Saint Mary's - Thrive

A & A & A & A & A & A & A Q FOR MANY PATIENTS, THE MOST IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CONCERN IS PAIN. WE ASKED THREE OF OUR PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS FOR ANSWERS TO COMMON PAIN-RELATED QUESTIONS. Dr. Todd Beery, Interventional Physiatrist at Saint Mary's Hospital Dr. Tamer Ghaly, Anesthesiologist/ Interventional Pain Physician at Saint Mary's Hospital Dr. Bhavesh R. Patel, Interventional Physiatrist at Saint Mary's Hospital Pain Management Need help with chronic pain? Find a pain management specialist by visiting stmh.org/find-a-physician. Dr. Patel: e earlier they contact us the better. en, we can examine them and order the appropriate tests and start the treatment process sooner. Anyone having back pain, neck pain or numbness or tingling lasting longer than one week should contact their primary care doctor or a Pain Specialist for an evaluation. Q. When should people contact a pain management specialist? Q: What's something peoplemay not know about pain management? Dr. Patel: As double-boarded physicians in physical medicine and pain medicine, we are able to take care of most orthopedic conditions, including shoulder, hip, knee, and spine problems, such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis, with excellent nonsurgical relief. We are able to treat the whole person and not just a specific body part. Q. Painkiller addiction is a huge problem. How can people effectively treat their pain without becoming dependent on their medications? Dr. Ghaly: It is always best to start patients with non-narcotic medication, which can solve 50 to 60 percent of pain problems. If those do not help, we can try a low-dose narcotic for temporary use. Exposure to narcotics should be limited and, if not useful, discontinued and the cause of pain re-evaluated. Q: Does pain management take a team approach? Dr. Ghaly: Absolutely. Pain management should take a team approach. As an anesthesiologist in a group practice with a team of surgeons and other healthcare providers, we offer our patients a variety of state-of-the art nonsurgical and surgical options, including spinal procedures and nerve blocks. Q: How much of pain is psychological, and how much is physical? Q: What are some of the techniques you have at your disposal for managing pain? Dr. Beery: A focus on a multimodal treatment plan is emphasized the best outcomes. is can include medication, physical therapy combined with an independent home exercise program, and interventional treatments to target the primary pain generator. Interventional techniques that can be utilized include nerve ablations, targeted use of corticosteroids, and regenerative treatments such as platelet-rich plasma. Dr. Beery: Pain by definition is tied to an emotional response. Mental and physical pain overlap, especially with chronic pain. But even for acute pain, it's important to create realistic performance and recovery expectations. When pain impedes one's ability to function, it can lead to decreased quality of life and, subsequently, stress and anxiety. It's imperative to address these aspects of pain as well. stmh.org 7

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