A Collaborative Approach to Devising and Managing Treatment Plans

Pain & Wellness Center patients enjoy the distinct advantage of being able to access a comprehensive range of treatment options under one roof. Rather than waiting for medical records to be sent from facility to facility or communicate by phone and fax, discussions about our patients' conditions require our staff to simply walk a few steps around the Center and consult with each other.

Our entire team of pain specialists meets to review cases on a bi-weekly basis. During these Providers' Roundtable discussions, one staff member presents patients' histories and current treatment options. The rest of the team asks questions and makes suggestions, based on their professional experiences, which may serve to improve the patient's condition. Treatment plans are revisited and, when appropriate, modified at each of these sessions. As a result, each patient's case receives input from a team of experts, and the treatment plans devised are highly tailored to achieve the best possible outcome.

Comprehensive Evaluations/Testing

During their first visit at the Center, patients can expect a thorough exploration of their medical history and a physical examination. Following the initial appointment, we may ask patients to return for diagnostic tests to further pinpoint the cause of pain before a treatment plan is devised. These diagnostic tools may include:

Block procedures. Facet blocks, nerve root blocks and dorsal ganglion blocks help determine the specific location of injury or stress. A block involves the passing of a small needle full of an anesthetic or numbing medication into the area of a nerve root, facet joint or in the nerves coming out of the spinal cord.

Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections. While these injections eliminate pain temporarily by filling the SI joint with an anesthetic medication that numbs the joint, the ligaments, and joint capsule around the SI joint, they also assist in determining the anatomical origin of the specific pain.

Discography. Discography uses fluoroscopic dye injected into the spinal disc and x-rays. This test reveals whether a herniated or torn disc is the cause of pain.