Pain that persists despite routine medical
management poses a difficult problem for patients and
their treating physicians. When pain continues despite
medical care, there is an increasing probability of
physical disability, psychosocial dysfunction, drug
dependence, and development of chronic pain. These procedures
are very safe and effective.
Recent advances in technology along with new understanding
of the anatomy and physiology of pain make it possible
to accurately diagnose and effectively treat many types
of persistent pain previously thought untreatable. In
the area of spinal pain for instance, advances in the
art and science of fluroscopy combined with new knowledge
of spinal pathophysiology have allowed for a variety
of new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions into
low back pain, nerve root pain, neck pain, and headaches.
Interventional Pain Center
In our center, only the best equipment and latest technical
advances are utilized. Board Certified Interventional
Pain specialists who are also board certified anesthesiologists
staff the center and are available 24/7 for the continuity
of care of our patients.
Specialty of Pain Medicine
The specialty of Pain Medicine is concerned with the
prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation
of painful disorders. Such disorders may have pain and
associated symptoms arising from a discrete cause, such
as postoperative pain or pain associated with a malignancy,
or may be syndromes in which pain constitutes the primary
problem, such as neuropathic (meaning nerve-related)
pain or headaches. The diagnosis of painful syndromes
relies on interpretation of historical data; review
of previous laboratory, imaging, and electrodiagnostic
studies: behavioral, social, occupational, and a vocational
assessment; and interview and examination by the pain
specialist. It may require specialized diagnostic procedures,
including central and peripheral neural blockade or
monitored drug infusions. Special needs of the pediatric
and geriatric populations are considered when formulating
a comprehensive treatment plan for patients in these
groups.
The pain physician serves as a consultant to other physicians
but is often the principal treating physician. The pain
physician may provide care at various levels, such as
treating directly, prescribing medications, prescribing
rehabilitative services, performing pain-relieving procedures,
counseling patients and families, directing a multi-disciplinary
team, coordinating care with other healthcare providers,
and providing consultative services to public and private
agencies pursuant to optimal healthcare delivery to
the patient suffering from a painful disorder. The pain
physician may work in variety of settings and is competent
to treat the entire range of painful disorders encountered
in the delivery of quality health care.
Flouroscopy adds the following
compelling advantages:
Specific spinal pain source can be precisely targeted
for diagnosis and therapy
A variety of refined techniques can be employed including
routine posterior interlaminar epidural
injection, transforaminal epidural injection, selective
nerve root block,
intervertebral
disc injection, and facet joint block depending on pain
source
Radiologic documentation of medication delivery is routine
Patients with difficult anatomy can accurately injected
with minimal risk
Fine needles can be used, imposing less risk and improving
patient comfort
Most useful pain injection procedures can not be performed
without X-ray
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