Interventional Pain Management FAQ

Interventional pain management is a medical field that involves the use of minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat chronic pain conditions. These procedures are typically performed by interventional pain specialists, who use specialized techniques to relieve pain and improve function in patients with chronic pain conditions.

Chronic pain can affect people’s sleep or be able to work or even functions of daily life. When pain gets to be at the level, it’s best to seek a specialist who can do a comprehensive assessment and correctly diagnose the problem and manage and coordinate care of the different teams.    The goal of interventional pain management is to relieve pain, improve your quality of life, treat or allow for treatment of the underlying issue.

There are several different types of treatments that fall under the umbrella of interventional pain management. Some of the most common include:

1. Nerve Blocks: Nerve blocks are procedures that involve injecting a local anesthetic or other medication directly into a specific nerve or group of nerves in order to block pain signals from reaching the brain. These procedures can be used to treat chronic pain conditions such as back and neck pain, headaches, and chronic regional pain syndrome.
2. Epidural Steroid Injections: Epidural steroid injections are a type of nerve block that involves injecting a steroid medication into the epidural space, which is the area surrounding the spinal cord. These injections can help reduce inflammation and swelling in the spinal cord and nerves, which can alleviate pain and improve function in patients with conditions such as sciatica, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis.
3. Facet Joint Injections: The facet joints are small joints located in the spine that connect the vertebrae. Facet joint injections involve injecting a local anesthetic or steroid medication directly into these joints in order to reduce pain and improve function in patients with conditions such as arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis.
4. Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that involves using heat energy to destroy nerve tissue and reduce pain. This procedure is typically performed on nerves that are causing chronic pain, such as those associated with conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and facet joint arthritis. To learn more click here.
5. Spinal Cord Stimulation: Spinal cord stimulation is a procedure that involves implanting a small device in the spinal cord. The device sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord to help block pain signals from reaching the brain. This procedure is typically used to treat chronic pain conditions such as chronic regional pain syndrome, failed back surgery syndrome, and peripheral neuropathy.
6. Intrathecal drug delivery system: It is a device that pumps medication directly into the spinal fluid. This is used to treat chronic pain conditions such as cancer pain, phantom limb pain, and chronic regional pain syndrome.

These are just a few examples of the many different types of treatments that fall under the umbrella of interventional pain management. Other treatments that may be used include trigger point injections, nerve hydrodissection, and percutaneous discectomy.

Conditions that can be treated by interventional pain management include:

1. Back and neck pain: Back and neck pain are two of the most common chronic pain conditions seen by interventional pain specialists. These conditions can be caused by a variety of factors, including degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and arthritis.
2. Headaches: Headaches can be caused by a variety of factors, including tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Interventional pain management techniques such as nerve blocks and trigger point injections can be used to help alleviate pain associated with these conditions.
3. Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome: Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that affects the limbs. This condition is characterized by severe burning pain, swelling, and changes in skin color and temperature. Interventional pain management techniques such as nerve blocks and spinal cord stimulation can be used to help alleviate pain and improve function in patients with CRPS.
4. Cancer pain: Cancer pain can be caused by the cancer itself, or by the treatment of cancer, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Interventional pain management techniques such as nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal drug delivery systems can be used to help alleviate cancer pain and improve the quality of life for patients with cancer. To learn more about cancer pain click here.
5. Phantom limb pain: Phantom limb pain is a type of chronic pain that occurs in the limb that has been amputated. This condition is thought to be caused by abnormal neural activity in the spinal cord or brain. Interventional pain management techniques such as spinal cord stimulation can be used to help alleviate phantom limb pain.
6. Neuropathic pain: Neuropathic pain is a type of chronic pain that is caused by damage or disease affecting the nerves. This type of pain can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, herpes zoster, and spinal cord injuries. Interventional pain management techniques such as nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal drug delivery systems can be used to help alleviate neuropathic pain.  To learn more click here.
7. Post-surgical pain: Pain after surgery can be caused by nerve injury, scarring, or other complications. Interventional pain management techniques such as nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal drug delivery systems can be used to help alleviate post-surgical pain and improve recovery time. To learn more click here.

Interventional pain management is a rapidly growing field, and new treatments and technologies are constantly being developed. However, it is important to note that not all patients are candidates for interventional pain management, and alternative treatments such as physical therapy, medication management, and psychological counseling may be more appropriate for certain patients.

In conclusion, Interventional pain management is a medical field that involves the use of minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat chronic pain conditions. These procedures are typically performed by interventional pain specialists, who use specialized techniques to relieve pain and improve function in patients with chronic pain conditions. Interventional pain management techniques can be used to treat a variety of conditions such as back and neck pain, headaches, chronic regional pain syndrome, cancer pain, phantom limb pain, neuropathic pain, and post-surgical pain. It is important to consult with a pain specialist who has undergone specialist interventional pain therapy training to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for each individual patient.