Which Pain Management Treatment is Right for Me?

Seeking Treatment for Your Pain

If you're living with chronic pain, you know that it can be debilitating. You may have tried over-the-counter medications or other at-home remedies, but nothing seems to provide relief. If this sounds familiar, you may benefit from interventional pain management treatment.

Interventional pain management treatments are designed to target the source of your pain rather than just masking the symptoms. These treatments can provide significant relief for those suffering from chronic pain. Keep reading for an overview of some of the most common treatments we recommend at National Spine & Pain Centers.

Nerve Block Injections

One of the most common interventional pain management treatments is nerve block injections. These fast-acting injections are used to target specific areas of the body where you're experiencing pain. Nerve block injections can help to provide temporary relief from pain, as well as help diagnose the source of your pain.

Epidural Steroid Injections

These injections are a combination of a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid. The corticosteroid reduces inflammation while the local anesthetic numbs the area around the nerve causing the pain. Epidural steroid injections are used to treat:

• Herniated discs
• Bulging discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Radiculopathy (nerve pain)
• Spinal stenosis
• Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs

Facet Joint Injections

Facet joint injections are a type of interventional pain management treatment that can be used to relieve pain in the facet joints. These joints are located in the spine and allow the spine to move. Facet joint injections can be used to treat both acute and chronic pain.

Signs that you could benefit from a facet joint injection include:

• Pain that radiates from the low back to the buttock or leg.
• Pain that is worse with activity.
• Pain that is relieved by rest.

Radiofrequency Ablation

This procedure uses heat to destroy the nerve tissue sending pain signals to the brain. Radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic back pain, neck pain, and migraines.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation, also known as neurostimulation, is a treatment that sends electrical pulses to the spinal cord to help relieve pain. It is most often used to treat chronic pain in the lower back, legs, or arms that have not responded to other forms of treatment.

Advanced Options

If interventional pain management treatments haven't provided adequate relief from your chronic pain, you may be a candidate for surgery. There are a variety of surgical procedures that can be used to treat chronic pain, depending on the cause of your pain.

For example, if you have a herniated disc, you may be a candidate for minimally invasive lumbar disc decompression surgery.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

The best treatment for you will depend on the source and severity of your pain. No matter which interventional pain management treatment is proper for you, it's essential to work with a team of medical professionals who can help you manage your pain and find the relief you deserve.

At National Spine & Pain Centers, our network of affiliated physicians is determined to help find you relief from your pain. Find your nearest center online today, and contact us with any questions.