Treating Chronic Pain Responsibly
Family Health West Pain Specialists are experts in treating long-lasting pain that can’t seem to be managed by other methods. We know struggling with pain can quickly take over your life. Not only can persistent pain keep you from doing the things you love, but it can also be mentally taxing.
Schedule an appointment with our pain specialists in Fruita, Colorado, to leave your chronic pain behind.
Relieve Your Pain, Restore Your Life
Why Choose Family Health West Pain Specialists for Your Chronic Pain Management Needs?
Chronic pain is debilitating and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, making it difficult to perform even the simplest daily activities. Finding a trusted and experienced healthcare provider who will help manage your condition and improve your overall well-being is essential. Simply living with chronic pain is not acceptable but rooting out the cause of the pain and finding the best treatment option for long-term sustainability in pain control.
Family Health West Pain Specialists is a comprehensive pain management clinic that provides various treatments and therapies to help patients manage their chronic pain. Available treatment options include interventional pain management, and physical therapy.
Our pain specialists provide a personalized approach to your chronic pain management needs. We work closely with each patient to understand their needs and develop a customized treatment plan that considers their medical history, lifestyle, and pain tolerance.
Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Breakthrough Treatment for Chronic Pain
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a minimally invasive procedure involving placing a small device, called a spinal cord stimulator, near the spinal cord. This device sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord to interfere with pain signals before they reach the brain, reducing the pain sensation.
SCS is typically a recommendation for individuals who have tried other treatments for their chronic pain, such as physical therapy, medication, and injections, without success. It’s a safe and effective option for treating chronic pain conditions such as:
- Inoperable chronic limb ischemia
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Failed back surgery syndrome
- CRPS
- Other failed treatments for chronic neck and back pain
One of the major benefits of SCS is its ability to provide pain relief with few side effects. Unlike traditional pain management options such as medication, SCS does not cause addiction or interfere with the patient’s daily activities. Many patients report improved quality of life after undergoing the procedure.
The spinal cord stimulator placement is typically performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few hours. After the device is implanted, the patient will undergo a trial period to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. If the patient experiences significant relief, the device will be permanently implanted.
Schedule a consultation with a pain management specialist to learn more about this breakthrough treatment and determine if it’s right for you.
Radiofrequency Ablation Neurotomy
The FHW Pain Specialist clinic offers radiofrequency ablation neurotomy, a medical procedure for treating chronic neck, back, and leg pain. It involves using radiofrequency energy to disrupt nerve conduction and reduce pain signals. There are two main types of radiofrequency ablation: standard and cooled.
Radiofrequency ablation neurotomy can be an effective treatment for chronic pain caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. The procedure is generally considered safe, and most patients experience significant pain relief after just one or two treatments.
Standard Radiofrequency Ablation Neurotomy
Standard radiofrequency ablation neurotomy involves using radiofrequency energy to heat the nerve fibers and disrupt their ability to transmit pain signals. It is typically performed using a needle-like probe that is inserted into the skin near the affected nerve. The probe delivers a burst of radiofrequency energy to the nerve, which causes it to be temporarily “turned off” and unable to transmit pain signals.
Procedure and Potential Side Effects
Radiofrequency ablation neurotomy can be an effective treatment for chronic pain caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and degenerative disc disease. The procedure is generally considered safe, and most patients experience significant pain relief after just one or two treatments.
Potential risks and side effects of radiofrequency ablation neurotomy include pain, bleeding, and infection. However, these side effects are rare, and most patients tolerate the procedure well. If you’re considering radiofrequency ablation neurotomy for your pain, it’s essential to discuss the pros and cons of this treatment with your doctor to determine whether it may be right for you.
Epidural Steroid Injections
The FHW Pain Specialist Clinic offers epidural steroid injections, another common treatment for managing chronic pain in the lower back and legs. There are two main types of epidural steroid injections: transforaminal and interlaminar. Both of these injections involve injecting a mixture of steroid and anesthetic medications into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord.
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid and Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections
Transforaminal epidural steroid injections are a type of nerve block that targets specific nerve roots. They are performed by injecting the medication through a small needle into the area near the affected nerve root. This injection is beneficial for treating leg pain caused by spinal nerve compression, such as sciatica.
On the other hand, interlaminar epidural steroid injections are injections placed into the middle of the epidural space. This type of injection is used to treat more widespread lower back pain that is not specifically related to a particular nerve root. Interlaminar injections can provide more widespread pain relief compared to transforaminal injections.
Procedure and Potential Side Effects
Both transforaminal and interlaminar epidural steroid injections are generally considered safe and effective for managing chronic pain. Most patients experience significant pain relief after just one or two treatments, although some patients may require additional injections to achieve optimal pain relief.
Potential risks and side effects of epidural steroid injections include headaches, infection, and nerve damage. However, these side effects are rare; most patients tolerate the injections well. If you’re considering epidural steroid injections for your pain, it’s important to discuss the pros and cons of this treatment with your doctor to determine whether it may be right for you.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that affects the limbs, such as the arm, leg, hand, or foot. It is caused by damage to the nervous system and can be triggered by an injury, surgery, or even a stroke.
The main symptom of CRPS is intense, burning pain disproportionate to the original injury. This pain can be accompanied by other symptoms, such as swelling, skin changes (redness or discoloration), and limited movement in the affected limb.
CRPS is a complex condition that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. The exact cause of CRPS is unknown, but it is thought to involve a malfunction in the nervous system, where pain signals become amplified and persist even after the original injury has healed.
Treatment for CRPS at the FHW Pain Specialist clinic typically involves a combination of medication, physical therapy, and nerve blocks. Medications, such as painkillers and antidepressants, can help to relieve pain and manage other symptoms. Physical therapy can help to improve mobility and function in the affected limb, while nerve blocks can help to block the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
In severe cases, CRPS can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. We work closely with individuals with CRPS to determine the best treatment plan for their specific needs.
Lumbar Decompression
Lumbar decompression is a surgical procedure used to relieve chronic pain in the lower back and treat conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), and degenerative disc disease.
Procedure and Potential Side Effects
Lumbar decompression is typically performed through a small incision in the lower back. The procedure involves removing part of the vertebral bone, or the lamina, to create more space in the spinal canal and relieve pressure on the spinal nerves. This increased space can help to reduce pain and improve function in the lower back.
Lumbar decompression can be done using traditional open surgery or minimally invasive techniques, such as endoscopic decompression. Minimally invasive techniques done at the FHW Pain Specialist clinic involve using specialized instruments and cameras to perform the procedure through small incisions, which can result in less pain, a faster recovery, and a reduced risk of complications compared to traditional open surgery.
After lumbar decompression, patients typically experience significant pain relief and improved function in the lower back. Most patients can return to normal activities within several weeks to months after the procedure.
As with any surgical procedure, lumbar decompression has potential risks and side effects. These risks may include infection, bleeding, nerve damage, and chronic pain. It is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of lumbar decompression with your doctor to determine whether this procedure may be right for you.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks done at the FHW Pain Specialist clinic are a popular and effective method for relieving chronic pain. They work by blocking the transmission of pain signals from specific nerves to the brain, helping to reduce or eliminate the pain that a person is experiencing.
Nerve blocks can be used to treat a variety of chronic pain conditions, including but not limited to migraines, neck and back pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and phantom limb pain. They can also be combined with other pain management techniques, such as physical therapy and medications, to maximize pain relief. This treatment option is available at our FHW Pain Specialist clinic.
Several types of nerve blocks exist, including peripheral and sympathetic nerve blocks and epidural injections. The type of nerve block used will depend on the condition being treated and the pain location.
Peripheral Nerve Blocks
Peripheral nerve blocks are injections that target specific nerves or nerve bundles to block pain signals. They can be performed using local anesthesia, which numbs the area being treated, or with conscious sedation, which helps the patient relax and reduces discomfort.
Sympathetic Nerve Blocks
Sympathetic nerve blocks target the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates the body’s fight or flight response. These blocks can be used to treat conditions such as CRPS, a chronic pain condition that an injury or surgery can cause.
Epidural Injections
Epidural injections are another type of nerve block commonly used to relieve lower back and leg pain. They involve injecting a mixture of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medications into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord, helping to reduce inflammation and block pain signals from reaching the brain.
If you’re suffering from chronic pain and want to explore the options offered through the FHW Pain Specialist clinic, it’s important to talk to your doctor to determine whether nerve blocks may be right for you.
Relief Has Arrived
By combining specialists from different areas, we can offer multiple paths to treating your pain effectively and responsibly. We offer narcotic-free, non-surgical, and minimally invasive techniques proven to help quickly manage your chronic pain.
