This is what I often hear when I meet with patients on their initial visit to Powers Health for interventional pain management. They often arrive after experiencing months, or even years, of pain. They have tried different medications, visited a physical therapist or chiropractor and turned to many other forms of care.
When patients hear they have been referred to an interventional pain management specialist, they often do not know what to expect, besides being prescribed medication. Fortunately, interventional pain management offers a variety of treatment options.
Interventional pain management specialists do offer medications, but we also have numerous specialized procedures that can be performed to diagnose and treat painful conditions. Many of these procedures provide months to sometimes years of relief and are completed on an outpatient basis, requiring only a bandage after they are performed.
In my office, I mainly treat back pain, which can range from neck to mid to lower back. Lower back pain is the most common painful condition for people 18 or older in the U.S.
With the support of imaging and other tools, we also can diagnose and treat joint-related painful conditions with nonsurgical procedures for the knee, shoulder and hip. Sometimes these procedures help delay surgery, or in the case of the knee, can help provide pain relief even if a patient has had a knee replacement.
While I enjoy relieving their pain, I find it extremely rewarding to educate patients about their conditions. It is important to review the imaging with patients so they understand what is occurring in their body and why a procedure might be beneficial.
What is the best way to make an appointment?
To get established with me or another Powers Health pain management provider, obtain a referral. My staff and I pride ourselves on delivering compassionate care that emphasizes patient-centered outcomes. Because pain often can be a lifelong issue, my staff and I like to build long-term relationships with patients. Our goal is to provide individualized plans that will lead patients to optimal outcomes and their best quality of life.
Dr. Charonn Woods is a Powers Health Medical Group interventional pain management specialist affiliated with St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. For more information about Pain Management Services at Powers Health, visit PowersHealth.org/services/pain-management.
