Pain Management

What does a Pain Management Specialist do?

Pain doctors often use a wide range of nonsurgical, interventional treatments – along with complementary therapies – as a way of reducing the amount of medication you need to take or to avoid the need for surgery. These may include massage, a weight loss regimen, acupuncture, exercise, yoga, meditation, physical therapy, dietary changes, or chiropractic care.They may also prescribe pain-killing medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or antidepressants.

Depending on the severity of your specific condition, they may also recommend epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, joint injections, radiofrequency ablation, spinal cord stimulation, or neuromodulation.

Why would I need to see a Pain Management Specialist?

If you have persistent pain that lasts over 6 weeks, your primary care doctor may refer you to a pain management specialist for further testing. For pain that lasts after the healing process should be over, that is called chronic pain. Patients with chronic pain receive personalized treatment plans to reduce pain.