A pain management dr can alleviate chronic pain and improve your quality of life. At St Louis Pain Consultants, we help patients regain control over their lives by diagnosing their conditions and offering appropriate treatments. Here’s how pain management specialists can diagnose your problem:
Medical History
Our pain management specialists will review your medical history to determine if you have past medical conditions that may be contributing to your pain. Reviewing your medical history also lets us know about the medications you’ve been taking, which helps our diagnosis further.
We’ll ask about your symptoms, how long you’ve been experiencing them, and situations that make them worse or better. You may also need to give a brief family medical history to help with diagnosis. This is because conditions like degenerative disc disease may be hereditary. Getting a family medical history can point us in the right direction.
Physical Examination
Your pain management doctor may decide to conduct a physical examination after reviewing your medical history to understand your problem. Our specialists will assess your reflexes, range of motion, mobility, strength, and overall physical condition. They may also decide to palpate pain points and surrounding body parts to check for swelling.
X-Ray
Our specialists may order an X-ray to see inside the body and check for any underlying issues that could be causing pain or limited mobility. If a patient complains of chronic knee pain, an X-ray could reveal signs of arthritis or a bone spur that may require treatment. Without an X-ray, these potential structural problems could go undetected, making it difficult to develop an effective pain management plan. An X-ray can be effective in diagnosing conditions like annular tears and osteoarthritis.
CT Scan
A computed tomography (CT) scan uses computer technology and X-rays to produce images of the inside of the body. It offers a higher level of detail than an X-ray. Our specialists may order the test if they need more images to diagnose your problem. This is a suitable test for conditions like herniated discs.
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive diagnostic test that provides excellent contrast resolution. Our specialists may order this test when they suspect issues in the bones or soft tissues that may be too subtle to view under an X-ray or CT scan.
EMG
Electromyography (EMG) measures muscles’ and nerves’ electrical activity. This test can reveal whether there’s damage in a muscle or nerve. Our pain management doctors may order this test if they suspect nerve conditions like neuropathy.
Blood Work
Our specialists may order blood tests to determine if underlying medical conditions may be causing your pain. Blood tests can also show if there are electrolyte, vitamin, or mineral imbalances. This allows for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
Diagnostic Injections
Diagnostic injections help specialists identify the pain generator, or the body part responsible for your pain. Our specialists can order a facet joint injection if they suspect spinal osteoarthritis. This test helps diagnose pain emanating from the small joints in the spine.
Reach a Reliable Pain Management Dr at St Louis Pain Consultants
St Louis Pain Consultants is one of the most reliable pain management clinics in St. Louis, Missouri. Our team is committed to helping you regain normalcy in your life by treating chronic pain. We conduct thorough diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of your pain and develop tailored treatment plans to manage your condition. Contact us to reach an experienced pain management dr.
If you are living with chronic pain, seek help from St. Louis Pain Consultants.
We want to help remind you what life without pain feels like.
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