Pain Management for Orthopedic Treatments

Identifying the Source of Your Pain

Pain is our bodies' message to us that something is wrong. Effective pain management is crucial for recovery and ensuring you can resume your daily activities without medical constraints. Our health care providers offer treatment options for advanced pain management, incorporating medications, injections, therapy and exercise to tailor a comprehensive plan. This approach is designed to alleviate chronic pain and enhance patients' quality of life.

To learn more about our advanced pain management treatment options, contact our team today.

Orthopedic Conditions We Treat With Pain Management Methods

Orthopedic pain management services are designed to address a broad spectrum of conditions, including:

• Bursitis. This occurs when the fluid-filled sacs known as bursae, which act as cushions at the body's joints, become inflamed and painful.
• Cervical or neck pain. From chronic strain to acute injuries, neck pain often requires specialized care.
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Chronic conditions marked by intense burning pain, typically in one of the extremities (arms, legs, hands or feet).
• Elbow pain. Often resulting from inflammation, injury, or neck, upper spine or shoulder issues.
• Facet joint arthropathy. A painful form of arthritis that affects the joints in the spine.
• Facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia). A chronic pain condition that causes severe facial pain.
• Foot and ankle pain. This is common, particularly among active adults and those with certain risk factors, such as obesity, previous injuries, or jobs requiring prolonged standing.
• Headaches and migraines. Headaches are caused for various reasons and can occur almost anywhere on the head or face.
• Knee pain. Injuries to the knee can be as varied as the activities that cause them, whether due to a sudden twist on the field resulting in a meniscal tear or a gradual onset of pain from osteoarthritis.
• Myofascial pain. A chronic condition that causes deep, aching pain in a muscle that doesn't go away or gets worse.
• Post-laminectomy syndrome. A condition that causes someone to feel pain after undergoing a correctional laminectomy or another form of back surgery.
• Osteoarthritis.This is a chronic orthopedic disease that involves pain and inflammation of the joints.
• Pelvic or groin pain. This can have many potential causes, including muscle strain, inguinal hernia, and kidney stones.
• Phantom limb pain. The perception of pain or discomfort in a limb that is no longer there.
• Shoulder pain. Discomfort can be caused by anything from everyday wear and tear, a sudden movement or a direct impact.
• Spinal stenosis.This refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, often due to age-related wear and tear, leading to nerve compression that causes chronic back and leg pain.
• Thoracic and lumbar disc disease. A condition where the spinal discs in the lower back deteriorate, leading to pain and discomfort.
• Wrist pain. This can come from a variety of causes, including injuries, repetitive stress, arthritis, ganglion cysts and gout.

Pain Management Treatments

At RWJBarnabas Health, we offer a variety of advanced pain management treatments. Offerings vary by hospital. Below is a list of common pain management methods to alleviate pain.

• Acupuncture. Traditional Chinese medicine involves inserting thin needles into specific pressure points on the body to relieve pain and promote healing.
• Botox injections. Used for more than just cosmetic purposes, Botox injections can help alleviate chronic pain conditions by relaxing muscles and blocking pain signals.
• Epidural steroid injections. These injections are administered into the spine's epidural space to reduce inflammation and relieve pain caused by spinal conditions.
• Implantable morphine pumps. A device implanted under the skin that delivers morphine directly to the spinal cord, providing continuous pain relief for severe chronic pain.
• Joint injections. These involve the direct delivery of medication into a joint such as steroid or platelet-rich plasma injections in the knee or hip, to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation, as well as viscoelastic injection to the knee.
• Nerve blocks. A procedure that involves injecting medication into a specific area of the body to block pain signals from reaching the brain, effectively relieving pain.
• Nucleoplasty. A minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to treat herniated discs, reducing pain and promoting healing.
• Patient-controlled analgesia. A method of pain management that allows the patient to control their pain medication dosing within prescribed limits. This method is often used in hospitals.
• Postoperative epidural catheters. These thin tubes may be used after surgery to deliver pain relief directly to the spine’s epidural space, reducing the need for oral pain medications.
• Spinal cord stimulation. A treatment involving electrical impulses interrupting pain signals from reaching the brain is often used for chronic leg and back pain.
• Trigger point injections. These involve injecting medication directly into trigger points, or knots that form in muscles, to relieve pain and muscle tension.

Finding the pain management solution that is right for our patients depends on their condition and the source of their discomfort.

From minor injuries, headaches, and lower back pain to postoperative discomfort, arthritis, and complex regional pain syndromes, our doctors and pain management specialists are ready to personalize an approach that meets your needs.

Expert Pain Management for Orthopedic Conditions

At RWJBarnabas Health, we understand that pain is more than just discomfort — it is a signal that something in our bodies needs attention. With a focus on comprehensive pain management, we are dedicated to uncovering the root cause of your discomfort.

As New Jersey's largest academic health care system, we offer award-winning services and a team of board-certified physicians equipped with cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat your condition effectively. Our mission is to alleviate your pain, restore your well-being and ensure a swift return to a life free from limitations.

Don't let pain hold you back. Reach out to our dedicated team of specialists today for expert care and a tailored treatment plan that helps you get back to living your best life without delay.