A treatment plan will be developed and reviewed with the team of experts assembled to address each patients needs. The treatment plan may include:
Therapeutic nerve blocks- local anesthetic injections given near a specific nerve or group of nerves to relieve pain.
Intercostal nerve block - An intercostal nerve block is an injection of a local anesthetic in the area between two ribs. An intercostal nerve block is performed for pain due to herpes zoster (commonly known as shingles), an acute viral infection that causes inflammation of the nerves that spread outward from the spine. It may also be performed for pain caused from surgical incision in the chest area or to help determine the cause of your pain. (diagnostic nerve block)
Lumbar Sympathetic Block - A lumbar sympathetic block is an injection of local anesthetic around a group of nerves in your lower back. It may be done if you have reflex sympathetic dystrophy, (RSD), a disease involving a disturbance of circulation to the skin or neuropathic pain. (Pain caused by a disorder of the nervous system)
Facet Nerve Block - performed if your doctor suspects that your neck or lower back pain may be caused in part by the small facet joints of the spine. Facet joints are located on the side of your spine, away from the spinal cord.
Celiac Plexus Block - performed most commonly for the treatment of upper abdominal pain, which can be due to cancer or chronic pancreatitis
Stellate Ganglion Block - may be performed to decrease pain and increase the circulation and blood supply to the affected limb. A stellate ganglion may be performed for people who have circulation problems or the following nerve injuries: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Causalgia, Herpes Zoster and Phantom Limb Pain.
Trigger point injections- Injections of small amounts of local anesthetics and steroids in the area of the muscle where you have pain or tenderness. These areas are called trigger points because, when stimulated, they produce pain. Trigger Point Injections are performed if you have myofascial pain, which is pain in a specific muscle or muscle group.
Spinal drug delivery systems - a computerized pump that delivers opiates, local anesthetics and other pain medication continuously into the spine to control intractable pain. Also, this infusion system can be used to relieve intractable spasticity secondary to diseases like multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke or spinal cord injuries.
Spinal cord stimulation - a small implantable device that stimulates the spinal cord to treat pain and improve circulation.
Intradiscal electrothermal therapy - to treat chronic pain originating from the Intervertebral discs. A minimally invasive treatment in which a physician applies controlled levels of heat to a broad section of the affected disc wall. The heat contracts and thickens the collagen of the disc wall and raises the temperature of the nerve endings. Therapy may result in contraction or closure of the disc wall fissures, a reduction in the bulge of the inner disc material and a desensitization of the pain sensors within the disc. It is important for your referring physician to diagnose that a disc is a primary source of your back pain. In addition to a clinical examination, your physician may use magnetic resonance imaging, (MRI) or injection of dye in the disc (discography) to confirm the diagnosis.
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) - a small extractable device that delivers electric impulses to nerve endings to stop pain.
Acupuncture - a medical practice which involves inserting fine needles into the skin at specific poins on the body to relieve chronic pain.
Bioelectric treatment - a precise dose of bioelectric currents (electroceuticals), is administered through electrodes placed on the skin to cause a biological change and interrupt pain signals. It can treat chronic and acute pain conditions including complex regional pain syndrome, back pain, muscle pain and headaches.
Psychological counseling
Physical and occupational therapy
Dietary and nutritional counseling
Throughout the treatment process, the Department will communicate your progress to your referring and family physicians. As you near the end of your treatment plan, we will spend additional time providing you with information about how to manage your condition.
