinicians when appropriate, so the plan can account for your health and daily needs. The practice has offices in Torrance, serving the South Bay, and Los Angeles near LAX.
Questions patients often ask
Will I need imaging? Not necessarily. The clinician reviews existing results and recommends additional tests only when indicated.
Should I bring my medicines? Yes. Bring a current list, including supplements, and discuss any concerns with your clinician. Do not change medicines on your own.
Does the first visit mean I will have a procedure? No. The appointment is for assessment and discussion; any treatment option depends on your condition and goals.
What if I do not know what is causing the pain? You can still discuss the symptoms and their effects. The clinician can explain what is known and whether further evaluation may help.
To discuss an evaluation, request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
What Treatments Might Be Discussed?
A chronic pain plan, whether for neuropathy or another condition, may combine treatments rather than depend on one approach. The options should fit your diagnosis, health history, symptoms, and goals, with time to discuss possible benefits, risks, and side effects. A plan may aim to improve daily function and quality of life, even if it cannot remove all pain.
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 offers X-ray-guided epidural steroid injections. The right option depends on the clinical evaluation, and results vary.
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. When appropriate, her medication approach considers non-opiate, non-addicting medicines first. Do not change or stop a medicine without discussing it with your physician; opioid decisions should be individualized through shared discussion, as the CDC guideline advises.
Dr. Kerr also explains the diagnosis and proposed care, and may coordinate with primary care, neurology, orthopedics, spine surgery, rheumatology, behavioral health, and physical therapy. Dr. Rebecca Kerr, a UCLA-trained physician dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology with more than 25 years of experience, coordinates this care to address all aspects of your health. The American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine’s treatment options include medication, procedures, and non-medication care; the appropriate mix depends on the person.
Radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, PRP, ketamine, surgery, chiropractic care, and acupuncture may be options to ask about or be referred to elsewhere when clinically appropriate. They are not services described here as performed by California Pain Institute. Dr. Kerr sees patients at her offices in Torrance (South Bay) and Los Angeles near LAX.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of injections does Dr. Kerr offer? Dr. Kerr performs ultrasound- and X-ray-guided injections for the spine, nerves, joints, soft tissue, and trigger points, as well as X-ray-guided epidural steroid injections. The right option depends on your clinical evaluation.
Will I need medication as part of my treatment plan? Medication management may be part of your plan. Dr. Kerr considers non-opiate, non-addicting medications first when appropriate. Do not change or stop any medication without discussing it with your physician.
How does Dr. Kerr coordinate care with other specialists? Dr. Kerr may coordinate with primary care, neurology, orthopedics, spine surgery, rheumatology, behavioral health, and physical therapy to ensure comprehensive care.
What if I need a treatment not offered at California Pain Institute? Treatments such as radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, PRP, ketamine, surgery, chiropractic care, and acupuncture may be options to ask about or be referred to elsewhere when clinically appropriate.
Request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles (310) 642-7900.
What Else Should You Know?
Here is what else you should know about chronic pain, which is pain that lasts more than three months: it has many possible causes, opioids are not the only option, and improvement is possible but not guaranteed. A clinician can help you understand your specific situation.
What conditions can cause chronic pain?
Pain may involve nerve-related, muscle or joint, inflammatory, or other processes, and more than one cause can contribute; conditions such as back pain are common examples. Sometimes no clear cause is found, but that does not make the pain any less real. A clinician can review your symptoms and discuss possible next steps; Cleveland Clinic’s chronic pain overview explains some of the ways persistent pain can develop.
What should I know about opioids for chronic pain?
Opioids may help some people, but their benefits and risks vary; the CDC guideline on opioid prescribing favors nonopioid therapies for subacute and chronic pain when appropriate, while supporting individualized decisions rather than a rigid rule to stop or avoid opioids. If you take an opioid, do not stop or change it on your own; discuss your goals and concerns with your physician. People who use opioids deserve respectful, individualized care.
Dr. Rebecca Kerr, dual board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology, typically begins with non-opiate, non-addicting medications and image-guided injections when appropriate. She has practiced pain management exclusively for more than 25 years and is UCLA-trained.
Can chronic pain be cured, or is it always permanent?
Chronic pain is not always permanent. Whether it improves depends on its cause, your health, and how it responds to care. When a cause cannot be identified or treated, care may still focus on managing symptoms and improving function; complete relief cannot be promised.
How can I live with chronic pain when it affects daily life?
Living with persistent pain can be exhausting, and needing support is not a failure. A medical evaluation can help shape a personal plan around goals that matter to you, such as sleeping, moving, working, or completing everyday tasks. 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.
At California Pain Institute, patient education and coordination with physical therapy and behavioral health can be part of care. Learn more about Dr. Kerr.
If you have sudden weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever with back pain, or the worst headache of your life, seek emergency care rather than waiting for a routine appointment. California Pain Institute has offices in Torrance, serving the South Bay, and Los Angeles near LAX.
Request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
How Can You Take the Next Step?
If pain keeps returning, limits daily activities, or is not improving, asking for a specialist’s perspective can help clarify possible causes and choices. An evaluation is a chance to understand your situation and discuss options, not a promise of a cure or a commitment to a procedure.
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. Read more about Dr. Kerr and her approach to chronic pain care.
California Pain Institute has offices in Torrance, serving the South Bay, and in Los Angeles near LAX. The team can discuss your concerns and whether an appointment is appropriate.
Request an appointment with Dr. Kerr. Call Torrance at (310) 504-0632 or Los Angeles at (310) 642-7900.
