Chronic pain can rob you of the quality of life you deserve. It can cause sleep disturbances, mood swings and social isolation.
Whether your condition is a sports injury, car accident or other cause of painful symptoms, our team offers meaningful relief. Call the office closest to you or schedule an appointment online.
Chronic pain from an injury, a surgery or a health condition can make it difficult to enjoy life. Medications may dull the pain, but they can also have unpleasant side effects such as drowsiness and addiction. Physical therapy can help manage pain by increasing strength, flexibility and range of motion. However, physical therapy can take weeks or even months to provide lasting relief.
Interventional and regenerative techniques for pain management can provide long-term relief for patients with a variety of conditions. These techniques are more effective than medications, which only mask the symptoms and do not treat the underlying cause of the pain. For example, facet joint injections can relieve neck or back pain caused by herniated discs, spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis. Epidural injections can treat lumbar or cervical radiculopathy, sciatica and headaches.
Regenerative procedures like stem cell and platelet-rich plasma PRP therapy can stimulate the body’s natural healing processes to promote tissue repair and reduce pain. These techniques work best in combination with a comprehensive pain management plan that includes medication, physical therapy and other conservative treatments. They can also be combined with psychological or psychiatric therapy to improve quality of life and reduce the impact of the pain on your mental and emotional health.
If you’re suffering from pain, the first step is scheduling an appointment with a Los Angeles pain management doctor. Your doctor will want to know your medical history, including your diagnosis and any treatment options you’ve already tried. You’ll also want to bring any x-rays or MRIs that you have related to your pain.
Jeffrey Glaser, MD, is a double board-certified interventional pain medicine specialist who serves the communities of Encino, California and the surrounding area. He specializes in advanced and effective treatments, including steroid injections, nerve blocks, radiofrequency neuroablation, and IV infusion therapy. Contact us to schedule your appointment today! Our clinics are located throughout Southern California.
The first step to pain management begins with a full evaluation from an interventional pain specialist. This includes asking questions about your medical history and symptoms, as well as conducting a physical exam.
Medications: Depending on the severity of your pain, you may need prescription or over-the-counter medications to help relieve it. This could include antibiotics to fight infection, muscle relaxants to calm spasms and anti-inflammatory medications to ease swelling. Taking your medication as prescribed can help reduce side effects.
Some people have a genetic variation that affects how they metabolize certain drugs. This is known as pharmacogenomics. Research shows that doctors can successfully tailor drug prescriptions for chronic pain patients based on their genetic profile. This allows them to provide a better response and lower the risk of harmful side effects. It also enables them to treat the root cause of the pain with new, less invasive surgical techniques. Taking part in counseling or therapy may also help reduce the psychological impact of pain.