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What does a pain management specialist do? 

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A pain management specialist is a physician with special training in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all different types of pain. Pain is actually a wide spectrum of disorders including acute pain, chronic pain and cancer pain and sometimes a combination of these. Pain can also arise for many different reasons such as surgery, injury, nerve damage, and metabolic problems such as diabetes. Occasionally, pain can even be the problem all by itself, without any obvious cause at all.

As the field of medicine learns more about the complexities of pain, it has become more important to have physicians with specialized knowledge and skills to treat these conditions. An in-depth knowledge of the physiology of pain, the ability to evaluate patients with complicated pain problems, understanding of specialized tests for diagnosing painful conditions, appropriate prescribing of medications to varying pain problems, and skills to perform procedures (such as nerve blocks, spinal injections and other interventional techniques) are all part of what a pain management specialist uses to treat pain. In addition, the broad variety of treatments available to treat pain is growing rapidly and with increasing complexity. With an increasing number of new and complex drugs, techniques, and technologies becoming available every year for the treatment of pain, the pain management physician is uniquely trained to use this new knowledge safely and effectively to help his or her patients. Finally, the pain management specialist plays an important role in coordinating additional care such as physical therapy, psychological therapy, and rehabilitation programs in order to offer patients a comprehensive treatment plan with a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of their pain.

About the Specialty of Pain Medicine //

Advanced Pain Management can assist patients in coping with pain caused by a variety of medical conditions including but not limited to:

 

• Failed Back Surgery  

• Arthritis

• Bulging/Herniated Disc 

• Auto/Work Related Injuries

• Muscle Pain

• Neuropathic (Nerve) 

  Pain

• Neck and Back Pain  

• Bursitis & Tendonitis

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 

• Knee/Hip/Shoulder/Foot & Ankle Pain

• Spinal Stenosis

• Cancer Pain

• Sciatica

• Shingles

• Headaches

Comprehensive pain management care

 

Advanced Pain Management was founded with a vision of experienced physicians and staff dedicated to identifying and treating all types of pain. By offering a multimodal approach to pain, Advanced Pain Management focuses on helping patients to regain life and achieve optimal outcomes. We are committed to meeting our patient’s individual needs by providing them with high-quality care and personal attention. Our mission is to help people. We want to increase their quality of life so that they can do the simple things in life...with a smile. We are serious help for serious pain.

Advanced Pain Management is committed to meeting our patient’s individual needs by providing them with high-quality care and personal attention at every touch point. In conjunction with office visits, services may include medication management, injections, procedures and nutrition services. Our providers evaluate each patient and support an overall health and wellness approach.

What should I look for in a pain management specialist? 

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The most important consideration in looking for a pain management specialist is to find someone who has the training and experience to help you with your particular pain problem and with whom you feel a comfortable rapport. Since many types of chronic pain may require a complex treatment plan as well as specialized interventional techniques, pain specialists today must have more training than in the past, and you should learn about how your pain physician was trained and whether he or she has board certification in pain management.

The widely accepted standard for pain management education today is a fellowship (additional training beyond residency which occurs after graduating from medical school) in pain management. Most fellowship programs are associated with anesthesiology residency training programs. There are also fellowship programs associated with neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs. The fellowship consists of at least one year of training in all aspects of pain management after completion residency training. When a physician has become board certified in their primary specialty and has completed an accredited fellowship, they become eligible for subspecialty board certification in pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology, The American Board of Psychiatry and The American Board of Neurology, or the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. These three are the only board certifications in pain management recognized by the American College of Graduate Medical Education.

In addition to learning about your pain physicians training and board certification, you also should ask whether they have experience with your specific pain condition and what types of treatments they offer. Do they only perform procedures or do they use a multidisciplinary approach to pain management? Who do they refer to for other treatment options such as surgery, psychological support or alternative therapies? How can they be reached if questions or problems arise? What is their overall philosophy of pain management?

There is more to pain management than prescribing

 

Advanced Pain Management assists patients with short-term needs as well as those seeking a more permanent pain management solution. We offer over 30 procedures that focus on getting to the root of the pain rather than masking in all areas with medication. In addition, only 2% of patients that have not previously been on pain medication are put on a treatment plan with medication.

Often times, patients that come to Advanced Pain Management are already on high level of opioids. Our providers evaluate the patient and either lower the medication intake or even eliminate it altogether. Opioids can play a role in managing pain and we know the importance of this being managed and prescribed responsibly.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing pain. We are committed to safe, responsible care. That includes limiting the use of dangerous medications that can put you patients at risk. 

We will work with our patients to design a plan to improve symptoms, function, and quality of life while minimizing the adverse effects that can happen with excessive use of medications.

Accidental overdose and other injuries that occur as a result of opioid misuse are at an all-time high. The opioid epidemic has drawn the attention of the CDC, legislators, and the media. It is at the top of mind of both our government and healthcare leaders, and broad-sweeping changes are being made. Advanced Pain Management is proud to be the leader in responsible pain management.

How can I be referred to a pain management specialist? 

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The best way to be referred to a pain management specialist is through your primary care physician. Most pain physicians work closely with their patients' primary care physicians to insure good communication, which in turn helps provide the optimum treatment for their patients. Patients are also often referred by specialists who deal with different types of pain problems. Back surgeons, neurologists, cancer doctors, as well as other specialists usually work regularly with a pain physician and can refer you to one.

Minimally invasive interventional pain management procedures offered:

 

• Epidural Steroid Injections  

• Transforaminal Epidural Injections

• Baclofen Pumps Implants 

• Spinal Cord Stimulators

• Radio Frequency Ablation 

• Epidural-lysis of Adhesions  

• Percutaneous Discectomy 

• Kyphoplasty/Vertebroplasty  

• Paravertebral Facet Joint Injections

• Sephenopalatine Ganglion Block

• Selective Ganglion Block: Stellate/Celiac/Lumbar/

  Hypogastric/Impar

• Trigeminal Nerve Block

• Discography

• Cryoneuralysis  

• MSK Ultrasound Guided Injections  

• Intra-articular Injection (Knee,

  Hip, Shoulder, SI joint, Elbow, Ankle, Wrist)  

• Regenerative Injection Therapy

What should I expect during my first visit to a pain management specialist?

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On your first visit to a pain management specialist, he or she will get to know you and begin to evaluate your particular pain problem. This will usually involve a detailed history, a physical exam and review of tests that you have had performed. The questions you are asked and the physical examination will focus on your particular problem, but your pain physician will want to know about past and current medical history as well.

Often you will be given a questionnaire before your first visit that will ask detailed questions about your pain problem, and you will probably be asked to bring any imaging studies (such as X-rays, computed tomography [CAT] scans, or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans) or other tests that have already been done. You should know before your first visit whether or not a procedure is anticipated. If so, you may need a driver to take you home.

Most importantly, this visit is an opportunity for your pain physician to begin to analyze all of this new information and discuss with you an initial assessment of your pain problem. He or she may know exactly what is causing your pain, or perhaps further diagnostic procedures will be needed. But no matter what type of problem you have, you should leave this first visit with a clearer understanding of your pain and the course of further evaluation and treatment that is planned.

Why am I having persistent pain? Why doesn't it go away like pain after a paper cut or muscle sprain?

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Most of the time pain goes away after an injury heals. However, if pain persists more than a month or two, it can become chronic pain. Sometimes pain becomes chronic because the underlying problem does not heal. For instance, arthritis causes long term inflammation and damage to the joints, and it may hurt as long as the inflammation lasts. Unfortunately, chronic pain may also occur despite healing and with no obvious injury to tissues. This may be the result of damage to the nerves that transmit pain (neuropathic pain), but chronic pain also affects the entire nervous system, sometimes in a permanent way. When any type of pain lasts a long time there can be changes in the spinal cord and the brain that change how we perceive painful sensations. These changes may result in severe pain with little or no painful stimulus. Some chronic pain can be very difficult to treat and can become so frustrating for patients that it is often accompanied by depression or other emotional problems. It is this type of pain that represents some of the most challenging problems a pain management specialist can face.

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