Chronic pain can dramatically impact a person’s quality of life, making it hard to perform everyday tasks, work, or even care for themselves. Both interventional pain management and pain management seek to help people with chronic pain find relief, but each approach is different and utilizes different therapies.
Both pain management and interventional pain management can help people with chronic pain find relief. Often, pain management providers use both pain management and interventional pain management therapies to help support the goal of alleviating pain. Pain management is highly individualized, and some patients may respond better to one therapy than another.
Together, we’ll discuss the differences between pain management and interventional pain management. We’ll also discuss which types of chronic pain can be treated with these therapies and how to advocate for your care if you’re suffering from chronic pain. Then, we’ll wrap up with how to find a pain management doctor in Tulsa or the surrounding area.
Pain Management
Pain management, or non-interventional pain management, describes a wide array of therapies that healthcare providers use to treat a person’s pain without cutting or piercing the skin. These therapies are external, mildly invasive, and are often the first line of treatment for patients presenting with chronic pain.
Types of Pain Management
Pain management therapies can include the use of pharmaceutical medications, physical therapies, and relaxation techniques. A few of the most common forms of pain management include:
- Use of NSAID pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen
- Hot and cold therapy
- Yoga
- Chiropractic care
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator therapy (TENS)
- Breathing and relaxation practices
- Massage
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Ergonomically designed tools for work and other activities
- Exercise
- Nutrition guidance
Pain management therapies may be used alone or in combination with one another. Many times, people find relief with these treatments. If their pain returns, returning to these techniques may offer relief. Finding a pain management doctor in Bartlesville or the surrounding area can be the first step to finding an escape from pain.
Benefits of Pain Management
Pain management may temporarily relieve acute pain without the need for more invasive procedures. For some, pain management techniques are enough to reduce their pain and discomfort to a level that allows them to continue enjoying the quality of life they like.
If the pain persists, interventional pain management may be a better solution.
What Is Interventional Pain Management?
Like pain management, the goal of interventional pain management is to reduce or eliminate a person’s chronic pain. The tools used with interventional pain management may be slightly more invasive, but they typically yield better results for people who have not had success with standard pain management therapies.
5 Types of Interventional Pain Management
The technology surrounding interventional pain management is ever-changing. Innovations allow pain management professionals to specifically locate and target the precise location of a patient’s pain and treat the nerves that are delivering pain signals to the brain.
Some of the most commonly used forms of interventional pain management include the following.
Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation
A radiofrequency nerve ablation involves the use of a needle inserted into the location where a person is experiencing chronic pain. Radio waves are then used to heat the nerves in this area, deadening them so they can no longer deliver pain signals to the brain. This procedure is typically done in-office and with the use of a local numbing agent.
Medial Branch Block Injection
A medial branch block injection is used to give relief for lumbar back pain. The nerves that send pain signals to the brain from the lumbar spine are called the medial branch nerves. This injection targets these nerves with anesthetic medication to provide long-term relief.
Epidural Steroid Injection
An epidural steroid injection, or “ESI,” is an injection of corticosteroid medication into the affected area to reduce inflammation that could be causing pain. These injections are often used to alleviate pain in the neck, back, arms, and legs.
Spinal Cord Stimulators
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is an implantable device that delivers electrical stimulation to a particular area of your body that is experiencing pain. This procedure is usually done in a two-part process. The first part involves a trial procedure in which a trial “lead” is implanted into your spinal cord under light sedation. It is then attached to an external stimulator.
During the trial phase, your healthcare provider can adjust and monitor the pulses in your spine to determine which (if any) help decrease your pain. If the trial is successful in decreasing your pain, your provider can then schedule a permanent SCS placement.
Electromyography/ Nerve Conduction Study
Electromyography (EMG) is a procedure that a healthcare provider can use to determine the health of the muscles and nerves that are causing a person’s pain. During an EMG procedure (as an example), a provider inserts a needle into the muscle where a person is experiencing pain. Then, the provider records the electronic signals that are being sent from the nerves surrounding the muscle.
In addition to these procedures, a nerve conduction study (NCS) may also be beneficial. An NCS is part of an EMG that can measure how accurately nerves are sending messages between two particular points. With this information, a pain management specialist can determine if there is an issue with muscle-to-nerve communication and pinpoint the precise nerves that are causing pain.
Benefits of Interventional Pain Management
Interventional pain management is often the next step in helping treat a patient with chronic pain. If pain management therapies do not work, interventional pain management may be advised.
Interventional pain management techniques also offer a more long-term solution for chronic pain. Steroid injections and other injectable medications provide months of relief, while SCSs may provide a more permanent level of pain relief. An interventional pain management specialist often recommends trying both pain management and interventional pain management techniques to treat a person’s chronic pain.
What Types of Pain Can Be Treated?
Chronic pain in all parts of the body may be treated with both pain management and interventional pain management techniques.
However, the most commonly treated types of common pain include:
- Back pain. Pain radiating from the spine leading to discomfort in other areas of the body, like the buttocks, hips, legs, neck, and arms.
- Headaches. Frequent and persistent migraine headaches can be caused by stress, tension, or eye strain. These types of headaches last for more than 15 days in a row.
- Nerve pain. Nerve pain, called neuropathy, can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in the extremities. Diabetics sometimes experience this pain in their feet and hands.
- Joint pain. Pain in the joints of the body due to normal wear-and-tear, age, or arthritis can be long-lasting. Joint pain typically gets worse over time, not better.
- Neck pain. People who have had whiplash may experience long-lasting neck pain.
These types of chronic pain present symptoms that can be hard to manage without the use of pain management and interventional pain management techniques.
Symptoms of Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than about three months. A person suffering from chronic pain may not notice if the pain starts and stops or if the pain gets worse over time. Symptoms of chronic pain also include mental and emotional distress.
Chronic pain can cause:
- Numbness, tingling, and cramping in the legs, arms, thighs, and buttocks
- Tingling, numbness, and feeling of pin-pricks in the toes and fingers
- Aches and cramps in the joints
- Cramps and muscle tightness in the back and neck
- Feelings of muscle weakness in the legs and arms
- Headaches that may be localized to one area of the head or feel as though they wrap around the head
Symptoms can differ from person to person. If you experience chronic pain, advocating for pain management and interventional pain management can help you get the relief you deserve.
Ask for Help
If you are currently under the treatment of a healthcare provider for your chronic pain but feel as though you aren’t getting the relief you need, ask about pain management and interventional pain management. Many healthcare providers are not trained in these fields and may refer you to a pain management doctor.
Getting started with a pain management specialist can significantly improve your quality of life and help you address the root causes of your pain. If you’re looking for a pain management doctor in Stillwater or a nearby location, reach out to our staff at Oklahoma Interventional Spine & Pain today to see how we can help!
Sources:
Radiofrequency Ablation | NCBI Bookshelf
Facet and Medial Branch Blocks for Pain | Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Epidural Steroid Injections – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS): What It Is & Side Effects|My Cleveland Clinic
Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies | Medline