Pain Clinic

What is a Pain Management Center?
A pain management center evaluates and treats patients who may be suffering from pain not relieved by traditional pain management methods/medications. Extensive evidence reveals that the basis of effective pain management rests with a sound knowledge of pain assessment techniques and various pain management strategies.

How do I become a Pain Management Center patient?
New patients typically need to be referred by a primary care physician or other specialist. If you feel you would benefit from our services, ask your physician for a referral or contact our center and we may be able to assist you in obtaining a referral from your physician. On your first visit, you will need to bring a completed new patient questionnaire, a list of current medications and insurance information.

What is acute pain?
Acute is a word used to describe an injury or illness that comes and goes (as opposed to chronic, which is persistent). Acute injuries come on quickly, have very definite symptoms, which can be quite intense, and heal in a relatively brief period of time. Frequently, and unfortunately, acute injuries to the back or neck can lead to chronic pain.

What is chronic pain?
Chronic pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 3 months. Some experts define it as lasting longer than 6 months. Chronic pain differs from acute pain because it is not always easy to determine its cause. Examination may reveal no bodily injury at all, yet the patient may be experiencing severe pain. Conversely, injury may be a cause of chronic pain, which can remain painful even after it has healed.

What is cancer pain?
Although not all people with cancer will experience it, pain, which can be caused by the disease process itself or by treatments, is common in people with cancer. The good news is cancer pain can be managed. With today’s knowledge of cancer pain and the availability of pain-relieving therapies, no one should have to suffer from unrelieved pain. Sadly, although cancer pain can be relieved, surveys have shown that pain is often under treated in many patients.

What are some common treatments in the Pain Management Center?
Some of the common treatments are as follows:

• Epidural Steroid Injections: Injection of corticosteroids into the epidural space of the vertebral column as a means of treating pain caused by irritation of the spinal nerves.
• Facet Joint Injections: The facet joints are composed of the overlapping arches of the bones that comprise your spine. These injections may be used to assess the actual source of a person’s pain or they can be used to provide temporary pain relief and are often performed in conjunction with physical therapy to increase the effectiveness of physical therapy treatment for pain relief and improved mobility.
• Implantable Pain Pumps: This form of treatment for pain is called intrathecal drug delivery. It works by delivering pain medication directly to the spinal fluid, which can offer significant pain control using a much smaller dose of medication than oral medications. The pump is surgically implanted in a patient’s abdomen. A thin tube, called a catheter, is inserted near the spine and connected to the pump. The physician places pain medication in the pump, which transports the medication through the catheter to the spinal area where the pain receptors are located. The area where the pain medication is delivered is called the intrathecal space.
• Medication Management: A number of medications are used to treat chronic pain. At ACMH, we believe it is critical that our patients understand the nature, purpose, and limitations of the medication prescribed. We have four goals for pain medication use: 1. reduction in pain intensity 2. improved ability to function 3. minimal adverse side effects 4. prevention of addiction