Frequently Asked Questions

The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage." Pain Medicine is the field of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and management of all pain conditions, acute and chronic. The specialty of Pain Medicine is concerned with the study, prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons in pain.

Pain Management is a medical approach that draws on disciplines in science and alternative healing to study the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pain. Pain management programs can employ acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, analgesic medications, physical therapy, and injections, among others to treat pain conditions. 

We are a medical clinic that treats many different sports, spine, musculoskeletal and other chronic medical conditions that can cause chronic pain. We do prescribe pain medications as determined to be appropriate by the physicians. We do not prescribe opioid pain medications on the first initial visit with a new patient as we are gathering all the relevant information including imaging reports, procedure notes, previous medication lists and other diagnostic or treatment documentation that has been previously used.

There are a variety of treatments we offer for your pain. We take the time to develop a customized treatment plan for each patient based on their specific needs. A thorough history and physical examination is completed. Treatment plans are developed to help you return to your previous level of function, if possible. This can include physical exercise, interventional pain procedures such as epidural injections, nerve blocks, sacraliliac joint injections, pain medications, nutrition, psychological support, joint or muscle injections. Please see the Services & Treatments tab for more information. 

If you have been evaluated and your condition may benefit from an interventional pain procedure. You are instructed to arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment to check in for your pre- procedure evaluation. Next, you will meet the physician for a brief history and physical examination. You are then guided to our interventional suite and placed comfortably on the table. The fluoroscopy (x-ray) machine is moved into position over you and pictures are taken to obtain the proper image. Then your skin is prepped with sterile soap and covered with a sterile drape. Local anesthetic medication is used through a small syringe to numb the skin and soft tissue over the injection site. Using fluoroscope, a spinal needle is inserted to the target. Once in position confirmation of the needle placement is performed to ensure accuracy. Finally, the diagnostic or treatment medication will then be injected. After completion of the procedure, you will be returned to the post procedure area to recover before being discharged home in the care of a family member or friend.

After the procedure, you will receive instructions from the doctor as to recommended activity restrictions. As results do vary from person to person, complete pain relief is not guaranteed, but in many cases interventional pain procedures can be very helpful in decreasing or resolving your symptoms. You may experience immediate pain reduction in the target areas or you may have mild to no initial response that may change over the next few days. There are possible adverse effects that may include increased pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the extremities related to your injection or along the spine. Such reported responses tend to be temporary and resolve soon after the procedure. Talk with your doctors if you have any specific concerns.