INDUSTRY INSIGHT
PAIN MANAGEMENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
When Should YOU Choose Interventional Pain Management?
Different Causes of Low Back Pain( LBP)
In younger adults, pain is likely related to disc disease( i. e. lumbar disc herniation or degenerative disc disease) or from a strain of soft tissue such as muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Symptoms can include localized tenderness, loss of flexibility, steady or intermittent pain that is aggravated by activities. Pain is typically in the lower back, buttocks, upper leg and, rarely, below the knees.
In the older population, LBP is likely to be related to degenerative changes of the spinal joints and discs, thereby causing a narrowing of the bony canals that the spinal nerves and spinal cord occupy. This is called spinal stenosis and it causes the spinal nerves to be compressed. Spinal stenosis in the lower back can produce a“ sciatica” type of symptoms to include numbness, weakness, tingling, and radiating pain from the lower back into the leg( s) and even the foot. Spinal stenosis in the neck can produce the same symptoms into the arms and hands.
Non-Surgical Options
Physical Therapy: Exercise program that may include stretching and strengthening. Chiropractic Care: Aims to improve the function of the joints and nervous system through spinal adjustments.
Medications: Over-the-counter drugs, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, and narcotics. Opioids can cause intolerable side effects, including drowsiness and constipation. This class of drugs may also result in overdose and addiction. Spinal Injections: Nerve blocks, epidural steroid injection, facet blocks, ablations to block the inflamed or irritated spinal structures. These are performed by an interventional pain management physician.
Some Surgical Options
• Discectomy: Removes all or part of the spinal disc that may be pressing the nerves.
• Laminectomy: Removes parts of the spine, bony spur to take pressure off of the nerves.
• Foraminotomy: Cutting away bone on the side of the spine to widen the space where the nerves are exiting the spine.
• Spinal Fusion: Joining the vertebral bones of the spine together by hardware or bone graft.
• Spinal Cord Stimulator: An implantable device similar to a pacemaker that delivers electrical stimulation to the spine in order to disturb the pain signal transmission.
• Intrathecal Pain Pump: Delivers pain medicine directly into the spine via an implantable device.
If you’ re looking for a solution to end your pain, Three Rivers Spine & Pain Medicine specializes in developing minimally invasive treatment plans tailored to you and your specific pain concerns, all in a warm and friendly environment. Board-certified pain management specialist Dr. Stephanie Le offers pain management treatments with a focus on interventional spine injections and procedures. She is skilled in diagnosing and treating painful conditions including back pain, neck pain, arthritis, migraines and more, and a smaller clinic size ensures that you’ ll receive personal attention and care.
This Industry Insight was written by Stephanie H. Le, MD. Dr. Le is an interventional pain management specialist who helps treat the source of her patients’ pain using interventional spine injections and procedures, with the goal of returning them to the most functional lifestyle possible. Dr. Le is board certified in pain management and physical and rehabilitation medicine. She is a member of the International Spine Interventional Society, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, and the American Medical Association.
Carlynton-Montour | Fall 2016 | icmags. com 17