Living with long-lasting pain can be tough, but this doesn’t have to be the case. There are several pain treatments available in modern medicine that provide patients with relief from the pain they deal with daily.
These pain treatments cater to different types of pain and individuals. In this article, we will discuss six approaches to pain management that can help manage your pain and change your life.
1. Epidural Steroid Injections
An Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) is an outpatient procedure where an anaesthetic agent and combination of steroids or corticosteroids are injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord and the nerves with the aim of minimising inflammation and pain. Many patients use this pain relief management procedure to reduce their pain and because it is minimally invasive.
An ESI can target cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or caudal regions to treat pain radiating from the neck, upper back, middle back and lower back.
2. Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are pain relief management techniques focused on the management of myofascial pain syndrome which results from the development of hardened muscles that are located in the neck, lower back, arms, and legs. These painful points are referred to as trigger points and they develop from acute or repetitive trauma, thus the muscle coils and restrict mobility producing aches.
Trigger point injections are used to effectively treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions including myofascial pain, fibromyalgia, tennis elbow, neck pain, slipped discs, tension headaches, rotator cuff tendinitis and golfer’s elbow.
- Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is a modern pain relief management method used to treat pain. RFA uses radio waves to generate heat that is then tactfully applied to specific nerve fibres to nullify their ability to transmit pain signals.
For people suffering from chronic back pain, headaches and migraines, neck pain and other agonies due to damaged nerve pathways, RFA can offer significant relief over time.
4. Facet Joint Injections
Facet joints are small synovial joints linking adjacent vertebrae within the spine that play a crucial role in motion facilitation and stability provision. Facet joint injections are used for pain relief management, introducing anaesthesia and corticosteroids directly into these joints to mitigate inflammation after injury or degeneration.
This minimally invasive procedure gives relief for conditions like coccydynia, lumbar arthritis, and facet joint syndrome, among others.
5. Neuromodulation or Spinal Cord Stimulator
Neuromodulation, especially through a spinal cord stimulator (SCS), is a medical technology which changes how your nervous system interprets pain messages in a bid to control chronic pain. This pain relief management technique sends mild electrical impulses through a small device implanted beneath the skin resembling a pacemaker into the patient’s spinal cord or specific peripheral nerves.
Neuromodulation is a less invasive pain relief treatment that enhances the quality of life among individuals with chronic pain disorders. It is best suited for managing neuropathic pain, chronic pain after amputation, spinal cord injuries, chronic knee pain and other types of chronic pain conditions.
6. Intrathecal Drug Therapy
Intrathecal Drug Therapy (IDD) is a specialised treatment method for chronic pain management in which medication administered through an implanted pump and catheter system directly enters the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord. In contrast to oral intake, this mode of supply involves administering much smaller quantities, thereby minimising side effects due to excessive systemic administration doses.
This pain relief management approach is great since it does not work through the oral route or blood-brain barrier. This approach has been found useful in treating cancer-related pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), failed back and neck surgery syndrome (FBSS) and more.
Final Thoughts
There are different alternatives and procedures when it comes to modern pain relief management and treatment methods. These methods are now used globally to ease suffering from discomfort. Patients who choose these modern treatments can finally feel comfortable again and resume normal activities without worrying about ongoing chronic pain.
If your daily routine is suffering as a result of severe pain, it’s vital to do something about it. At Total Pain Specialist Clinic, we understand your pain and we’re eager to help you with proper pain relief treatments. Contact us today and let us provide several treatments tailored just for you. Our clinic has dedicated itself to finding what will work best for you to help you manage pain and improve your quality of life.
Total Pain Specialist