A Closer Look at Our Pain Management Services

Chronic pain can be upsetting, especially when the cause is not apparent and there is no immediate remedy. If left untreated, it can cause physiological and physical distress. St Louis Pain Consultants use a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to offer individualized treatment plans for those experiencing chronic pain. Below is a closer look at our pain management services:

Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) Stimulation

DRG stimulation is for individuals who experience focal nerve pain. Treatment involves placing electrodes over the dorsal root ganglion, the base for sensory nerves. The nerve-carrying pain signals from the periphery get intercepted at the dorsal root ganglion before carrying nerve signals to the brain. 

We offer a trial period where we place temporary leads for the patients to wear for several days. The patient will return to our office, where we’ll check if they have significantly improved. They will then decide if they wish to have a permanent implantation.

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections help treat inflammation in disc herniation or spinal stenosis patients. The injections are strong anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and the pain that causes it. We use a machine known as a Fluoroscope to check the anatomy and determine where we should inject the medication.

Facet Injections

Facet injections focus on specific joints that result in pain due to inflammation and arthritis. The spine has different levels, and each has joints prone to arthritis. We use a fluoroscope machine that helps us see the joint and follow the needle to deliver medication.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Peripheral nerve stimulation works anywhere in the body where the nerve is causing pain or is damaged. If you’re experiencing pain in the shoulder, we’ll target the nerve that innervates the shoulder to help relieve pain. We can do the same for any nerve in the body, from the head down to the feet. 

Our treatment involves a trial whereby we implant temporary leads outside the body for days. We will place a permanent stimulator if the trial successfully relieves the pain.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation refers to the thermal ablation of nerves that target pain. The treatment would help with joint pain if cortisone injections could not offer long-term pain relief. A cortisone injection can last for weeks to months, while radiofrequency ablation therapy lasts between 9 to 15 months and sometimes even longer. 

We test the nerve using an anesthetic medication before performing radiofrequency ablation on the nerve. The process helps us identify the right nerves causing the pain. After identifying the nerves, we use a probe to perform the ablation, usually under light sedation.

Contact St Louis Pain Consultants for Pain Management Services

We offer the above services at St Louis Pain Consultants as well as superion.  Our goal is to help our patients reach their pain management goals. 

The team assembled at our facility is designed to assist patients holistically, addressing their surgical, procedural, and clinical needs. We offer patients short-term pain relief and help them develop lifestyle changes that will sustain that relief in the long term. 

We accept Medicare, most commercial insurances, workers’ compensation, personal injury liens and self-pay.  We are unable to accept Medicaid, Essence, Ambetter and EPO plans.  Please check with your insurance company to verify coverage.