Pain Management Treatment Options for Pain Sufferers

People suffer from pain for a variety of reasons such as illness, injury or an unknown cause. Being in constant pain can be devastating for sufferers and their loved ones. Fortunately, there are several options for pain management. A successful pain management treatment program can cure or significantly decrease pain. Interventional pain procedures can be very successful. What is an interventional pain procedure, what are some specific examples and how are they beneficial?

An interventional procedure is a minimally invasive treatment for pain. Injections, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and implanted drug delivery systems are all examples of interventional procedures. Interventional pain management is a medical sub-specialty of pain management.

There are hundreds of different interventional procedures. Injections are commonly involved in pain management treatment; some examples are botox, epidural steroid and facet joint injections. Intrathecal pain pumps, radio frequency ablation and spinal cord stimulation are three other methods for easing pain.

Injections often involve a steroid, numbing anesthetic, or combination of drugs being injected into the area causing the pain. Botox is often used to relax muscles to ease muscle spasms. Intrathecal pain pumps are a more aggressive approach to pain management for those that are not benefiting from other types of treatments. Pumps of pain medication are placed in the intrathecal space (surrounding the spine), to block pain signals from reaching the brain. Radio frequency ablation involves using radio waves to interrupt the nerve signals from the legs or lower back from carrying pain signals to the brain. A spinal cord stimulator implant similarly provides impulses that break up pain signals and provides relief from leg, arm and back pain.

The major benefit of injections, pain pumps, radio frequency ablation, spinal cord implants and the multitude of other interventional procedures available are to help ease pain. Independently or in combination with each other or other pain management techniques, interventional procedures can decrease or cure pain. Another benefit is that the techniques can be used to diagnose pain as well as treat it. For example, if pain is eased after a facet joint injection, it can be understood that the facet joints in the spine were the cause of the pain.

There are pain management treatment options available to those in need. Interventional procedures can help. Those suffering from pain can find comfort in a treatment plan tailored for their needs.

By Dr. James  Lin
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