Pain management is key for individuals dealing with chronic pain from injuries, disease, or degenerative conditions. Pain intervention procedures that directly target the pain source can help restore mobility and improve overall wellness. Here are several types of pain management for chronic pain:
Injections
Injections are a localized treatment option, delivering medication directly to the source of the pain. They can provide relief for chronic conditions like back pain and nerve-related pain. There are several types of injections for pain management, including:
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections are treatments for nerve root pain experienced by patients with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or sciatica. During this procedure, physicians inject local anesthesia to numb your skin. They use a fluoroscopic X-ray to guide them into the epidural space surrounding the irritated nerve. Physicians then inject anti-inflammatory steroids into the epidural space to reduce pain and inflammation on the affected nerve.
Intra-articular Joint Injections
Medical professionals use intra-articular injections to treat pain stemming from the hip joint due to osteoarthritis or joint inflammation. Guided by imaging, doctors inject a combination of local anesthetic and corticosteroids directly into the joint. The anesthetic helps confirm the joint as the pain source, while the steroid reduces inflammation. Your doctor may also inject hyaluronic acid into the joint space to lubricate your hip joints, reducing pain during movement.
Medial Branch Blocks
Medial branch blocks are injections used to treat pain originating from spinal facet joints. To complete this treatment, a medical professional administers a local anesthetic near the medial branch nerves that supply sensation to the facet joints. The anesthetic interrupts the pain signals sent from the nerves to the brain, providing pain relief.
Your neurologist may administer several injections if you feel pain in many joints. Medial branch blocks are effective in determining which facet joints are responsible for your pain. If your doctor targets the right facet joints, you should experience immediate pain relief after the injection. If the pain returns, your doctor may recommend more long-term pain management treatments like radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that provides long-term relief from chronic pain in the facet joints. It does this by disabling the nerves that transmit pain signals. Neurologists can use RFA to treat conditions like facet joint syndrome, spondylosis, and peripheral nerve pain.
During the procedure, physicians use a radiofrequency needle to heat the medial branch nerves. The heat creates a small lesion on the nerve that prevents it from sending pain signals to the brain. You may be an ideal candidate for RFA if you have experienced significant pain relief from medial branch blocks.
Medications
Medical professionals prescribe medications to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, or alter the way the brain perceives pain. This type of pain management can offer relief if you have arthritis, back pain, or other long-term injuries. Pain medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, opioids, topical medications, and muscle relaxants.
Get Targeted Pain Management Procedures
Pain management treatments that target specific pain-causing areas provide prompt relief and can also be diagnostic tools. Based on your response to targeted pain management treatments, your doctor can identify the exact source of your pain and recommend further treatment. Experienced medical professionals can perform medial branch blocks to diagnose the source of pain and then use treatments like RFA to provide longer-term pain relief. Visit a specialized medical clinic today for comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for chronic pain.
