Interventional Pain Medicine Specialist Q&A

Uncontrolled, intense pain strongly impacts quality of life for many of us. Interventional pain management is a combination of pain blocking techniques used to lessen discomfort or pain arising from daily activities. An effective pain management plan alleviates discomfort and provides you with more energy and range of motion. Examples of pain blocking techniques include:

– Injections
– Nerve blocks
– Discography
– Spinal cord stimulators
– Kyphoplasty
– Percutaneous discectomy

The outcomes of interventional pain management include relief from chronic or acute pain, better sleep, and improved quality of life. While interventional pain management techniques are minimally invasive, they have proved highly effective for those who have not found relief through other therapies. Interventional pain management is commonly used to treat:

– Arthritis
– Osteoarthritis
– Degenerative Disc Disease
– Injury and chronic pain disorders
– Other pain disorders

As the medical community gathers more information on the latest and most effective pain management technologies, it is becoming even more crucial to have specialists who can provide a scope of assessments and services. Interventional pain physicians specialize in pain disorders, complexities of pain and wrap-around pain management including diagnosis, evaluation and treatment.

After a detailed assessment, an interventional pain specialist will be able to provide you with an appropriate pain management treatment plan to relieve chronic discomfort. Additionally, interventional pain physicians are able to administer a variety of techniques to further alleviate pain, such as injections, nerve blocks and kyphoplasty. Interventional pain physicians are equipped with the most effective methods for pain treatment to remove discomfort quickly, safely and for as long-term as possible.

Physical Therapies – Various exercises such walking, stretching, aerobics are effective in reducing joint pain and uplifting your mood. It is advised to increase exercises in a slow manner, in order to avoid overworking your joints.

Pain Medicines – Depending on your diagnosis and treatment plan, different types of pain medicines are used to alleviate chronic pain. Examples of pain medicines include:

– Aspirin
– Paracetamol
– Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
– Local anesthetics
– Opioid medicines

Interventional Procedures – Interventional procedures are minimally invasive techniques used to provide quick and highly effective pain relief for those experiencing chronic discomfort. In addition, individuals who have not found success with physical therapy and pain medicines alone, may consider interventional procedures to reduce the intensity and frequency of their pain.

Injections – Different types of injections are used to reduce chronic or acute pain. Ask us about:

– Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection
– Epidural Steroid Injection
– Intra-Articular Peripheral Joint Injection

Nerve Blocks – Nerve blocks are beneficial if you experience sacroiliac joint pain, or sacroiliitis. Many patients report up to a year of pain relief. Nerve block types include:

– Posterior Facet Block
– Stellate Ganglion Block
– Intercostal Nerve Block
– Coccygeal Nerve Block
– Occipital Nerve Block
– Hardware Blocks
– Sympathetic Nerve Block
– Cluneal Nerve Block

Discography – The discography procedure, also known as a lumbar discogram, helps the physician identify and locate your back pain. Discograms are useful for providing an accurate diagnosis to outline the most effective course of treatment.

Spinal Cord Stimulators – A spinal cord stimulator is a small, implanted device which emits electricity into the spine to reduce pain. These devices can reduce the need for pain medicines, improve quality of life and improve sleep. Spinal cord stimulators are often recommended if non-surgical procedures have proved ineffective for the patient.

Kyphoplasty – This procedure is used to treat painful compression fractures in the spine. During the procedure, a needle is placed into the spine bone. Next, a balloon is inserted and inflated, restoring the height of the vertebrate and providing relief. Cement is used to prevent further collapse of the vertebrae. Kyphoplasty is minimally invasive and provides fast and significant effects.

Percutaneous Discectomy – Percutaneous discectomy is a procedure for patients with herniated spinal discs. Similar to kyphoplasty, percutaneous discectomy is performed by puncturing the skin with a needle to access the spine bone. In this procedure, the portion of herniated disk which irritates the nerve is removed in a minimally invasive fashion, resulting in significant and prompt alleviation of pain.

For more information, contact us online to book an appointment. We serve patients from all across the Sunshine State, with clinics in Orlando FL; Palm Bay, FL; Fort Pierce, FL; Jensen Beach, FL; Atlantis FL; and Plantation / Ft. Winter Park, FL. We look forward to serving you!