The goal of pain management is to help reduce or eliminate chronic pain for patients with conditions like spinal stenosis, herniated discs, arthritis, and other problems that cause chronic pain. Pain management, in combination with physical therapy and a healthy lifestyle, can help to restore your quality of life and help you avoid more invasive treatments. Dr. Dax Trujillo is a pain management specialist who offers several different treatment options to reduce chronic pain.
Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation may be recommended to treat chronic neck and back pain caused by arthritis in the joints of the spine. Arthritis can cause degeneration of the joints in the spine, and nerves can become compressed due to these degenerative changes.
The goal of radiofrequency ablation is to eliminate or the pain signals in these nerves. During this procedure, mild electrical currents are applied to the painful nerve to create a lesion that disrupts pain signals sent to the brain. Relieving the patients pain and allowing them to live a life without pain.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation may be helpful for patients with chronic neck and back pain or conditions like failed back surgery syndrome, arachnoiditis, complex regional pain syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, and refractory angina. Chronic pain in the spinal area can cause discomfort whether standing up or sitting down.
During this procedure, thin, insulated wires are implanted in the epidural space. A small device is then implanted near the spinal cord. This device sends mild electrical pulses to the wires, modifying or blocking pain messages sent to the brain by the nerves. Preventing the individual from feeling pain.
Although a surgical procedure is required to implant the device, patients are able to undergo a trial period before having the device implanted. They can discuss their options at their consultation.
Injection Therapy
Injection therapy can provide longer-lasting pain relief than oral medications, making it easier for patients with chronic neck and back pain to participate in physical therapy. Dr. Trujillo offers different injections to treat a variety of neck and back conditions, including:
- Epidural Steroid Injections
- Trigger Point Injections
- Nerve Blocks
- Joint Injections
- BOTOX for Chronic Migraine
- Viscosupplementation
Some patients with joint or muscle pain may not find complete pain relief in physical therapy in medication alone. For these patients, injections can relieve chronic pain, helping them to avoid surgery. We offer different types of injections to help patients manage pain.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex regional pain syndrome is a chronic pain condition that usually arises after an injury, stroke, heart attack, or surgical procedure, although the exact cause is not known. It typically affects one of the limbs–an arm, leg, hand, or foot. Making it difficult to have normal arm or leg function.
Complex regional pain syndrome can cause continuous pain in the affected limb, as well as sensitivity to touch and temperature, swelling, changes in skin temperature, changes in skin color or texture, joint stiffness, and muscle spasms. Eventually, it may become difficult to move the affected limb.
Dr. Trujillo specializes in treatment options to manage pain caused by complex regional pain syndrome, including sympathetic nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal drug pumps.
Kyphoplasty
Patients who have developed pain or spinal deformity because to a compression fracture may benefit from a kyphoplasty. A spinal compression fracture can result from weakening of the vertebrae in a spinal segment. This can be related to an injury or is from osteoporosis.
Kyphoplasty is a type of vertebroplasty, which is a minimally invasive technique that stabilizes a fractured bone. The procedure includes decompression using a small balloon to restore both height and stability to the fractured vertebral area.
Intrathecal Pain Pumps
An intrathecal pain pump is a targeted drug therapy in which medication is given into the intrathecal space. This surrounds the spinal cord with cerebrospinal fluid as a protective barrier in case of any distress. This type of pain pump is a round metal device, and is surgically inserted beneath the skin in the abdominal area.
The center of the device is able to serve as a reservoir for the medication. A tube spans from the device to the intrathecal space around the spine. This is another method to reduce chronic pain in patients.
Schedule A Consultation
If you want to learn more about any of these pain management specialties, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Trujillo, call our office at 928-532-1605.
