Understanding Pain Management

Chronic pain can become a life-changing disability that makes it hard to perform even the simplest of tasks. The good news? Many effective treatments exist that can get you moving again and enjoying the active life you crave.

John S. Michels, MD, is an award-winning physician who specializes in relieving pain for residents in the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, area.

After experiencing a painful injury that ended an NFL career that included a Super Bowl championship, this talented expert has dedicated his impressive medical career to developing highly effective interventional pain management treatment strategies.

Learn more about what interventional pain management is and how a specialist can help you overcome the debilitating effects of chronic pain.

What is interventional pain management?

Interventional pain management is a medical specialty that focuses on accurately diagnosing the underlying cause of chronic pain and developing a personalized treatment plan that relieves your symptoms as it restores mobility and improves your quality of life.

Unfortunately, chronic (long-term) pain conditions affect millions of Americans daily and may be linked to:

• Arthritis/degenerative joint disease
• Nerve damage
• Injury
• Previous surgery
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic migraine, post-concussive syndrome, and other types of headaches

As a pain management specialist, Dr. Michels uses a wide variety of minimally invasive therapies that provide pain relief without surgery or heavy reliance on daily medications.

What are the most common causes of chronic pain?

Back and/or neck pain are, by far, the most common reasons for seeking a physician’s care. Back pain is so common, in fact, that most Americans can expect to experience at least one episode during their life. 

For many people, back and neck pain can become a chronic issue that eventually affects the ability to exercise, work, or rest.

Common causes of back and neck pain include:

• Muscular strain
• Osteoarthritis or wear-and-tear of the facet joints, discs, and other structures of the spine
• Nerve irritation and inflammation caused by herniated discs, spinal stenosis, etc
• Compressor fracture of a vertebrae.
• Failed back surgery
• Sports injury, auto accident, or other spinal trauma

Effective treatment for back and neck pain begins with an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of your symptoms.    

What treatments are included in pain management?

Depending on the nature and cause of your symptoms, treatments that Dr. Michels provides may include:

• Steroid injections to relieve back or neck pain
• Various joint injections to relieve elbow, hip, and knee inflammation and pain
• Kyphoplasty to treat spinal compression fractures 
• Nerve blocks
• Spinal cord stimulation to disrupt pain signals from irritated nerves
• Trigger point injections for muscular pain
• Regenerative medicine treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

Regardless of the nature and cause of your pain, Dr. Michels always takes the time to explain each therapy in detail before scheduling your treatment.

Schedule a visit with Dr. Michels today for outstanding pain management treatment delivered by a medical expert who has personal experience in overcoming chronic pain. Call our office or request an appointment online.