What is Interventional Pain Management?

Which Conditions Can Be Treated?

Chronic pain sufferers are often underserved, and the stigma surrounding their care has caused a widespread public health crisis in our country—so much so that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services released a National Pain Strategy in 2016. In a press release, the Assistant Secretary for Health said that the plan aims to reduce “the burden of chronic pain that affects millions of Americans.” If you live in San Antonio, you have access to Texas pain specialists who implement methods outlined in the report, follow a patient-centered approach designed to manage all levels of your pain, and offer a wide selection of treatments.

You do not have to suffer without recourse. Dr. Raul Martinez and his staff are here to help you heal.

Pain Management Methods

Though pain comes in many forms, pain management methods generally fall into two categories: integrative and interventional.

• Integrative Pain Management

  • Integrative pain management provides patients with alternatives or supplements to traditional medical procedures. Yoga, acupuncture, meditation, massage, laser technology, herbal medicines, and physical therapy are standard integrative pain management techniques. While integrative treatments are generally good at encouraging patients to find peace in mindfulness and exercise gently, they aren’t enough for many people with chronic pain.

• Interventional Pain Management

  • Interventional pain management involves a more traditional medical approach. Interventional pain specialists will often use minimally invasive injections that help block the nerve signals that cause patients significant discomfort when they reach the brain. Patients with chronic pain opt for interventional techniques when their pain is severe, long-lasting, and less responsive to integrative treatments.

Common Pain Relief Center Treatments

Many people who ask, “What is interventional pain management? Which conditions can be treated?” want more information about what treatment options are available for them. While you will need to meet with a clinician to discuss the specifics of your pain and treatment goals, some common pain management injections include:

• Epidural Steroid Injections

  • This treatment can help alleviate lower back pain, or sciatica, caused by spinal stenosis, disc herniation, compression fractures, and other conditions. Epidural injections involve inserting a local anesthetic and a steroid near the affected nerve, which helps decrease inflammation and soothe the pain.

• Facet Joint Injections

  • Facet joint injections can be either diagnostic or therapeutic. Doctors place them into and around affected facet joints located in between each vertebra. Facet joint pain becomes more prevalent as people get older, but bad posture or physical trauma are also common causes. This type of pain can affect the neck, middle back, and lower back.

• Sacroiliac Joint Injections

  • Pain in the lower back, buttocks, or legs that makes it difficult to stand, walk, and climb stairs may be related to the sacroiliac joints (SI joints). An SI joint injection is similar to a facet joint injection, but the SI joints are located in the pelvis.

Our San Antonio interventional pain clinic also offers genicular nerve blocks, intercostal nerve blocks, kyphoplasty, lumbar medial branch blocks, lumbar sympathetic blocks, and more. Let one of our physicians help you determine which course of action is right for you.

Understanding the Value of Comprehensive Care

Chronic pain management is a complex, evolving process, and you deserve someone who will listen to you and use the appropriate resources to minimize your pain and maximize your comfort and mobility. Many of us have difficulty answering, “What is interventional pain management? Which conditions can be treated?” Thankfully, Dr. Raul Martinez and his team know the answers.

If you live in San Antonio and are searching for a “pain management specialist near me,” please reach out to our team. Chronic pain can take up so much space in our lives—not only physically but also mentally. Our goal is to help ease your suffering so you can reclaim your time. You deserve comfort, and there are treatments options for you.

Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you. Pain is inevitable, but suffering doesn’t have to be.