Find Pain Relief That Lasts
Chronic and acute pain can turn anyone’s world upside down. Activities that were once enjoyable may be impossible due to intense pain. Even spending relaxing time with friends and family may become difficult.
Extreme, long term pain can reduce quality of life and make every day a struggle.
If medications and other conservative treatment methods haven’t worked for you, don’t despair. There are a number of other ways to combat chronic pain and return you to a more normal routine.
What is Interventional Pain Management?
Interventional pain management is a method which utilizes pain blocking techniques to help make day-to-day activities less difficult, and effectively restore quality of life for patients.
Interventional pain management is generally used when pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities, and other treatment types have not been successful in reducing your pain. If you are searching for a solution to your chronic or acute pain, it may be time to find an Interventional pain management doctor who can help.
Interventional Pain Management Treatments
There are many types of Interventional pain management treatments. The type of treatment you receive will be based on your specific condition and symptoms, as each type of treatment varies in terms of invasiveness. Some of the most common Interventional pain management techniques include:
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Injections
The most common types of injections include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections and trigger point injections. Each of these injections target different painful structures in the body. Injections generally include a numbing agent and a steroid and may provide short-term or sometimes long-term benefit depending on how your body responds.
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Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are injections that interrupt pain signals sent from our body to our brain. The type of nerve block depends will depend on your treatment plan. Some nerve some are minimally invasive and may last for hours or days. Other nerve blocks require surgical procedures, and may be long-term or permanent.
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Radiofrequency Ablation
This treatment is usually used to treat lower back and neck pain, especially when pain is caused by arthritis. This technique uses a radio wave to produce an electrical current, which heats a specific area of nerve tissue. This method decreases the pain signals from that area and can provide lasting pain relief.
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Infusions
Infusions involve the delivery of pain-relieving medications directly into the body. These are generally for longer-term use. Epidural infusions are used in the spinal cord. Intrathecal Infusions are delivered into the subarachnoid space around the brain.
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Spinal Cord Stimulation
This technique treats chronic pain by applying gentle electrical currents to the source of the pain. Electrical leads are inserted close to the spinal column, while a tiny generator is inserted into the abdomen or buttock. The generator emits electrical signals to the spinal column, thus blocking the ability for the brain to perceive pain.
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Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation
This treatment type is related to Spinal Cord Stimulation, except that it is localized on other parts of the body. The electrical leads are placed as close to the source of pain as possible and follows the same general process as spinal Cord Stimulation.
Interventional Pain Management
at Longview Orthopedic
Dr. Matt Porter, Interventional pain management physician, has extensive training and knowledge about pain and cutting-edge pain management techniques. Dr. Porter, a physical therapist prior to becoming a physician, has a unique appreciation for an interdisciplinary approach to management of pain. Working closely with your primary care physician, physical therapists and other medical specialists, Dr. Porter’s goal is to improve the quality of life of each patient that entrusts their care to him.
Pain Management Specialists
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Matt Porter, M.D.
Pain Management
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Amber James
Nurse Practitioner
