Pain Management
STOP PAIN COLD
Iovera® is an approved procedure for the treatment of acute and chronic pain that uses ‘Cryoneurolysis‘ to target sensory nerves and temporarily interrupt pain signals leading to an immediate relief of discomfort. Cryoneurolysis is the directed application under ultrasound guidance of a thermal neurolytic agent: In effect, we use ultrasound to find the pain-transmitting nerve and guide the device to deliver a precise temperature using nitrous oxide around those components of the nerve and interrupt that signal. Iovera® is approved for the treatment of all peripheral nerves. It is most commonly used, very successfully, in the treatment of knee pain.
The treatment of knee pain can be used before your surgery to provide improved postoperative pain control, in the treatment of chronic knee pain due to injuries or arthritis, or even in patients having knee pain who have already undergone total knee replacements. Dr. Rhoades is certified in the use of Iovera® and was one of the first physicians to utilize this device in the treatment of pain.
Joint Injections
LEAVE PAIN BEHIND
Joint injections are performed using a variety of medications to restore movement, reduce pain and inflammation, and rebuild cartilage. One of our medical providers will examine your joints and make treatment recommendations based on all findings. All treatment options are covered with you in detail so you, as a patient can make an informed decision that’s your best option.
Painful Muscles
PAINFUL MUSCLES ARE ALSO KNOWN AS TRIGGER POINTS
A trigger point is a ball of scar tissue within a muscle. Muscles can become tight for a long period of time. For example, a lot of people sit at a desk typing all day. This posture allows the shoulders to roll forward and the head to lean forward. This creates a condition called Upper Cross Syndrome.
Upper Cross Syndrome results in pain in the trap muscles across the shoulders and back of the neck. The muscles stay tight all day and night and become fatigued. The body will build a scar on the fatigued muscles to help support them. Over time these scars grow and become painful. These painful scars are called trigger points.
Standard Medical Treatment for Trigger Points
Most medical clinics use Lidocaine injections to block trigger point pain. That’s it. Nothing more. You go into the clinic on an occasional basis and get a lidocaine injection. This blocks the pain of the trigger point for a short period of time.
National Neuropathy Center’s Approach to Trigger Point Treatment
Inject with a natural solution called Sarapin. Sarapin is a natural analgesic rather than the pharmaceutical lidocaine agent. Following the Sarapin injection (which is painless), an electrical stimulation pad is placed over the trigger point to help spread the Sarapin through the scar tissue. The next steps in treatment is active or passive stretching of the trigger point and exercises to aid in restoring the scarred area to normal. The overall result in the NNC approach is remove the scar tissue and restore the muscle to normal function. This approach is several steps beyond that standard of trigger point care in most medical clinics..