Pain
Center -
Therapeutic Injections
Back pain is the most common complaint treated at the Pain Center, which
also treats patients with severe headaches, cancer pain and muscle pain. The
first step for many patients is non-surgical treatment including
anti-inflammatory medication, physical
therapy, and exercise. If the pain is not relieved with conservative treatment, many options are available
depending on the patient's diagnosis. Inflamed nerves caused by accidents or
illness are now known to be a primary cause of pain. Sometimes these damaged nerves continually send pain
messages
to the brain for no reason. Steroid injections are often used to decrease
the inflammation that causes pain in the nerve roots along the spinal cord. Pain Center physicians use fluoroscopy-live x-ray-to precisely place
medicine where it will be the most beneficial for patients. Nerve Blocks & Trigger Point Injections
Nerve blocks are injections of anesthetic that "put nerves to sleep." They
are often used for cancer patients and other cases when
damaged nerves continually send pain signals to the brain. Nerve block medications injected
onto a nerve temporarily or permanently interrupt pain signals. Blocks are
usually temporary, but quite effective. After several nerve blocks, the pain
may subside without the need for more. An advantage of blocks over oral pain
medication is that they don't have a sedating effect. Trigger point injections are used for muscle pain. Sometimes damaged muscles
tighten into tender knots in constant spasm. A local anesthetic puts the
contracted muscle fibers to sleep. Evolution of Spinal Injection For many years, injections into the spine have been performed for a variety
of purposes. In the field of pain management, injection of steroid and local
anesthetic into the epidural space has been a widely used treatment for pain
caused by problems ranging from disc herniation to herpes
zoster. Society does not always acknowledge the type of severe pain experienced by
so many people. Pain can leave a person with no
choice but to put everything on hold-work, family, and simple enjoyment of life. Treatment options
offered at Miller-Dwan's Pain Center can change that. If you are interested
in making an appointment you can call (218) 733-2344. Our office hours are
8:00 to 4:30. After hours you can leave a message and we will return your
call.
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