Pain management is still a relatively new field in the world of medicine. Pain can come from several sources, such as disease or trauma. Also, external factors such as stress and anxiety may worsen the situation or even be the cause. Pain management physicians help find the origin of the pain, diagnose it and ultimately treat the pain with several different modalities or recommendations, from least invasive to most invasive.
There are many ways to treat pain, including the use of medicine, specific therapies, injections in certain areas of the body. Spinal cord stimulation may be an option and involves electrodes placed on a trial basis either in the spinal column or around the area of pain, depending on the situation. “Spinal cord stimulation was first developed in the 1960s,” explained Patrick F. Annello, MD, co-director of pain management at St. Francis Hospital. “The patient is monitored for five to seven days, with potential results including improved activity, better sleep, enhanced mood and the use of less medication. If there is an improvement of greater than 80% in regard to pain, then a permanent implant of the device is performed 2–3 weeks later.”
Pain management physicians work with other physicians, physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, Tai-Chi instructors, yoga instructors and other experts to help address a patient’s pain. Meditation, special diets, and vitamins and supplements may be additional options to pursue, under a doctor’s supervision.
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