What is Interventional Pain Medicine?

Chronic pain is an increasingly common problem in modern society. Whether it comes from an old injury that never quite healed or a more nebulous cause, many adults suffer from it. Treating it can be difficult since it’s often hard to pinpoint the exact causes or the most effective solutions. That’s where interventional pain medicine comes in.

A New Approach to Pain

Pain is caused by an inflammatory response, which causes your nerves to send electrical signals to your brain. This can be a good thing when it comes to acute pain since it warns you that you’re injured. With chronic pain, however, it can be debilitating without adding any benefit to your life.

Traditionally, doctors largely treated chronic pain using medication, which comes with significant side effects. This includes the risk of addiction and other long-term health problems.

Interventional pain medicine strives to use safe, minimally invasive approaches to address chronic pain, often in conjunction with other treatments, such as physical therapy. Your Chicago pain doctor can help you develop an effective care team.

Common Interventional Pain Medicine Treatments

Your exact treatment plan depends on your unique needs as a patient, but there are some common interventions used. Your doctor will help you create a personalized plan, but they may recommend some or all of the following treatments:

Joint or epidural injections. These typically involve injecting steroids or other anti-inflammatory medications directly into the affected area.

Nerve blocks. These interrupt the pain signals traveling from the affected area to your brain. There are both short-term and long-term options available, though long-term ones may require surgery.

Radiofrequency ablation. Mostly used on the neck and back area, this procedure uses radio waves to interrupt the pain signal your nerves are transmitting.

Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation. Your doctor will apply gentle electrical stimulation to the affected nerves, which also helps interrupt pain signals.

Is Interventional Pain Medicine Right for You?

Interventional pain medicine is a newer practice, but it’s shown great promise in a variety of chronic pain patients. If you’re suffering from chronic pain and looking for a compassionate and understanding Chicago pain doctor, we can help at Midwest Anesthesia and Pain Specialists. Give us a call today at (773) 917-8400 or schedule an appointment online to find out more about interventional pain medicine and other treatments.