Pain Management Specialist
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Orthopedic Ultrasound, Inc
Medical Diagnostic Imaging Center & Musculoskeletal Specialist located in Westlake Village, CA
Pain management is essential for anyone with a chronic pain condition, as relying on painkilling medication isn’t the best way to deal with pain. The experts at Orthopedic Ultrasound, Inc. in Westlake Village, California, can help with pain management by ensuring you receive an accurate diagnosis and assessment of your musculoskeletal condition. They can also use musculoskeletal ultrasound to deliver targeted injections of steroids and regenerative medicine directly into the damaged tissues. Call Orthopedic Ultrasound, Inc. today to learn more or book an appointment online.
Pain Management Q & A
What is pain management?
Pain management is a comprehensive care plan for people who have long-term or incurable pain conditions.
Chronic pain is a widespread problem with multiple causes. Some of the most common musculoskeletal conditions that cause chronic pain include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Bone spurs (osteophytes)
- Degenerative disc disease
- Fibromyalgia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Herniated discs
- Spondylosis
- Osteoporosis
- Spinal stenosis
Sometimes injuries like ligament tears and tendinitis can become a chronic pain problem if they don’t receive the right treatment during the early stages.
In some cases, the nerves that send back pain signals to your brain are damaged or malfunctioning, and can even transmit pain signals when there’s no tissue damage to address.
What pain management treatments are there?
Treating pain often starts with painkilling medication. While drugs can be vital for acute injuries and some longer-term problems, they aren’t addressing the root cause of your pain. The medication is concealing your pain, but when it wears off you’re back to square one. Pain management is a more holistic approach that takes into account all the potential causes of your chronic pain. Your doctor prepares a treatment plan for you that uses alternative strategies to medication.
Some of the treatments that might form part of your chronic pain plan include:
- Massage therapy
- Physical therapy
- Stretching exercises
- Acupuncture
- Ultrasound therapy
- Electrical stimulation
You might also benefit from injectable treatments, such as regenerative medicine and steroids.
What role do injectable treatments play in pain management?
There are two main varieties of injectable treatments:
Steroids
Steroids are powerful anti-inflammatories that can act over several months to reduce inflammation and pain. The injections are often a combination of a short-acting anesthetic for immediate relief, and the longer-lasting steroids.
Regenerative medicine Regenerative medicine includes treatments like:
- Platelet-rich plasma
- (PRP) therapy
- Stem cell therapy
- Hyaluronic acid injections
These treatments use naturally occurring substances found in the human body to stimulate repair and the growth of new, healthier tissues.
How does MSK ultrasound help with pain management?
Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound plays a vital role in administering injectable pain management treatments.
Ultrasound technology provides real-time moving images of the inside of your body, which means that your provider can see exactly where the needle is going when they inject you.
Injectable treatments work best when your provider delivers them to the exact spot where there’s tissue damage. MSK ultrasound is the best method of ensuring the precise delivery of injectable medications.
Regenerative medicine treatments only work effectively if the growth factors they contain are in the precise area of tissue that needs healing.
As these treatments are often expensive and rarely covered by insurance, it’s essential that your provider delivers them to the perfect location.
Learn more by calling Orthopedic Ultrasound, Inc. today, or book an appointment online.
