The primary objective of pain management clinics is to assist patients manage their pain successfully. This can consist of both pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceutical methods. Some pain management techniques, including massage, biofeedback, yoga, acupuncture and meditation can result in increased quality of life or reduced pain condition. However, many patients and doctors alike are finding that non-pharmaceutical methods, which address the imbalance of tension headache relief pressure points, yield better results than pharmaceutical medications.
Anesthesia is used in most pain management clinics and is administered through an IV. Most clinics will also provide an anesthesiologist with sedation beforehand in case of a medical emergency. Generally, an anesthesiologist will prescribe either local or general anesthesia for the patient. General anesthesia refers to the use of any anesthetic agent that will result in unconsciousness of the patient.
Non-pharmaceutical methods involve the use of topical anesthetics and/or narcotics, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, hydromorphone, tramadol, Dilaudid and Duloxetine. These agents are non-drug based and often only require the consent and approval of the patient’s physician. For example, topical anesthetics can be administered orally by placing a cream or syrup on a piece of cotton swab inserted into the nose of the patient, or by taking a codeine-derivative pill near the oral cavity of the patient.
In some cases, physicians will combine medications that address multiple medical issues, such as neck pain, with non-drug therapies, in order to treat the acute pain situation. For example, a patient may receive spinal manipulative therapy and pain management, in order to address chronic aches from a sports injury. In this case, it would be wise to look for a center that offers both services. In addition to combining non-drug therapies, most centers offering Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions also offer electrical nerve stimulation as a complementary therapy to help patients manage acute pain. This procedure is done by using electrodes attached to the skin that stimulate the nervous system and the endocrine system.
Anesthetic injections are also common practices used at these centers. Normally, the first injection comes in the form of a local anesthetic, followed by a shot of a muscle relaxant, which reduces pain behind the chest wall. The muscle relaxant prevents breathing in through the mouth and allows the person to breathe out through the nose. This injection technique is very effective at delivering immediate relief to patients. However, this injection technique should be used as a last resort because it does have some potential side effects, such as respiratory depression.
