Millions of Americans suffer from pain associated with arthritis, back pain, headaches, migraines, and other chronic conditions that require pain management. The team of professionals at Miracle Mile Medical Center customizes treatment plans for patients experiencing acute and/or chronic pain.
Diagnostic and interventional pain management techniques include:
Cervical and Lumbar Epidural Injections - Nerve blocks are used for pain treatment and management. There are several different types of nerve blocks that serve different purposes. Often a group of nerves that causes pain to a specific organ or body region can be blocked with the injection of medication into a specific area of the body. The injection of this nerve-numbing substance is called a nerve block.
Facet and Selective Nerve Root Block Injections - Also known as a zygapophysial joint block, the facet joint block is performed to determine whether a facet joint is a source of pain. Facet joints are located on the back of the spine, where one vertebra slightly overlaps another. These joints guide and restrict the spine's movement.
Discograms - Discography is a medical procedure that involves injecting a dye into the jellylike center of a spinal disc to help diagnose back problems. During discography, a health professional evaluates the amount of pressure needed to inject the dye into the disc, whether it causes pain that is the same as your regular pain, how much dye is used, and how the dye appears on X-ray once it is inside the disc. If your doctor suspects that a disc is causing symptoms such as back pain or pain down your leg, discography may help determine whether disc changes are actually causing your symptoms.
Spinal Cord Stimulation - When other pain treatments have failed, spinal cord stimulation may be an option. Spinal cord stimulation is a procedure that delivers low-level electrical signals to the spinal cord or to specific nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain. During spinal cord stimulation, a device that delivers the electrical signals is implanted in the body either surgically or percutaneously (through the skin). The patient may turn the current off and on or adjust the intensity of the signals.
Medication Management - If pain keeps you from normal daily activities, your doctor can help by recommending or prescribing pain medications. Over-the-counter painkillers such as Tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen can be helpful. Your doctor may prescribe prescription strength anti-inflammatories/pain medicines or may prefer to prescribe combination of opioid (narcotic) and acetaminophen medications such as Vicodin or Percocet. Some doctors also prescribe muscle relaxants.
Acupuncture – Acupuncture may bring moderate to complete pain relief for many sufferers. It can be used alone or as part of a treatment plan that includes medications and other bodywork. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has declared acupuncture a reasonable treatment option for those suffering from low back pain.
