3 Questions to Ask Your Pain Management Doctor

1. What Treatment Options Are Available?

Pain management offers a range of treatments, from physical therapy to other procedures like epidural steroid injections or spinal cord stimulation. Knowing the root cause of your pain will help guide the physician in offering treatment plans with realistic expectations. If you are experiencing pain in your joints due to arthritis and inflammation, facet injections may help alleviate the pain. Radiofrequency ablation helps offer relief for nerves that are causing issues in your body. If you are experiencing pain in your spine that radiates into the legs, an intervertebral spacer widens the spine to give your nerves more space.

2. What’s Causing My Pain?

There are several underlying causes for chronic pain, including herniated discs or annular tears. Each condition has a root cause, and our team at St. Louis Pain Consultants will schedule an appointment with a pain management dr to help you select a suitable treatment plan. Here are some conditions we treat and how we discover what’s causing your discomfort:

Annular Tear

Annular tears are spinal conditions that affect the vertebral discs. If there are tears within the intervertebral disc, it causes chronic pain, affecting sitting and standing. While most annular tears can be caused by natural aging, they can also be caused by back trauma, like a car accident. 

Facet Joint Syndrome

This is related to joints and losing cartilage. Facet joints are located between each vertebra and help support movements like walking, running, or bending. If the cartilage wears down, the bones rub against each other. This causes stiffness, tenderness, pain, and swelling. 

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease causes lower back and neck pain. It originates from wear and tear on the spinal discs. These discs help cushion bones down the spinal column and act as shock absorbers. If your spinal discs are starting to degenerate, it can affect your daily activities and movement.

3. What Diagnostic Tools Are Used?

Finding the root cause of pain helps to treat various conditions. Common tools to identify issues include X-rays, MRIs, CT Scans, or electromyography (EMG) tests. These advanced tools and techniques help pinpoint the source and cause of pain. Dyes might also be used with an MRI or CT scan to detect problems like foraminal stenosis. Blood work and imaging tests might reveal vitamin or mineral deficiencies. It can also detect electrolyte imbalances, thyroid issues, or other problems triggering your condition.

Find a Pain Management Dr Today

At St. Louis Pain Consultants, we offer various treatment plans for different conditions. Our team of doctors helps diagnose and offer pain relief through various treatments, including injections, spinal stimulation, intracepts, and more. Contact our office today to make an appointment to learn what’s causing your pain and how we can treat it.