Frequently Asked Questions
- What is chronic pain and should I see a pain management physician?
- What type of treatments do you offer?
- What can I expect during my first appointment?
- How often do I make appointments?
- What is injection therapy?
- What types of injection therapy do you offer?
What is chronic pain and should I see a pain management physician?
Chronic pain is any pain that continues after 3-6 months. We also see patients who may be experiencing acute pain, pain of recent onset. Your primary care doctor or other treating physicians may refer you to the Pain Management Center for pain management care.
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What type of treatments do you offer?
We offer a variety of injection therapy, as well as medical management and implantable device management of pain. We also perform diagnostic procedures for referring physicians, to assist in identifying the cause of your pain. We may also arrange physical therapy and other specialty consults.
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What can I expect during my first appointment?
At your first visit to the Phoebe Pain Management, there will be a complete history, physical exam and review of all your medications. During this visit, the physician will discuss options which may benefit you. Patient care is unique to each individual patient and delivered through a patient-centered approach. Treatment of chronic pain is not a passive endeavor. The patient is an active participant in their ongoing care.
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How often you visit your pain management physician is assessed based on patient needs and treatments, which are determined during the initial consultation.
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What is injection therapy?
Injection therapy is precision-guided delivery of medication to specific areas of the body to reduce or control pain. Various types of medications are used with this treatment. We can discuss this further with you at your appointment.
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What types of injection therapy do you offer?
- Epidural injections (in all areas of the spine): the use of anesthetic and/or steroid medications injected into the epidural space to relieve pain or diagnose a specific condition.
- Joint Injections: the use of anesthetic and/or steroid medications injected into a joint space.
- Nerve root and medial branch blocks: these injections determine if a specific spinal nerve root or joint is the source of pain. This type of block can also be used to reduce inflammation and pain. These usually consist of a series of injections depending on the patient's history. Diagnostic blocks may be followed by a Facet Rhizotomy.
- Rhizotomy: a procedure in which the pain signals are "blocked" through the use of a heated electrode that is applied to specific nerves that carry pain signals to the brain. This procedure usually provides pain relief from 4 months to 2 years.
- Discography: this procedure involves a look into the discs of the spine to determine if they are the source of the patient's pain. Dye is injected into one or more discs and examined.
- Spinal cord stimulation: involves the use of electrical impulses that are used to block pain from being perceived in the brain.
- Intrathecal pumps: a surgically implanted pump that delivers pain medications directly into the spinal canal.
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For more information about the Phoebe Pain Management, call 229-312-0300 or 1-800-356-7874.