What are interventional pain procedures?
Pain medications are often used to manage pain, both acute and chronic. However, although they have their place, painkilling drugs have little effect on the underlying cause of pain. Commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals mask pain and relieve the immediate discomfort, but they don’t reduce pain over the long term.
Interventional pain procedures are alternative forms of treatment that use a range of different approaches to reduce chronic pain. Many interventional pain procedures act on the root causes of pain as well as manage the pain itself.
What conditions can interventional pain procedures treat?
Interventional pain procedures are helpful in treating all forms of chronic pain. Some procedures are particularly suited to specific types of pain — for example, BotoxⓇ injections are best for treating migraines. Other treatments have a wider range of uses, and some, like physical therapy, are almost universally helpful as part of a chronic pain management plan.
Chronic pain most often affects the musculoskeletal system, so interventional pain procedures are excellent for joint, back, and neck pain. At Phoenician Pain & Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Sahai sees patients with a variety of conditions, including:
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Neuropathic pain
- Chronic tendon and ligament damage
- Bursitis
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- Sciatica
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated spinal discs
Interventional pain procedures can be effective in relieving pain and other symptoms in these and other conditions, including the management of cancer pain.
What types of interventional pain procedures are available?
Dr. Sahai offers a range of interventional pain procedures, including:
Injectable treatments
Injectables may contain an anesthetic to reduce pain or numb the affected area, a steroid that helps reduce inflammation, or both. Injectables available at Phoenician Pain & Rehabilitation Center include:
- Epidural steroid injections
- Selective epidural and nerve root blocks
- Facet injections and medial branch blocks
- Sympathetic nerve blocks
- Peripheral nerve blocks
Dr. Sahai also uses ultrasound-guided injections into joints and soft tissues.
Implantable technologies
Implantable technologies such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation require a minimally invasive surgical procedure to fit a device under your skin. Activating the device affects the nerves and blocks the transmission of pain signals to your brain.
Dr. Sahai also uses other interventional pain procedures such as radiofrequency ablation and hyaluronic acid injections that help stimulate new tissue growth.
To find out more about the range of interventional pain procedures available at Phoenician Pain & Rehabilitation Center, schedule a consultation online or by phone today.
