All that You Need to Know about Pain Management

Pain is usually seen as a debilitating condition. However, there are different ways to keep it under control. A number of different pain management options are available these days.

Regardless of the source and cause of pain (arthritis, cancer treatments, fibro myalgia,  or an old injury), it is crucial to look for a way to get your pain under control.

Understanding Pain Management

Pain management may be simple or complex. This precisely depends on the exact cause of the pain. One of the major examples of less complex pain is nerve root irritation that stems from a herniated disc with pain radiating down the leg.

A specialist should be hired for the following:

• Interventional procedures

• Medication management

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic therapy

• Psychological counseling and support

• Acupuncture

• Alternative therapies

• Referral to other medical specialists    

The Role of a Pain Management Specialist

A pain management specialist is basically a physician who has undergone special training in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for all types of pain. Painis a wide spectrum of disorders. These may include:

• Acute pain

• Chronic pain

• Cancer pain

• A combination of the above

Pain may stem from a number of reasons, including injury, surgery, nerve damage, and metabolic problems such as diabetes. Sometimes, pain may be a problem all by itself.

With development in the field of pain, physicians with specialized skills and knowledge to treat these conditions. These specialists are supposed to hold in-depth knowledge of the physiology of pain. They must also be capable of evaluating patients with complex pain problems and hold deep understanding of specialized tests in order to diagnose painful conditions.

The pain management specialists are also supposed to prescribe appropriate medications as per various types of pain problems that exist. The experts are responsible for performing procedures to manage the  pain including:

• Nerve blocks

• Spinal injections

• Interventional techniques

A wide variety of treatments are available to treat pain. The pain management specialist plays a crucial role in coordinating additional care including physical therapy, rehabilitation programs, and psychological therapy with an aim to offer patients a highly comprehensive treatment plan demanding a multidisciplinary approach to the pain relief treatment.

Pain Management Specialist – What to Look for?

It is important to look for a pain management specialist who has the undergone ample training and holds ample experience to assist you with pain problems. Since several types of chronic pain demand a complicated treatment plan and specialized Interventional techniques, it is crucial that pain specialists must get more training and specializations in the field.

A Visit to Pain Management Specialist

If it is your first visit to a pain management specialist, he or she will determine and evaluate the exact problem that you suffer from. This mainly involves going through your detailed medical history, a thorough physical exam and review of tests. You will be asked questions based on your pain. The physical examination will emphasise on your specific problem. The specialist will also want to know about past and current medical history to be able to treat you in the best possible way. If you are looking for a pain management specialist so visit here www.premierbrainandspine.com/pain-management

You will be provided with a questionnaire prior to your first visit. This will be based on detailed questions associated with your pain problem. You will also be required to carry along with imaging studies like computed tomography [CAT] scans, X-rays, or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] scans (if applicable).

This visit will help the specialist assess new information and discuss with you an initial assessment of pain. Here, the doctor will come to know about things that causes your pain.

Vertebral Column Tumors Surgery – The Surgical Options

Understanding Vertebral Column Tumors

Vertebral column tumors may arise from any of the spinal structures or the spinal column. For instance, they may arise in the following regions:

• Cervical (neck)
• Thoracic (mid-back)
• Lumbosacral (low back)

Tumors may stem from:

• The spinal cord itself
• Roots of spine
• Dural sac surrounding spinal cord
• Vertebrae (bones)

According to experts, the tumor in the vertebral column may originate from the spinal cord, or from elsewhere such as the breast, lung, etc.

The Symptoms

One of the major symptoms of a vertebral column tumor is neck or back pain. The pain starts at night and gets worse with physical activity. The symptoms may vary with level of involvement. For instance:

• Cervical (neck) Tumors - Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs
• Thoracic (mid-back) Tumors -  Weakness or numbness in the legs or chest area
• Lumbosacral (low-back) Tumors - Weakness or numbness in the legs or chest area or legs and difficulty walking.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis process of tumors in the vertebral column starts with the history and physical examination. It is important to understand if patients present with a past medical history of cancer. New reports (if any) of cancer must also be provided with the details on severe back pain experienced by the patient.

Doctors usually order imaging studies for diagnosis including:

• Plain x-rays
• Computerized tomography (CT or CAT) scans
• MRIs
• Pet Scans

Sometimes it is also important to undergo specialized testing. This helps with providing a clear definition of a suspected tumor. Sometimes, nuclear bone scans and positron emission tomography (PET scans are also ordered by doctor to help with the diagnosis.

In most cases it is crucial to obtain a tumor tissue specimen so as to determine the type of cancer. A needle biopsy is conducted to help identify the type of tumor.  The tissue is clearly examined and helps the physician to determine the precise tumor type. Understanding the type of tumor will help determine if surgical or non-surgical treatment options are available.

When to Consider Surgery?

Surgery for a spinal tumor is usually prescribed for the following conditions:

• Progressive motor weakness
• Neurological symptoms
• Loss of bowel control
• Loss of bladder control

Surgery may also be required for instability of the spine because of the tumor. Sometimes, doctors recommend surgery for certain tumors that are insensitive to treatment options such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Surgical Options for Vertebral Column Tumor

Surgery for vertebral column tumor may vary according to the level of removal of tumor (partial or complete). The surgeon will measure the risks of tumor removal from surgery against non-surgical options.

Doctors will prescribe a spinal stabilization surgery of the vertebral column to treat the instability caused by the tumor. If Surgery is recommended to remove a tumor, it may be performed in the front or back of the spine. The surgery is done via travelling through the neck, chest or abdomen.

The patient is required to stay in hospital after major surgery for at least several days. Doctors also recommend a period of physical therapy after surgery. The physical therapy process may also occur as an outpatient activity or at home.

Complete recovery time required after surgery can range from 6 weeks to a year depending on the level of complexity of the surgery. It takes around 3-4 months for patients to feel close to normal. The healing process can continue up to a year or more.

Long Term Effects

The doctor will monitor your progress for a specific period of time with an aim to detect any signs / symptoms of recurrence of the tumor. Periodic MRI scans or CT scans will be conducted. The chances of recurrence of tumor depends on the type of tumor. Also the chances of recurrence are higher if the tumor spreads from somewhere else in the body.

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