Duke Raleigh Hospital

Putting Acute pain accompanies an illness or injury, but eases as the body heals. Chronic pain is very Behind You different. It persists and can occur for no obvious reason at all. Though diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain can be halt painful sensations temporarily, they normally are used with other complex and challenging, treatment options have come a therapies to treat the underlying cause. long way in the last 10 years. Today, a sophisticated array of medications and interventional techniques combine to help SURGICAL SOLUTIONS make life enjoyable again. If less intensive pain treatments are not effective, surgery may be "It can take some time to find just the right considered. combination of therapies that brings relief," says Thomas J. Weber Jr., DO, board-certified radiofrequency neurolysis can make the pain reduction permanent. anesthesiologist and pain management This technique uses radio waves to destroy pain-producing nerves specialist at Duke Spine and Pain Management while leaving surrounding tissue intact. Most patients who undergo of Raleigh. "It may take some time, but we can this procedure only require skin-numbing anesthetic and go home help patients achieve a better quality of life." Thomas J. Weber Jr., DO For patients who obtain temporary benefit from nerve blocks, the same day. A DOSE OF COMFORT Another safe and effective procedure is spinal cord stimulation Medications are still a pain sufferer's first route to relief. The result of scientific research into how the brain processes different types of pain signals, modern analgesics (pain reducers) are specifically formulated and far less habit-forming than past forms of pain medication. surgery, which involves implanting a device that generates electrical impulses inside the body. Spinal cord stimulation blocks pain signals like an injection but delivers relief continuously. The most advanced stimulation devices adapt to the wearer's activity level, providing more relief when needed. "Today's pain medications can be tailored to combat specific types of LEARNING TO COPE pain, and some can even target pain at the cellular level," Dr. Weber One of the most effective techniques for managing chronic says. "In the future, we may be able to analyze a patient's genetic pain is under each patient's control—a positive attitude. makeup to create the perfect, personalized pain analgesic." BLOCK IT OUT Injections, also called blocks, are useful when pain is confined to a particular area of the body, such as a specific joint, nerve, muscle or the spine. Injections target pain at the source by interrupting pain sig- "Believing that improvement is possible is the first step in getting better," says Dr. Weber. "Dealing with chronic pain does not require chronic suffering. Pain specialists give people in pain what they need to go on with their lives—the most important part of which is hope." To learn more, call 1-888-ASK-DUKE (275-3853). nals as they travel along nerve pathways. Because injections can only HEALTHY Fall 2013 FOCUS 3

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