Chronic pain is a problem that can cause debilitating discomfort, drastically interfering with your lifestyle. It affects more than 50 million adults across the country and many more millions worldwide. Fortunately, the number of treatments available for pain management is continually expanding.
In addition to prescription medication, chronic pain can be addressed through integrative and interventional pain management methods. There are significant differences between these two, but both are effective in treating pain. Let’s talk about their differences, similarities, and where you can go for pain treatment that works for you.
What Is Integrative Pain Management?
This approach combines (integrates) complementary and alternative medicine (COM) methods to treat your pain, and your doctor may also integrate traditional medicine with your overall treatment plan. The alternative methods may involve acupuncture, massage, physical therapy, and dietary and lifestyle changes.
These methods may also involve traction and anti-gravity therapies, such as the following:
3D Active Traction
3D ActiveTrac® is an advanced treatment for back and neck pain that is believed to be caused by spinal compression. 3D ActiveTrac safely and effectively decompresses the painful back area, relieving any pinched nerves and realigning the spine.
Anti-Gravity Treadmill
Pain can significantly impact your mobility, which can even make therapy itself difficult. Pain management specialists therefore often recommend the AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill to reduce strain on a patient.
This special treadmill decreases the effects of gravity on your body, allowing you to exercise safely and with less pain. It also speeds up recovery by enabling you to perform rehabilitation exercises for a longer period of time per session, making your body stronger more quickly.
How Is Interventional Pain Management Different?
Interventional pain management is a minimally invasive method of treating chronic pain via more traditional medicinal approaches. The goal is not only to mitigate current pain but also to prevent its reoccurrence, literally “intervening” in the pain. Some of these treatments are as follows:
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block targets pain involving the nerves, often in the neck or spine. The treatment procedure involves a doctor injecting the specific nerve with an anesthetic to stop it from sending pain signals to the brain.
One of the main benefits of nerve blocks is that they usually produce long-lasting results. They can provide pain relief for weeks or many months, depending on how your body responds to the therapy.
Pain-Relief Injections
Administering medicine via injection directly into an affected area is another popular form of interventional pain management. It is often guided by medical imaging, like an ultrasound, to help the doctor find the precise location where the medication should be administered.
A corticosteroid or other steroidal medicine is often administered through injections around the target area to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. For example, epidural injections can treat neck or back pain, and this method is often combined with physical therapy for optimum effect.
Pain Management in Delaware
If you have been experiencing persistent pain, it is about time you seek the advice of a medical professional to have it tamped down once and for all. At Delaware Back Pain & Sports Rehabilitation Centers, we have a ready team of licensed healthcare professionals and friendly staff who are here to provide you with lasting pain relief.
To find out more, call our location near you in Delaware. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online now. We look forward to helping you ease your pain and get back on with life!
