Overview
When you are hurting, take comfort in knowing that relief is available at South Pointe Hospital. Our Pain Management Center provides extensive pain management, rehabilitation, education and associated services that work together to minimize the effects of pain and improve your quality of life.
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Contact Our Center
For more information about pain management services at South Pointe Hospital, call the center's main line at 216.491.6433, or for new patients, call 216.491.7338.
Treatment Guides
It is estimated 80 - 90 percent of people in the United States will suffer from back pain at some time during their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason people visit their family doctors. On any given day, almost 2 percent of the entire United States workforce is disabled by back pain. It is the cause of enormous healthcare expenses.
What We Treat
Arthritis
Arthritis is a cause of pain and disability in 37 million Americans or one out of every seven people in this country. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, which can affect one or more of the joints in the body. Early warning signs of arthritis are pain, tenderness, swelling and/or stiffness.
At South Pointe Hospital's Pain Management Center, we provide a comprehensive treatment plan to reduce the pain and stiffness and improve or maintain movement in the affected joints.
After a complete medical evaluation by one of our pain specialists, your arthritic pain relief may begin with:
- Acupuncture
- Assistive devices
- Exercise
- Heat or cold treatments
- Implantable medication pump
- Joint protection
- Medication management
- Nerve blocks
- Rest and relaxation techniques
- Therapeutic massage
Cancer
For patients with cancer pain, our goal is to make their lives more comfortable and productive. We are experienced in treating patients with many types of cancer including bone, bowel, breast, lung, ovarian, prostate, and uterine. In addition, we treat patients with other types of cancer pain, including post-surgical pain.
Depending on the diagnosis, we design individual treatment programs for cancer patients, mostly on an outpatient basis with a short recuperation period. Programs may include:
- Freezing or surgical procedures
- Implanted electrical stimulators
- Implanted medication pumps
- Nerve blocks
- Occupational therapy
- Pain relief medications
- Patient and family support groups
- Physical therapy
- Psychological evaluation and therapy
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition characterized by persistent pain as a result of an injury, infection or surgery, with or without the presence of soft tissue or nerve damage. Also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), most patients are 18 - 45 years of age.
- Severe burning pain in extremities
- Swelling of a painful limb
- Changes in skin color and texture
- Sensitivity to heat or cold
- Joint tenderness, stiffness and mobility loss
- Changes in skin, soft tissue, muscles and bones
- Gradual function loss in that extremity
- Constant, intolerable pain
Treatment options include:
- Implanted medication pumps
- Implanted spinal cord stimulators
- Nerve blocks
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychological treatments
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal disorder which presents itself most commonly with a widespread aching pain of more than three months in duration. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. The pain manifests itself differently from person to person; however, there are some similar characteristics such as generalized musculoskeletal pain, 12 - 14 tender sites on the body which cause an aching sensation and which may shift from site to site, morning fatigue and stiffness, and disturbed sleep.
Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the pain and its location but may include:
- Acupuncture
- Exercise
- Medications
- Nerve blocks
- Physical therapy
- Psychological treatments
- Tai chi
- Therapeutic massage
It is important to note fibromyalgia can impact all aspects of an individual’s lifestyle, including the ability to work and carry on normal daily activities. The challenge is to minimize symptoms so that a person is able to function at an optimal level.
Headache and Facial Pain
Headaches are a source of pain for many people. The onset of a headache may occur for one or more of these reasons: dental problems, eye problems, high blood pressure, migraine, muscle tension, sinus disease, stress, anxiety, surgery, trauma and injury, or tumors.
Less common, but no less disruptive, is facial pain.
Facial pain is a complex combination of multiple pain-related disorders caused by more obscure conditions than headache pain including:
- Dental neuralgia
- Radiating pain from the scalp and neck
- Shingles
- Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
- Trigeminal neuralgia
Following a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, we offer a variety of treatments both traditional and innovative for headache and facial pain including:
- Acupuncture
- Intravenous medications
- Nerve blocks
- Nerve freezing
- Oxygen therapy
- Pain relief medications
Musculoskeletal Pain
Many adults suffer from musculoskeletal pain, usually back and neck pain, which can result from injuries or aging conditions, such as:
- Arthritis
- Bone spurs
- Disc problems
- Industrial accidents
- Osteoporosis
- Post-surgical pain
- Recurrent back injury
- Sports-related injury
Symptoms of musculoskeletal pain may include recurring or acute pain in the lower back, radiating pain in the legs and buttocks, numbness, tingling or burning in the legs or spasms or cramping of back muscles.
Treatment may include:
- Acupuncture
- Electrical nerve stimulation and pain suppressor devices
- Exercise therapy
- Medical management
- Nerve block by injection, freezing or radio frequency treatments
- Tai chi
- Therapeutic massage
Pelvic Pain
When conventional therapy has failed, the Pain Management Center at South Pointe Hospital specializes in treating persistent pain coming from the limbs, trunk, pelvis or urogenital areas.
Often this type of pain is caused by ovarian cysts, cancer, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, kidney and bladder problems, an accident or injury or failed back surgery. Factors that contribute or compound musculoskeletal pain include poor posture, incorrect lifting and obesity.
Following a complete medical evaluation, pelvic pain relief may begin with:
- Electrical nerve stimulation
- Implanted medication devices
- Lifestyle changes
- Medication management
- Nerve blocks
- Physical therapy
- Relaxation techniques
