Muscular and spinal pain have now become so commonplace in the UK and US, that countless patients are scheduling set periodic appointments with a Pain Consultant who specialises in minimally invasive treatments. The latter include: nerve blocks, epidural steroid injections, and nerve ablations.
Nerve Ablations
This describes a proven minor procedure which can reduce certain types of long-term pain, by preventing the body’s transmission of specific pain signals. The treatment is regarded as safe, and simply involves a portion of nerve tissue being destroyed or removed, in order to interrupt pain signals and thus lessen the pain in that region.
Nerve Blocks
Did You Know?
“Nerve blocks can help people who have chronic pain function better in their daily lives, allowing them to go to work, exercise, & do daily tasks. Nerve blocks ease pain by offering immediate relief. They can also offer longer-term relief, because some injections reduce irritation to the nerves & let them heal” [1]
Nerve blocks (sometimes known as neural blockades), often involve injecting medication that has been shown to block pain signals from certain nerves. They are frequently used by Pain Specialists to help patients manage their long-term pain, severe short-term pain, and post-surgery pain. In addition to this, such treatment can also help negate the debilitating pain which emanates from a patients’ buttocks, legs and arms.
“The Pain Doctor utilises this type of treatment when the source of the pain is known. Moreover, it can sometimes help rule out certain causes if the treatment doesn’t work. Injections may stop or lessen pain for a certain period of time” [1], & form part of a Holistic Personalised Treatment Program prescribed by the Pain Consultant according to your needs
Getting Back on Track
When you consult a Pain Specialist, you can be assured that you will be given an accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, the majority of general practitioners (GPs), have not had the necessary years of specialist training and clinical expertise to help all patients suffering from the many forms of spinal and muscular pain.
When you have an in-person or online appointment, once your Pain Doctor has reviewed your medical history, and asked you pertinent questions relating to your pain, they will then arrange any necessary tests and scans, after which, they will draw up a customised Treatment Plan. This may include one or more forms of cutting-edge and conventional treatment and therapy so that you can heal and get back to normal as soon as possible.
Reference
[1]. Hopkins Medical (2023). “Nerve Blocks.”
