A pain management Dr. often utilizes particular tests to help identify where your pain is coming from. At St. Louis Pain Consultants, we can help determine the cause of your pain and create a personalized treatment plan to help manage it. Here are a few of the tests that might be ordered.
Imaging Studies
Imaging studies are some of the tests a pain management Dr. may use. These tests provide detailed images of the body’s internal structures. This helps us in the diagnosis and assessment of pain. Common imaging tests include X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds. X-rays can be helpful in detecting bone fractures, joint problems, and some soft tissue abnormalities.
An MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, creates high-resolution images of soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments, and nerves. These images can help identify spinal cord or nerve compression, herniated discs, and joint issues. CT scans can provide cross-sectional images of the body. Pain management doctors use these images to visualize bones, organs, and blood vessels in greater detail. We can also use ultrasound imaging to assess soft tissues, including tendons, muscles, and joints.
Nerve Conduction Studies and Electromyography
We can perform nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) tests to evaluate the function of nerves and muscles. NCS tests can measure the speed and strength of electrical signals along nerves. This may help pain specialists identify conditions like peripheral neuropathy. EMG tests can assess the electrical activity of muscles, aiding in diagnosing muscular disorders or nerve-related problems.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can reveal various underlying conditions that may be contributing to a patient’s pain. These tests can identify markers of inflammation, infection, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders. We can conduct blood tests to determine the presence of one or more of these issues and create a treatment plan around the results.
Diagnostic Injections
Diagnostic injections are a diagnostic tool and can also be used for therapeutic intervention. We can inject local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory medications to target specific areas that we believe may be causing your pain. If the injection provides temporary relief, it may help confirm the source of pain and guide further treatment options.
Psychological Assessments
Chronic pain often has a significant psychological component. We may recommend psychological assessments to evaluate a patient’s emotional well-being and the impact of physical pain on their mental health. This information can help pain specialists create treatment plans that include counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or other psychological interventions.
Functional Assessments
Functional assessments involve evaluating a patient’s ability to perform daily activities. Pain doctors use these tests to determine the impact of pain on your mobility, functionality, and quality of life. These assessments can include questionnaires, physical performance tests, and pain diaries.
Visit a Pain Management Dr.
At St. Louis Pain Consultants, we can help identify and manage your chronic pain. We can use functional assessments, diagnostic injections, imaging, and other tests to help find the root cause of your pain. Contact us today to learn more about our pain management services and schedule an appointment for an assessment of your pain.
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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