Physical Therapy
Active physical therapy and consultation with a well-trained physical therapist is often an important aspect of chronic pain management. Physical therapy sessions can be completed either at a physical therapists office or at home after appropriate consultations with a therapist who is seen intermittently.
Chiropractic Care
It is often important for pain patients to continue chiropractic care with a Doctor of Chiropractic as part of long-term pain management program. The services offered through Flamingo Pain Specialists are complementary to those offered by licensed chiropractors and our physicians frequently collaborate with chiropractic physicians to formulate a coordinated plan of care for the patient.
Massage
Muscle spasm and shortening of the myofascial connective tissue is almost a component of chronic pain, regardless of the underlying cause of the pain. Massage from a reputable Nevada licensed massage therapist is an important part of many patients’ pain management program.
Aromatherapy
There is an increasing amount of scientific research demonstrating that the inhalation of volatile aromatic compounds can have a positive impact on the long-term management of chronic pain.
Individual Psychotherapy
Both acute and chronic pain can take an emotional toll on patients, manifesting as anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep. Many pain patients find individual psychotherapy with a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker to be useful in coping with the effects of chronic pain.
Group Therapy
Ultimately, pain is an emotional response to tissue injury or, an emotional response to a history of tissue injury. The cause of a patient’s pain is almost always has many causes, in other words, is multifactorial. Chronic pain can take a heavy toll on patients, manifesting as anxiety, depression, disrupted sleep, and disrupted relationships with family and friends. Group Therapy is offered through Flamingo Pain Specialists and can be very helpful. Such therapy usually involves a single two-hour session one evening per week.
Trigger Point Injections
Many pain patients undergo trigger point injections for headaches and pain related to muscle spasm and shortening of the myofascial connective tissue. Spasm and painful trigger points in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar paraspinous muscles respond particularly well to trigger point injections.
Intramuscular Stimulation
Intramuscular stimulation, also known as “dry needling,” or “Western style acupuncture,” is another way to treat chronic painful conditions. Extremely fine disposable sterile needles are precisely placed through the skin and into the musculature to relief certain types of pain. Intramuscular Stimulation is particularly helpful for trigger points along the cervical spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, buttocks, thighs, legs, feet, and calves.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Epidural steroid injections are sometimes indicated for the treatment of radicular pain in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. These procedures are usually done with a second anesthesiologist who provides sedation and monitors the patient’s physiological status during the injections. Diagnostic imaging guides the physician to inject a small dose of steroid and local anesthetic to a precise spinal nerve location. These procedures are done as an outpatient in an ambulatory surgery center.
Facet Joint Injections
Facet joint injections are sometimes indicated for the treatment of axial pain in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. These procedures are usually done with a second anesthesiologist who provides sedation and monitors the patient’s physiological status during the injections. Diagnostic imaging guides the pain medicine physician to inject a small dose of steroid and local anesthetic to a precise spinal nerve location. These procedures are done as an outpatient in an ambulatory surgery center.
Various Other Nerve Blocks
Flamingo Pain Specialist physicians are trained in a variety of other nerve blocks that may be useful both for diagnosing and treating painful conditions.
Surgery
Many pain patients at Flamingo Pain Specialists have already had one or more spine surgeries but may be left with residual pain. Some have been diagnosed as having “failed back syndrome.” Sometimes, however, surgery consultation is indicated and our pain management physicians refer to various orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons when indicated.