Are all pain clinics focused on prescribing narcotics?

No, not all pain clinics primarily focus on prescribing narcotics. A good pain clinic should take a comprehensive approach, considering physical, behavioral, and psychological therapies, as well as offering alternative treatment options.

What should I expect during my visit to a pain clinic?

During your visit, the pain management specialist will evaluate your condition, review your medical history, and discuss your symptoms and treatment goals. They may recommend diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, suggest therapies, and create a personalized pain management plan.

How can pain clinics help with chronic pain?

Pain clinics, also known as pain management clinics, offer comprehensive approaches to managing chronic pain. They utilize medications, physical therapies, behavioral therapies, psychological therapies, and complementary or alternative medicine to help individuals manage their pain and improve their quality of life.

What are the different types of pain?

Pain can be categorized into acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is sharp and often results from an injury, while chronic pain lasts more than six months and can result from untreated injuries, diseases, or conditions.

What are the common conditions that cause pain?

There are various conditions that can cause pain, including arthritis, muscle and joint injuries, autoimmune disorders, back injuries, chronic pain disorders, endometriosis, facial pain, headaches, kidney stones, urinary tract problems, and nerve damage (neuropathy).

Who can benefit from pain management?

Anyone experiencing pain, whether acute or chronic, can benefit from a pain management plan. It can help individuals with short-term pain after an injury or surgery, as well as those with long-term pain from diseases or chronic health conditions.

What is pain management?

Pain management involves the diagnosis and treatment of pain using medications, procedures, exercises, and therapy. The goal is to reduce or relieve pain and improve the patient's quality of life.

What types of pain do pain management specialists treat?

Pain management specialists can diagnose and treat various types of pain, including back pain, neck pain, headaches/migraines, arm or leg pain, abdominal pain, pelvic pain, joint pain, pain related to failed surgery, and pain related to cancer.

LUMBAR

SYMPATHETIC BLOCK

What is a Lumbar Sympathetic Block?

This procedure is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your lower back. It helps doctors at Pain MD Houston find and treat a number of problems linked to these nerves. Usually, a series of injections is needed to treat a problem.

About the Sympathetic Nerves

The sympathetic nerves travel along both sides of your spine. They are associated with a wide arrange of functions that you don’t consciously control. These include your circulation, digestion and sweat production.

Preparation

In preparation for the procedure, you lie on your stomach or your side. You are given medicine to make you feel relaxed. The skin and tissue at the injection site is numbed.

Inserting the Needle

The Pain MD Houston physician inserts a needle and carefully guides it to the sympathetic nerves. The physician typically uses an x-ray device called a “fluoroscope.” This shows a video image of the needle’s position. Contrast dye may be injected to help confirm that the needle is placed correctly.

Injecting the Medicine

Next, the physician at Pain MD Houston injects medicine. It bathes the nerves. It can numb the nerves and reduce inflammation. If these nerves have been a source of pain, the medicine can relieve it. The injection may also provide other benefits, depending on your needs.

End of the Procedure

When the procedure is complete, the needle is removed and the injection site is covered with a bandage. You will be monitored for a brief time before you are allowed to go home. After a lumbar sympathetic block, many people experience leg numbness or weakness. This is normal, and usually lasts for only a few hours. You may need to return for more injections in the future.

You Have Options

We have seen that a number of clinics focus on one or two modalities for treatment. The problem is that pain is neurological and that means “it’s complex”. There are a wide variety of therapies, products, at-home activities, procedures and medicines that can be used and we believe there’s a place for all. Determining which (or combination thereof) is right for you is a process for you and your Pain MD to work together on.

Those could be laser ablation, spinal cord stimulation, Ketamine infusions, Platelet Rich Plasma, Steroid injections, Stem cell therapy, Botox, trigger point injections and much more!

Laser Ablation
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Sacral Nerve Stimulation
Peripheral Field Stimulation
Superion/Vertiflex Interspinous Spacer
Ketamine for Pain & Depression
Facet Joint Injection
Pulsed Radio Frequency Ablation
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Stem Cell BMAC
Ultrasound Guided Joint, Ligament or Tendon Injection
Sacroiliac Joint Injection
Amniotic Stem Cell and Wharton’s Jelly
Epidural Steroid Injection
Diagnostic Facet Block/Medial Branch Block
Diagnostic Selective Nerve Root Block
Knee, Hip & Shoulder Ablations
Botox for Migraines and Dystonia
Trigger Point Injections
Discogram Diagnostics
Kyphoplasty Surgical Procedure
Spinal Disc Decompression
And Much, Much More!

Schedule an Appointment to Discuss unlocking your pain puzzle!

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