Living with pain can be a constant struggle with no relief in sight. Astera Health offers a wide range of pain management options for everything from joint pain injections to rehabilitation.
Radiology and pain management
Currently, pain management examinations are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Family medicine providers order pain relief treatments. If you are suffering from
chronic pain of any kind, don’t hesitate to discuss it with your provider. After a thorough analysis, the provider may prescribe pain management conducted by radiology staff.
This could include:
- Lumbar and Cervical Epidural steroid injections
- Joint injections
- Medial Branch Blocks and Radiofrequency ablations
Before the procedure, the nurse will have the patient complete a short questionnaire that ensures accuracy and gauges the patient’s well-being. The procedure is scheduled after gathering this information.
The actual procedure or injection is completed with specialized radiologic equipment operated by a technologist. A typical appointment is finished in an hour or less. There is a brief observatory period after the procedure.
The following video demonstrates just one pain management procedure available at Astera Health. Radiofrequency ablation generates a current that stops nerve tissue from sending pain signals to the brain.
Rehab and pain management
More complex issues may require orthopedic intervention or rehab services. In the case of rehab, several options exist for ongoing pain management. In general, rehab professionals can help with education on stretching and strengthening key muscle groups that might be causing problems. Additionally, they offer several methods of pain management during treatment sessions:
- Soft tissue massage
- Dry needling
- Electrical stimulation
- Traction
- Aquatic therapy
- Assisted mobility practice.
Orthopedics and pain management
The orthopedics department is no stranger to pain management. Much of their job centers on identifying sources of pain and discomfort so they can find a long-term solution. Orthopedics works with rehab and radiology to get patients back to doing what they love! A few services they offer are:
- Medication
- Steroid injections
- Hyaluronic acid injections acid for knee arthritis
Selecting a provider and working with them to identify the source of your pain is the first step. For more information about radiology and family medicine, please visit asterahealth.org. To schedule an appointment, utilize MyChart for booking with your provider or call 218-631-3510. Remember to follow us on social media for important health updates.