Chronic Pain Treatment
About Our Pain Treatment Approach
Our pain care team uses the most effective and up-to-date treatments available. We create a treatment plan that is tailored to you. This may include one type of treatment or a combination of options, such as:
- Medications
- Injections
- Physical therapy
- Other procedures or services
Because ongoing pain can change over time, we regularly review your condition and adjust your treatment as needed. Learning about pain, along with stress management and relaxation techniques, can help you better control your pain, reduce doctor visits, and prevent it from coming back.
Your First Visit
At your first appointment, we will:
- Review your pain and medical history
- Look at your medical records
- Perform a physical exam
Please bring:
- A list of all current and past medications
- Dosages and the doctor who prescribed them
You will also be asked to sign a medication agreement.
Conditions We Treat
- Neck and back pain (including after surgery, herniated discs, arthritis, or sciatica)
- Spinal fractures
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
- Cancer-related pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Abdominal and pelvic pain
- Joint Pain
- Nerve pain
Pain Treatments We Offer
- Epidural steroid injections
- Nerve root injections
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections
- Radiofrequency ablation (uses heat to reduce pain signals)
- Minimally invasive procedures for spinal stenosis
- Vertebral treatments for fractures or tumors
- Peripheral nerve injections and stimulation
- Trigger point injections (for muscle pain)
- Nerve blocks
- Spinal cord stimulation
If your pain is difficult to treat, we may use injections that target the affected nerves. These injections often include:
- Steroids to reduce swelling
- Anesthetics to numb the area
Common types of injections:
- Trigger point injections: given into muscles
- Epidural steroid injections: given near the spine to reduce nerve inflammation
Epidural injections are especially helpful for sciatica, which causes pain in the lower back and legs.
Some injections use X-rays to guide the doctor. These may include:
- Injections into joint areas of the spine
- Injections near specific nerves
- Sympathetic nerve blocks to help reset nerve activity in certain pain conditions
These treatments can help reduce pain and also give doctors useful information about your condition.
We may also use treatments that affect nerve signals, such as:
- TENS units (mild electrical stimulation)
- Muscle stimulators
- Acupuncture
If other treatments do not work, we may consider:
- Procedures that destroy problem nerves using heat, freezing, or chemicals
- Implanted devices like spinal cord stimulators
- Pain pumps that deliver medication directly to the spine
Sometimes more testing is needed to better understand your pain. This may include:
- Lab tests
- X-rays
- MRI or CT scans
- Special spine tests