Pain has a way of taking over an individual’s life. If a patient suffers from severe or chronic pain, their symptoms can grow until they intrude upon everyday activities and functions. Pain management procedures allow you to help your patients regain and maintain comfortable, independent lifestyles. Of course, many patients balk at the idea of an operation—even relatively fast and easy ones. When you understand the different types of pain management procedures, you can teach your patients about their options for pain relief.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections have been common ways of treating pain for decades. This low-risk, minimally invasive procedure is an effective way to treat chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, back, and legs. Epidural injections treat irritated spinal nerve roots by injecting low doses of anti-inflammatory pain medications directly into the source of the pain. This procedure is an effective way to treat several different conditions, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease.
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty
You’ll usually perform these procedures in tandem to treat pain that stems from a spine fracture. Small bones called vertebrae make up the structure of the spine. A fractured vertebra can lead to more than just pain; it can also cause loss of mobility. A kyphoplasty procedure is when you insert a balloon-like device into the fractured bone and then inflate it to gently push the bone back into place. This makes space for the following vertebroplasty. During the vertebroplasty procedure, doctors insert cement into the space to hold the bone in place.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Like many of the different types of pain management procedures, radiofrequency ablation treats chronic pain in the back or neck. This pain often stems from spinal injuries or deterioration in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. These injuries damage the nerves in the area, which causes the discomfort and pain. During radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, doctors use controlled thermal energy to deaden and disable the nerves causing the pain.
Your patients’ comfort is a priority throughout these and other pain management procedures. Medical Positioning’s C-arm table for pain management keep you and your patient safe and comfortable, allowing you to provide treatment that relieves their pain and gets them back to their normal lives.