Acute and Chronic Pain Management

Multimodal Pain Management employs the latest pain medications and state-of-the-art technology to safely deliver pain relief to the patient.

One approach includes computerized infusion (pumping) devices to deliver safe, precise, carefully timed doses of pain medication. In the hospital, patients themselves can control bedside pumps by pushing a button when acute or surgical pain becomes uncomfortable. For chronic pain, infusion pumps can be implanted within the patient's body.

There are several other methods to manage chronic pain, including:

NERVE BLOCK - Stopping pain signals that travel through nerves with local anesthetics or other techniques can be an effective way of treating pain. Commonly, nerve conduction is blocked temporarily with local injections. This can stop pain, reduce swelling, decrease muscle spasms, or improve the ability to move.

NON-NARCOTIC ANALGESIC MEDICATIONS - Anti-inflammatory drugs are designed to reduce swelling; anti-spasmodics are designed to relax muscles; and anti-seizure medications are designed to control pain from damaged nerves by resetting nerve conduction thresholds.

ELECTRIC STIMULATION - Low intensity electrical nerve stimulation can sometimes treat chronic (ongoing) pain problems by decreasing pain signals to the brain.

PHYSICAL THERAPY - Physical therapy, including stretching and strengthening exercises, whirlpool, massage, and other therapies, can improve range of motion (ability to move arms and legs) and help break the chronic pain cycle.

SURGERY - On rare occasions, surgical treatment may be suggested for long-term improvement of selected chronic pain conditions.