Three Signs That You Might Need Interventional Pain Management

More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with chronic pain. If you’re among them, you know how frustrating, or even debilitating, such symptoms can be.

That’s where interventional pain management comes in. The medical discipline devoted to diagnosing and treating painful conditions can help minimize your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

Our expert team at Houston Pain Specialists, led by board-certified pain management specialist Hui Kang, MD, provides interventional care, including several minimally invasive procedures, for a range of conditions.

To mark Pain Awareness Month, here’s a look at three common signs that you might be a good candidate.

1. Your pain has lasted or recurred for months

Pain that’s ongoing or continually flares up for six months or longer is considered chronic. A variety of factors fuel chronic pain, such as:

Aging and certain lifestyle habits, such as inactivity and smoking, also make way for chronic pain. Childhood trauma may play a role, too.

Regardless of the cause, interventional pain management provides a valuable option for pain that simply won’t let up.

2. Conservative treatments haven’t sufficed

In many cases, conservative care is enough to minimize painful symptoms. When your pain lingers regardless of measures such as rest, over-the-counter medication, and physical therapy, it may be time to pursue interventional pain management.

Interventional treatments can also work well alongside conservative care. The right procedure may allow you to cut back on pain medication, for example, or make physical therapy more feasible and effective.

3. Pain is interfering with your daily life

Even pain you might consider mild or tolerable to some degree can make it difficult to go about your daily life with ease. And all severities of pain can keep you from sleeping well, fueling additional symptoms, like daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritable moods.

If you relate to these scenarios, interventional pain management may go a long way toward improving your quality of life.

Research shows that such treatments can bring a sense of empowerment, too, with patients feeling heard, seen, and respected — all of which can enhance your day-to-day living.

What to expect from interventional pain management

There is no one way to go about interventional pain management, which is part of what makes it special. Dr. Kang and our team at Houston Pain Specialists customize your program to suit your specific needs, preferences, and overall health.

Examples of treatments we may recommend include:

Epidurals, which are injections of numbing and pain-controlling medications
Facet injections and medial branch injections, which disrupt pain signals to your brain
Spinal cord stimulation, which interrupts pain signals via an implanted device (after a trial period)

These minimally invasive treatments may also help you avoid surgery, such as bone realignment, depending on the cause and severity of your symptoms.

To learn more about interventional pain management or find out if you’re a good candidate, contact our Houston, Texas, office today to schedule an appointment.