Pain management includes treating acute and chronic pain caused by injury or illness. Licensed professionals assess each patient’s condition to develop a personalized treatment plan targeting their pain issues. Options such as injections, nerve blocks, and therapy aim to provide relief. Here is how management could help relieve pain.

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication to nerves around the spine. This could help by reducing swelling and discomfort from irritation and compression of nerve roots. Epidurals provide relief by interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain. The injected medication then spreads to calm the inflamed nerves that are causing back and leg pain. This targeted approach can relieve chronic sciatic nerve pain radiating from the lower back down the legs.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) implants a small device under the skin that uses electrical impulses to intercept pain signals before they reach the brain. Programmable stimulators allow you to adjust the intensity and coverage areas to match your fluctuating symptoms. SCS is useful for patients with chronic lumbar spine or sciatic nerve pain that is resistant to other treatments.

Nerve Root Blocks

Nerve root blocks soak irritated spinal nerves in a numbing anesthetic. Cutting off pain signals provides diagnostic and therapeutic benefits. If your pain decreases following a block, it pinpoints that specific nerve as the pain source. Ongoing blocks may help if permanent nerve damage limits long-term relief options. Some blocks use steroid injections to disrupt or shrink problematic nerve tissue for lasting effects. This can relieve symptoms of nerve root compression in your neck or back.

Physical Therapy

Therapeutic exercises, stretches, and muscle strengthening from physical therapy may help increase your mobility and muscle functions. Therapists can teach safe movements to complete daily tasks without causing pain. They use ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or massage techniques to reduce inflammation and muscle pain. Some chronic pain patients also benefit from aquatic therapy in heated pools. Pain management plans may incorporate regular therapy sessions until optimal functioning returns.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses heat generated by radio waves to interrupt nerve signals. Inserted needles target active pain nerves and disrupt their ability to transmit signals. This reduction in overactive nerve activity may provide more permanent relief than other options. RFA may be used to treat chronic conditions like joint pain from arthritis or disc degeneration. Strategic nerve signal disruption can relieve back, neck, and joint pain associated with spine conditions. If the treated nerves heal and regenerate following the procedure, repeat RFA sessions may help achieve long-term management.

Medications

Certain medications may help reduce pain while other treatments take effect. Options like muscle relaxers, corticosteroids, or anti-inflammatories can ease muscle spasms and swelling. Nerve pain medications target specific pathways to decrease burning or shooting pain linked to disorders like fibromyalgia. Short-term opioid therapy may help control severe acute pain during the initial treatment phases. Pain specialists will advise you on the proper medication selection and dosage based on your pain type and medical history.

Get Pain Management Services Today

Treating pain requires a personalized plan that incorporates many options, such as medication, injections, and therapy. A skilled care team that can develop your customized plan may help. Discuss all symptoms impacting daily activities with pain management specialists to allow progress tracking. Call your licensed professionals today and see which services can help relieve your pain.