If you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain, it’s important to fully explore available treatment options. Researching treatments and procedures, you may find yourself wondering, “What is interventional pain management?” 

This guide is designed to help you better understand what interventional pain management is, why patients choose it over traditional pain treatments, and what is involved in different types of interventional pain management procedures. Learn more about these treatments with Louisiana Medical Clinic (LMC).

What Is Interventional Pain Management?

Have you asked, “What is interventional pain management?” In short, interventional pain management is a specialized area of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating chronic pain through minimally invasive techniques. 

At LMC, we utilize cutting-edge interventional pain management procedures to help patients achieve significant and lasting pain relief. These procedures are strategically implemented based on each patient’s specific needs, ensuring personalized and effective care.

Why Choose Interventional Pain Management?

Patients often prefer interventional pain management over traditional treatments for several reasons:

• Minimally Invasive: Unlike surgical options, interventional techniques involve minimal incisions or injections, reducing recovery time and associated risks.
• Targeted Relief: These procedures deliver medication or treatment directly to the source of pain, providing more precise and efficient relief than systemic medications.
• Reduced Medication Dependency: By addressing the root cause of pain, these techniques can decrease reliance on pain medications, which often have undesirable side effects.
• Diagnostic and Therapeutic Benefits: Interventional procedures not only treat pain but can also help diagnose the exact source, enabling more tailored and effective long-term treatment plans.

Types of Interventional Pain Management Procedures

Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs)

Epidural steroid injections are used to treat conditions like disc herniations and foraminal stenosis. During the procedure, a long-acting steroid is injected directly into the foramen, where the nerve root exits, helping to decrease inflammation and improve mobility.

Facet Joint Injections (FJI) and Medial Branch Blocks (MBB)

Facet joints, which provide stability and guide motion in the spine, can become painful due to injury or arthritis. FJIs inject local anesthetic and steroids directly into the joint to alleviate pain and inflammation. MBBs serve a similar purpose as FJIs but specifically target the nerves connected to facet joints.

Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) Injections

SI joints connect the sacrum to the pelvis and bear significant stress from body weight, leading to pain and arthritis. SIJ injections use real-time X-ray (fluoroscopy) to accurately administer steroids into the joint, reducing inflammation and providing relief that can last up to several months.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that treats pain from facet joints and SI joints by creating a heat lesion on the sensory nerves, interrupting pain signals to the brain. Mild sedation and local anesthetics ensure patient comfort during this effective treatment.

VIA Disc NP

VIA Disc NP is a non-surgical option for treating intervertebral disc degeneration. This innovative treatment involves injecting an allograft into the degenerated disc, mimicking healthy tissue and restoring the disc’s cushioning function.

Trigger Point Injections

Trigger points are areas of muscle spasm and inflammation. Injecting a combination of local anesthetic and steroids directly into the trigger point reduces pain and inflammation, providing relief from chronic muscle pain.

Pain Stimulator Trial

Louisiana Medical Clinic offers one-week pain stimulator trials to help patients determine whether pain stimulation treatment is right for them. These trials allow patients to experience the potential benefits of pain stimulation treatments before committing to permanent pain stimulation device implantation. 

Pain Stimulation Treatment

If the patient experiences a pain reduction of 50% or more during the pain stimulator trial period, it means that a permanent implant could be an effective interventional technique for reducing pain in the long term. 

Permanent pain stimulation treatment involves implanting a device that sends electrical impulses to block pain signals from reaching the brain. Pain stimulation levels can be adjusted by the patient, offering a customizable and long-lasting solution for chronic pain.

Are You Considering Interventional Pain Management?

We hope this guide has answered the question, “What Is Pain Management?” and provided enough information to help you take the next steps. Interventional pain management offers a range of minimally invasive procedures designed to provide targeted and effective pain relief. At Louisiana Medical Clinic, our team is dedicated to utilizing these advanced techniques to improve your quality of life. 

If you suffer from chronic pain, consider interventional pain management as a viable and beneficial option. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 225-292-1969 or contact us online today.