Common Causes of Chronic Pain and How They’re Addressed

Chronic pain is a long-lasting condition that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. It requires comprehensive management and support to alleviate its effects. At our pain management clinic, we are dedicated to providing effective treatment for chronic pain, providing the relief you deserve, and empowering you to enjoy a higher quality of life. Here are some common causes of chronic pain:

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes chronic pain due to a narrowing of the spine. This narrowing puts pressure on the nerves, causing pain to radiate down the legs and potentially leading to mobility issues. Symptoms of spinal stenosis include weakness or numbness in the spine or legs.

Superion is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat spinal stenosis. Doctors at St. Louis Pain Consultants insert spacers between the vertebrae to widen the area and relieve pressure on the nerves. The procedure typically takes only 20-30 minutes and is done in an outpatient setting.

Herniated Disc

Herniated discs can cause chronic pain when they press on nerves around the spine, leading to mobility challenges due to continual pain. Epidural steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication to the pain site. A fluoroscope enables the doctor to visualize the injection site.

Damaged Vertebral Endplates

The endplates of the vertebrae may get damaged from an injury or the aging process, leading to inflammation and potentially causing chronic pain. Basivertabral nerve ablation, or BVNA, is a minimally invasive procedure that treats pain and helps preserve the spine’s overall structure. BVNA takes about an hour and is performed under general anesthesia in an outpatient setting. Patients typically begin to notice improvements within three months, and these improvements can last for up to five years.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a prevalent factor contributing to chronic pain. It affects the spine and other joints in the body, often as a result of aging. Our pain management clinic uses facet injections to minimize pain caused by arthritis and inflammation. At St. Louis Pain Consultants, our team uses a fluoroscope to accurately locate the source of pain and administer targeted medication.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

This condition is the degeneration of the sacroiliac (SI) joint, often caused by aging or injury. It results in chronic pain, instability, and loss of function, leading to mobility issues. An iFuse Torq Implant is a 3D-printed device with three threads that are implanted surgically across the SI joint. The procedure, which takes about an hour, is minimally invasive and involves a small incision. The medical device, made of titanium, stabilizes the patient’s SI joint as they move around.

Find a Pain Management Clinic

Chronic pain can disrupt your daily life and diminish your overall well-being. Fortunately, effective treatments are available to relieve persistent pain and target its root cause. St. Louis Pain Consultants specializes in insurance-covered procedures for effective chronic pain management. Contact us with questions about pain management or to set up an appointment to find out how we can help you become whole again and assist with your chronic pain.