Pain management is a vital aspect of healthcare, as pain can significantly impact your quality of life and ability to function. It involves diagnosing, treating, and preventing pain to minimize pain and improve your overall well-being. Pain can arise from various causes, including injury, illness, surgery, or chronic conditions, ranging from mild to severe. Effective pain management Piedmont treatments require a personalized approach that considers the complex nature of your pain and its impact on your well-being.
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a slightly invasive procedure that uses radio waves to create heat and destroy the small nerves in your body that transmit pain signals to your brain. Your doctor will perform the treatment under local anesthesia. They may then insert a thin needle into the targeted area with the guidance of an imaging technique such as an X-ray or ultrasound. The needle then delivers radio waves to the nerves, causing them to heat up and eventually become disabled. The effects of RFA can last from several months to a few years, relieving chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, neck and back pain, and nerve damage.
Trigger point injections
Trigger point injections alleviate localized muscle pain and tension. Trigger points are hyperirritable spots within a muscle that can cause pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. TPIs involve injecting a small amount of anesthetic and corticosteroid directly into your trigger point, which helps relax the muscle and reduce inflammation. These injections can relieve your pain and improve mobility. This treatment is generally safe and well-tolerated, with few side effects. The procedure takes only a few minutes to complete, and you can return to your daily activities immediately following the injection.
Medial branch blocks
Medial branch blocks (MBBs) help to diagnose and treat pain in your neck, back, and sacroiliac joints. This technique involves injecting a local anesthetic near your medial branch nerves that transmit pain signals from the facet joints to your brain. The anesthetic blocks these nerves, temporarily interrupting the pain signals and relieving pain. The United Physician Group team may use MBBs to identify the source of your pain and develop a therapeutic intervention to manage the pain.
Botox®
Botox® (onabotulinumtoxinA) is an FDA-approved treatment for chronic migraines. It is a type of neurotoxin that blocks the release of certain chemicals involved in pain transmission, reducing the activity of the nerves responsible for pain sensation. During this treatment, your provider injectsBotox® into specific areas of your head and neck every 12 weeks, with each treatment consisting of 31 injections. Although this treatment can alleviate your symptoms, it is not a cure for migraines and may not work for everyone.
Occipital nerve injections
The occipital nerves are located at the back of the head and can be the source of pain in conditions such as occipital neuralgia, migraine headaches, and tension headaches. During an Occipital nerve injection (ONI), your provider will inject a local anesthetic and steroid medication into the area surrounding the occipital nerves to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. You may experience immediate relief or a gradual reduction in discomfort over the following days or weeks.
If you are looking for a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain, call the United Physician Group office or schedule an appointment online.
