Stop Letting Chronic Pain Control Your 2026: A Guide

The ball has dropped, the confetti has settled, and it’s time to consider what you’re carrying with you into the new year — Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain want to make sure chronic pain doesn’t make the list. 

If you’ve been living with ongoing pain, you’ve probably adjusted more than you realize. You avoid certain movements, push through discomfort at work, or skip activities you used to enjoy. Over time, pain becomes part of the background, but no longer.

2026 can be the year you stop letting chronic pain run the show. Understanding your options is the first step toward taking that control back.

What chronic pain really is

Chronic pain is pain that persists for more than three months, usually long after an injury has healed or without a clear cause. It can affect the back, neck, joints, nerves, or muscles, and it often becomes more than a physical symptom, impacting sleep, mood, and focus.

Unlike acute pain, which signals immediate injury, chronic pain involves changes in how the nervous system processes signals. That’s why rest alone rarely fixes it and why a comprehensive approach is often needed.

Ignoring chronic pain makes it worse

Many of our patients have tried the avoidance approach, attempting to relieve their pain by moving less, limiting activity, and hoping things improve on their own. Unfortunately, this often leads to stiffness, muscle weakness, and increased sensitivity to pain.

Pain management isn’t about masking symptoms. It’s about understanding the source of pain and addressing it in ways that restore function and quality of life.

Pain management today goes far beyond prescriptions. Dr. Wu looks at the whole picture, including physical, neurological, and lifestyle factors.

We specialize in interventional pain management, a type of pain management that helps patients achieve long-lasting relief without relying on medication. Our treatments and therapies include: 

• Targeted injections
• Physical therapy 
• Cognitive strategies
• Nerve treatments
• Regenerative medicine therapies
• Minimally invasive procedures

We customize every plan — what works for one patient may not work for another, which is why thorough evaluation matters.

If pain has become part of your daily life, it’s worth asking whether it should be. Some signs you may benefit from pain management care include:

• Pain lasting longer than three months
• Pain that limits work, sleep, or daily activities
• Relying on medications just to get through the day
• Pain that keeps returning despite rest or home treatments

You don’t need to wait until pain becomes unbearable. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes.

What to expect 

Your first visit focuses primarily on you talking and us listening. We carefully review your history, imaging, prior treatments, and how pain affects your life. From there, we explain possible causes and outline treatment options. If necessary, Dr. Wu may order additional imaging tests or lab tests to better understand the root cause of your pain. 

Make this year about progress, not pain

Living with chronic pain doesn’t mean that your body is broken beyond repair. It means your body needs the right support. Our pain management at CurePain helps you move forward safely, rather than staying stuck in cycles of discomfort.

This year doesn’t have to look like the last one. With the right care, you can regain comfort, confidence, and control over your days. When you’re ready to get started, don’t hesitate to call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation.