Finding relief from chronic pain can be a lifelong struggle. Often, patients feel like they’re shuffled back and forth between “experts.”
One doctor suggests medicine that should help to dull the pain. Another points you towards alternative remedies. In the end, patients are left feeling like no one person has the answers they need.
Correct interventional pain management offers a more dynamic approach. It’s a useful tool for patients who have tried all the other types of pain management.
Here’s some information on how interventional pain management works and why it may be the solution you’re looking for.
Interventional Pain Management
Interventional pain management is a multidisciplinary approach to treating chronic and acute pain. It encompasses health care professionals working together for the sake of their patients. The goal of interventional treatment is to diagnose and treat painful conditions to improve a patient’s quality of life.
Some of the benefits of interventional pain treatments are stopping pain, reducing dependency on various medications, and providing relief without any invasive procedures.
Many treatments involve regular injections or targeted therapies. They’re both aimed at interrupting the source of the pain. At the very least, they can make their other treatments more effective.
One problem people face when dealing with chronic pain is a dependency on opioids. While opioids are very effective as a pain management medication, they’re also addictive. Interventional pain management options can help reduce dangerous side effects or dependencies.
Most treatments are much safer than other standard options. They can also be used for years without suffering negative health issues.
Interventional Treatment Options
More often than not, there is no one solution to a person’s specific problem. Advancements in pain physiology research have resulted in a slew of different treatment options. Most of them address the pain signals at the source in one way or another.
Back Bracing
A back brace is designed to limit the motion of a person’s spine after an operation or injury. It helps keep the spine secure and stable until it has fully healed. In some cases, it’s used as a preventative measure against progressive conditions.
Back bracing reduces pain by creating stability in the core muscles around the spine. It provides a healthy healing environment and can increase your spine’s function during daily activity.
Comprehensive Modalities
Comprehensive modalities include chiropractic care and certain physical therapies.
A chiropractor can help bring alignment and relief to the structures in your back. In some cases, they can relieve pressure on your nerves and loosen up stiff muscles. Additionally, most chiropractic care is non-invasive and is an outpatient procedure.
One problem with chiropractic care is that it’s not a permanent solution. It may also not be covered by your medical insurance. For example, Medicare doesn’t cover X-rays, massage therapy, or acupuncture.
As for physical therapy, treatment will include certain workouts and exercises. Some other options may incorporate yoga to help with arthritis, lower back pain, and other similar conditions.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure commonly used for chronic neck and back pain. The treating physician uses an RF generator that treats pain-causing nerves with heat.
In practice, the medical professional inserts a needle into the problem area. Once placed and tested, the physician can use the RF generator to lesion the affected nerves with heat.
This lesioning of the affected area resolves the patient’s pain by blocking the signals to the spinal cord and brain from the nerve supplying them. The procedure can be repeated once the nerve regenerates and the pain returns, but this regeneration process may take months or years.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation involves mild electrical stimulation applied to the spinal nerves. These nerves help to connect pain sensations with a person’s brain. A physician uses these devices to help provide pain relief by temporarily turning off those nerves.
Published studies show good long-term relief in most patients with chronic pain.
Spinal cord stimulators are surgically placed along your spinal nerves. Doctors can expect them to last years before they need to be replaced. They come with either non-rechargeable or rechargeable battery systems.
Trigger Point Injections
If the source of pain is muscular, a physician may recommend trigger point injections. They inject saline, anesthetic, or corticosteroid into areas of muscle tightness. It can also loosen their hold on tissues around them, allowing for better mobility and less pain.
Three weekly injections may be recommended for the best pain relief and healing. Despite that, you can expect to see results as early as the first injection.
Alternative Interventional Pain Management
People usually think of alternative medicine as an ineffective option. However, it has a long history of use and many supporters.
Acupuncture targets specific points of the skin to release pain-relieving endorphins. Meditation can help release bodily tension, which may relax your muscles and nerves. Various teas contain antioxidants that can reduce inflammation.
Other Types of Pain Management
The way you live your life can have a big impact on how well your pain is managed.
For example, being overweight can put extra pressure on a person’s joints and spine. That pressure can exacerbate certain joint and muscle problems. Not eating the right foods can limit the nutrients necessary to recover after an injury.
Bed rest is often recommended immediately after an accident. However, it shouldn’t last more than a couple of days. Physical activities help to prevent joint stiffness and muscle tightness. It can also keep blood from pooling in your legs and improve circulation.
Improve Your Pain Management Treatments
It can be difficult for a physician to see a patient suffering from ongoing pain. Integrating interventional pain management may prove to be the way for them to move forward. By working with other healthcare providers, you can give them access to a more comprehensive set of tools in their recovery.
RF Generator Exchange offers a platform for buying, selling, or repairing your pain management equipment. You can buy new or refurbished generator systems, as well as rent them on a per-patient basis.
Contact us to learn more and if you have any questions.