A pain management doctor is a specialist involved in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic and acute pain. They coordinate with other physicians to create treatment plans that alleviate pain and improve the patient’s well-being. Their approach involves interventional techniques, administering injections, drugs, and physical therapy. Here is what a pain management doctor treats:
Facet Joint Syndrome
Facet joint syndrome affects the facet joints and can result from degenerative changes, trauma, repeated stress, or inflammatory conditions. Facet syndrome occurs when the cartilage within the joints degrades, resulting in inflammation, swelling, and sometimes the development of bone spurs.
The primary causes include age-related degeneration of the spine, trauma from injuries, torn ligaments, and poor posture. They all lead to abnormal stress and the gradual disintegration of the facet joints. The physical changes resulting from joint breakdown affect the neck and lower back regions that undergo the most mechanical stress and enable flexibility functions.
Facet joint syndrome symptoms include tenderness in the affected areas. Other symptoms include dull pain in the lower back and neck, stiffness, and a minimized range of motion. Prolonged immobility or movement may increase the pain and spread it into adjacent areas, including the shoulders, arms, legs, and buttocks.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc occurs when a portion of the nucleus of a disk in your spine pushes against and leaks out through its firmer outer ring. This is commonly due to aging, degenerative disk illness, trauma from physical injury, or strenuous lifting. This displacement may interfere with surrounding cervical and lumbar nerves, affecting nerve function and your mobility.
Symptoms of the condition vary depending on the affected nerve. They may include sciatic nerve pain, lower back pain, muscle weakness, and numbness in your feet. Doctors use diagnostic tools such as X-rays to examine spinal alignment, MRI or CT scans to identify discs or nerve compression, and electrodiagnosis for measuring neural activity.
Upon confirmation of symptom severity, a physician designs a tailored treatment plan. Non-invasive treatments often involve physical therapy to improve supporting muscle strength. In other cases, they may recommend the application of muscle relaxants, pain medications, and localized epidural cortisol injections for anti-inflammation.
Annular Tear
An annular tear has a laceration or crack in the annulus fibrosus, a tough outer intervertebral disc in the spine. Its causes can vary from physical injuries, such as those from sports or a fall, to gradual age-related wear and tear. The outer fibers of the disk can also weaken due to genetics and bone spurs, leading to annular tears.
The annulus fibrosus covers the nucleus, which is the soft center and shock absorber of the disc. A fissure in the annulus can cause localized discogenic pain, and if it causes nerve irritation, it transmits the pain to the arms and legs. Your limbs experience tingling numbness and muscle weakness, with pain that increases when sitting, bending, lifting, or twisting. This impacts your daily movement and reduces your quality of life. A pain management doctor takes a conservative approach through physical therapy to improve muscle strength and decrease inflammation. In cases of severe or recurrent pain, they apply minimally invasive treatment methods.
Consult With a Certified Pain Management Dr
Chronic pain typically interferes with everyday tasks and derails long-term health goals. Consulting with a pain management doctor helps to outline the source of the pain and develop a structured treatment plan. These professionals work with proven pain relief procedures that promote function and prevent further health complications. Schedule a visit today to create a personalized plan to gain overall comfort and mobility.
