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ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture stimulates the patients own pain control systems by increasing the production of the body’s naturally occurring pain relievers called endorphins. It also activates pathways in the central nervous system
that modulate pain through the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. In the classical Chinese understanding, acupuncture enhances the flow of energy through channels called meridians to restore balance and well being.
BOTOX INJECTIONS
Botox therapy has been shown to help patients with a variety of pain problems including migraine and tension type headaches, myofascial pain syndromes, piriformis syndrome, whiplash neck and back injuries and other dystonias. Minute quantities of botulinum toxin are injected into involved muscles. The medication blocks
the release of acetylcholine from motor nerve endings resulting in a prolonged neuromuscular blockade. This relieves the abnormal contraction of muscles resulting in improved blood flow and release of compressed nerve fibers. These effects typically last about three months.
EPIDURAL INJECTIONS
Epidural injections place a corticosteroid medication in the epidural space of the spine to treat the inflammatory process in cases of low-back pain and sciatica with prolapsed intervertebral discs and compressed nerve roots. A series of up to three procedures is sometimes required. Conditions treated include sciatica, spinal stenosis and herniated intervertebral discs.
INFRARED LIGHT THERAPY
JOINT AND TENDON INJECTIONS
Painful inflammation in a joint, tendon or bursa often responds very quickly to injection of local anesthesias with or without cortisone. Sometimes the treatment needs to be repeated for complete relief.
LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY
Therapeutic laser is a non-invasive form of treatment for most painful musculoskeletal conditions. Energy in the form of light is used to stimulate a healing response in treated areas that helps to restore normal function.
MANUAL MEDICINE
MASSAGE
Besides being a very enjoyable experience, massage is
an effective way to direct the body’s own natural healing force. Pain is relieved by enhancing circulation, relaxing muscles and re-aligning body parts to function normally. By stimulating certain pathways in the nervous system,
massage inhibits pain signals to the brain and interrupts reflex maintenance of pain.
MEDICAL THERAPY
Long term treatment of pain sometimes includes the
use of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. These medications help to modulate pain by enhancing the function of parts of the nervous system that inhibit pain transmission. Periodic monitoring and re-evaluation is required when medications are prescribed.
NERVE BLOCKS
Nerve blocks use local anesthetics to stop pain transmission and interrupt the reflex pain cycle. Sometimes cortisone is added for a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. As a result, the central nervous system’s sensitization to painful stimuli is diminished
and “pain memory” resolves.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical Therapy improves function and mobility,
relieves pain and prevents or limits permanent physical disabilities. The patient is encouraged to use their own muscles to increase their flexibility and range of motion, leading to improved strength, endurance, balance and coordination. A home exercise program is usually provided when the patient is ready.
PROLOTHERAPY
Prolotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure that is useful in treating a wide variety of painful musculoskeletal conditions. Damaged tissues are stimulated to repair themselves by an injection that improves local blood supply and releases growth factors. Usually a course of
5-10 treatments are needed depending on the area being treated and the extent of degeneration.
PULSED RADIOFREQUENCY NEUROTOMY
Pulse radiofrequency is a technology that blocks pain
in specific nerves by creating an electric field at the tip
of a probe. The result is long-term modulation of pain transmission without injuring the nerve or surrounding tissue. It can be used for a variety of conditions including neck and back pain, sciatica, cervicogenic headache, some types of shoulder pain, sacroiliac pain, pelvic pain and peripheral neuropathies.
TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS
Trigger point injections are used to treat musculoskeletal conditions with regional or referred pain patterns. Taut bands or nodules of hyperirritable muscle tissue are injected with local anesthetic or saline solution to desensitize or inactivate these common sources of pain and spasm.
ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound is a therapeutic modality that uses high frequency sound waves in a painless manner to treat neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions like reflex sympathetic dystrophy, muscle spasm or contracture and neuromas.
