Pain management has always been a controversial topic in healthcare, but recently with the opioid epidemic, it has become more of an issue than ever before. The United States currently faces over 14 million people addicted to opioids, and CDC reports indicate that over 30,000 people die every year from opioid abuse. With this growing epidemic, there has been a solid push to reduce or eliminate opioids in pain management and use alternative options such as physical therapy.
Some negative consequences have come with changing how society handles pain management. That is why interventional pain management has gained popularity. Interventional pain management uses nonpharmacologic techniques to treat chronic pain, which eliminates the life-threatening effects that opioids have on patients. This article looks at the benefits of interventional pain management and why you should consider working with a specialist in interventional pain management in Olney, MD if you have chronic pain.
-
Improved Functionality
Interventional pain management has an increased focus on functionality instead of just aiming to eliminate pain. A study published in the “Journal of Pain” found that those who had interventional treatment for their low back pain showed a 42% reduction in pain and a 167% improvement in function. Interventional techniques help patients achieve functional goals without opioids, which helps reduce the risk of addiction while helping improve a patient’s quality of life.
-
No Side Effects
If opioids are not an option, you must use interventional procedures to help ease the pain. In comparison studies, interventional procedures have been shown to provide similar results in terms of pain management, without the harsh side effects that opioids typically bring about. Many patients who suffer from chronic pain are at risk of addiction, but that risk is alleviated with interventional treatments.
-
Greater Quality of Life
Patients who participate in interventional procedures see a significant increase in their quality of life. Interventional techniques often involve temporary relief or stabilization, which provides an improved sense of freedom to patients who typically experience chronic pain. Many patients feel that they are not living life to the fullest when their quality of life is affected by chronic pain, but with interventional pain management, you can fix that.
-
Improved Overall Health
The opioid epidemic has brought about many negative consequences for society over the years. One significant consequence is the increased risk of infectious diseases (especially Hepatitis C and HIV) due to needle sharing. Interventional procedures help improve patients’ overall health as it eliminates the risk of infectious disease that comes with opioid abuse, which can be a huge benefit.
-
Many More Options Available
Surgery is often one of the first options when physicians treat chronic pain. However, this isn’t always the best option for everyone involved. With interventional techniques, many more options are available to treat chronic pain. This helps ensure that each patient gets an individualized treatment plan to fit their specific needs.
In summary, the conventional approach to treating pain typically involves opioids, leading to addiction and other negative consequences. Still, we can treat patients without these risks with interventional pain management. Interventional techniques provide improved functionality, no side effects, a better quality of life, and excellent overall health. There are also many more options available for treatment with interventional procedures, which helps ensure that patients get the best treatment possible.
