Pain doesn’t always go away with time and over-the-counter treatments. An injury or chronic musculoskeletal condition can cause acute or ongoing pain that interferes with even the simplest of daily functions.  

When this happens, an orthopaedic physician may recommend some form of pain management to ease the pain, improving your overall quality of life. Fortunately, treatments are improving, with more options for different needs. Many newer, innovative options aim to help patients who prefer to avoid strong medications or surgery – or simply want more control over their pain management. 

Spinal Cord Stimulators for Chronic Back Pain 

Roughly 16 million adults suffer from chronic back pain. One newer high-tech treatment is spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which is typically used to treat people with neuropathic pain caused by damage to their nervous system. With SCS, mild electrical impulses are sent to the brain, which can block pain signals and succeed in relieving back pain. Patients may use an external wireless programmer to control the electrical pulses, which can lead to: 

• Improved overall functioning 
• Increased activity and mobility 
• Less dependence on bracing 

Intrathecal Pumps with External Wireless Controller 

Another innovative device is the intrathecal pump, which is used to deliver small amounts of pain medication to the spinal fluid. The pump is programmed with a wireless controller outside of the body. If successful, the pump sends medicine into an area near the spinal cord that serves as a route for the administration of drugs. The medicine blocks pain in that area and can be effective at relieving chronic or long-lasting pain. Potential benefits are: 

• The medicine is delivered locally. 
• It is a more direct treatment of back pain. 
• Control: the patient can administer medication when most needed.  

The process starts with a trial period to determine the likelihood of the pump being successful at treating pain. If the trial is successful, the patient may choose to have a permanent pump implanted. As the pump targets the area where you feel pain, there’s less worry about having drugs throughout your entire system. 

Trigger Point Injections Treat Various Chronic Muscle Soreness 

Trigger point injection is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that form when muscles fail to relax. injections that may include a steroid or sterile salt water can be used to treat muscle pain in the arms, legs, lower back, and neck. This approach has been used to treat issues like fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by widespread muscle pain and tenderness. 

If you undergo this procedure, a specialist will use a small needle to inject a local anesthetic into a trigger point, which is essentially a highly sensitive area of muscle fibers. With the injection, the trigger point becomes inactive and the pain is alleviated, sometimes with the aid of a steroid. Multiple cycles of treatment may be recommended for the patient to experience sustained relief. 

Other Options for Treating Pain 

Every patient’s situation is unique, and people have preferences as to what pain management plan works best for them. Speak to your physician to get a sense of which options are the most appropriate for your circumstances. Other methods of pain treatment include: 

• Physiology (Orthopaedic Physical Therapy) 

Orthopaedic physical therapy does much more than strengthen weakened muscles. At a clinic specializing in orthopaedic injuries, it is often prescribed as a means of treating acute or chronic pain. The range of possible conditions varies greatly, from a twisted ankle, to head injuries, to different chronic or repetitive injuries people sustain at work. 

• Alternative Treatments Like Acupuncture, Meditation and Yoga 

Increasingly, acupuncture and meditation are being recommended for patients seeking nonsurgical spine treatments. In addition, cognitive and relaxation strategies such as meditation, yoga and tai chi have been recommended to keep the mind from focusing on pain. 

• Diet and Lifestyle Changes 

From consuming a healthier, anti-inflammatory diet to weight management, lifestyle changes that build healthier habits can also take a bit out of pain. 

Seek Expert Care at a Direct-to-Specialist Clinic in Northern Illinois 

If you are experiencing pain related to a musculoskeletal issue, seek an expert opinion from a clinic that specializes in the treatment of orthopaedic injuries. At MidAmerica Orthopaedics, patients receive quick, comprehensive care because all of the specialists are located under one roof. That includes direct-to-specialist care for acute orthopaedic injuries at its walk-in clinic. 

Seeing the right specialist for your condition provides for a timely, cost-effective diagnosis and pain treatment without the need for long waits or secondary specialist referrals. MidAmerica can help you get started. Make an appointment online or by phone today!