Treatment Options

The treatment plan developed by the Pain Management team will be specially tailored to your condition and degree of pain, your needs and your personal objectives.  You treatment plan may a combination of different types of therapies:

• Medical Management
• Physical Therapy
• Psychological Therapy

Medical Management

Medical management is a pain intervention that may include injections, medications, or surgical implantations. Injections, including local anesthetics, steroids, and various sophisticated muscle relaxants, are performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Injections may be done under x-ray guidance and are performed in the office.

Medications include a conservative and comprehensive approach to pain management and may include anti-inflammatory analgesics, pain killers, or adjunctive drugs. Long-term narcotic therapy requires appropriate psychological consultation and a well-established system to monitor the patient’s progress.

Implants are small medical devices placed in the body via surgery to manage chronic pain on an ongoing basis. This may include a small pump that can be implanted to deliver small amounts of medication to the spinal area for control of back or leg pain. Dorsal column stimulators, also known as spinal cord stimulators, contain a system of electrodes which are implanted near the spinal column. They “counter-stimulate” the nerves and change the pain into a tolerable “tingle.”

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is rehabilitation of the body, body part or muscle group.

Therapy or manipulation to certain muscle groups may be used to effectively treat many types of pain. It is necessary to rehabilitate certain muscle groups as pain begins to come under better control. This facilitates the ability of a patient to return to work, or to assume the activities of daily living in a more comfortable fashion

Psychological Therapy

Chronic pain can have profound psychological effects, including feelings of hopelessness, anger, sadness, and even despair.  These feelings can interfere with your ability to perform your job or your normal daily activities.

Psychological therapy can help you to cope with the effects of pain on you and those around you.  There are also specific psychological techniques that can actually help to reduce pain.

Useful techniques include biofeedback, relaxation therapy, hypnosis, teaching of cognitive or coping skills, and counseling for depression and anxiety. These skills allow patients to be more in control of their pain, rather than the pain controlling them.

Procedures and Equipment

Developments in the pain management field include progressive therapeutic and diagnostic injection techniques for managing back and neck pain. The Regional Center for Pain Management employs progressive techniques such as:

• Selective Nerve Root Blocks
• Cervical Facet Injections
• Diagnostic Discography
• Radiofrequency
• Neuroplasty
• Intrathecal/Epidural Catheters
• Dorsal Column Stimulation
• Radiofrequency Ablation
• LASE (Laser Assisted Spinal Endoscopy)

The Center also uses specialized techniques, such as:

• Indwelling Epidurals
• Teaching of Coping Skills
• Surgical Implants
• Physical Therapy
• Counseling for Depression and Anxiety

For more information

For more information or a free over-the-phone assessment, call (574) 523-3232. Or visit the Healthy Living Library.