Pain Management Specialist

What is pain management?

Pain management is a medical specialty that focuses on managing chronic pain. Bluffs Pain Management specializes in nonsurgical services to treat different types of pain. These include:

Nociceptive pain

Nociceptive pain results from injuries like cuts and bone fractures, when damaged tissue or bone sends pain signals through your peripheral nervous system to your brain. This type of pain can be acute, lasting up to six months, or chronic, lingering longer than six months.

There are two classes of nociceptive pain — radicular pain and somatic pain. Radicular pain stems from irritation at the nerve roots and moves down a limb, such as conditions like a herniated disc. Somatic pain describes pain in your back or thighs that develops when you have conditions like degenerative disc disease or facet joint damage in your spine.

Neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain describes nerve-related pain that develops from damage to your nervous system from injuries or underlying diseases. Common types of neuropathic pain conditions include shingles and peripheral neuropathy.

Why would I need pain management?

Chronic pain conditions are often not treatable with over-the-counter medications and home care. Initially, you may find some relief in treating pain on your own, but eventually, the pain can worsen and become debilitating.

Dr. Huff recommends that you schedule a pain management consultation if you have persistent pain that isn’t getting better or is worsening even with treatment. You should also schedule an appointment if you need help managing pain from an existing condition like:

• Cancer
• Sciatica
• Arthritis
• Shingles
• Fibromyalgia
• Herniated disc
• Spinal stenosis
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Nerve compression conditions
• Myofascial (muscle) pain syndromes

Dr. Huff tailors a treatment plan to your individual needs to ensure you get the most and longest-lasting pain relief. The minimally invasive treatments he uses can prevent the need for surgery and improve your overall quality of life.

What can I expect during a pain management consultation?

During your initial consultation, Dr. Huff spends time reviewing your medical history, your lifestyle, and your symptoms. He physically examines the areas of your body where you feel pain, testing the flexibility and range of motion you have in your spine and joints.

Dr. Huff may order bloodwork, X-rays, or other diagnostic imaging tests to evaluate the location of your pain to confirm your diagnosis. Based on the results of your testing, he customizes a pain management plan that may include:

• Medications
• Nerve blocks
• Steroid injections
• Trigger point injections
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar epidurals

In addition to the advanced pain management solutions, Dr. Huff also combines physical therapy and behavior therapy to address the challenges you face in living with a chronic pain condition.

Physical therapy strengthens your body, so you heal more efficiently. Behavioral therapy helps you cope with your chronic pain condition and lowers your risk for depression and other emotional health issues.

To learn more about the available pain management solutions, call Bluffs Pain Management to schedule a consultation, or book an appointment online today.