Pain
Center -
A Multidisciplinary Approach
To Pain Management
The Need for Interventional Pain Management
Pain that persists despite routine medical management poses a difficult
problem for patients and their treating physicians. When pain continues
despite medical care, there is an increasing probability of physical
disability, psychosocial dysfunction, drug dependence, and development of
chronic pain. Recent advances in technology along with
new understanding of the anatomy and physiology of pain make it possible to
accurately diagnose and effectively treat many types of persistent pain previously thought
untreatable. In the area of spinal pain for
instance, advances in the art and science of fluoroscopy combined with new knowledge of spinal
pathophysiology have allowed for a variety of new diagnostic and therapeutic
interventions into low back pain,
radiculopathy, neck pain, and cervicogenic
headache. Interventional Pain Management
Interventional pain management is a term used to describe a highly
specialized field in which pain specialist physicians utilize the following
techniques for the diagnosis and pain treatment of persistent pain:
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.
The Pain Center Approach
The management of chronic pain is best
achieved through the use of a multidisciplinary treatment team. This team consists of:
- Pain management
physicians
- Anesthesiologist, neurosurgeon, orthopedic
surgeon, neurologist, and physiatrist.
- Behavioral health
professionals.
- Psychiatrist and psychologist.
- Rehabilitation professionals: Physical and occupational therapists, and
exercise physiologist.
- Pain management nurse
- Pharmacologist
- Dietitian
A wide variety of pain management
interventions, ranging from epidural steroid injections to trigger point injections, can be performed in the pain
center with increased accuracy, reduced risk, improved patient comfort, and
optimal outcome.
For patients who have:
- Neck & back pain
- Headache & facial pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis pain
- Shingles pain
- Post-accident pain
- Sports injury pain
- Post-stroke pain
- Post-surgical pain
- Cancer pain
- Chronic pain syndrome
Insurance Plan Participation
We participate with a wide variety of insurance
carriers, as well as with Medicare, Medicaid, and Workers' Compensation. To see if a particular
insurance company is one with which we participate, please call, 786-8044.
As a convenience for patients, we bill their
insurance providers.
Communication With
Referrers
We maintain close contact with our referring doctors, keeping you fully
informed about your patient's condition and progress.
How To Reach Us
For more information or to make an appointment, call (218)
786-PAIN, or toll-free 888-695-PAIN.
Our office hours are 8:00 to 4:30. After hours you can leave a message and
we will return your call.
Medical Director:
David Nelson, MD
Nurse Manager:
Robert Shultz
| Charge
Nurses: |
|
| Annette Sedor,
RN |
(218) 786-8996 |
| Bonnie Verdugo,
RN |
(218) 786-8997 |
.
|
