Pain Management Specialist

Total Spine Institute

Spine Surgeries & Pain Management located in Sherman Oaks, CA & Calabasas, CA

Effective pain management can make a tremendous difference to patients experiencing acute or chronic pain. Andrew Fox, MD, and Ryan Mattie, MD, of Total Spine Institute, use an extensive range of interventions to resolve pain where possible and manage incurable pain. To benefit from their expertise in pain management, call the Sherman Oaks or Calabasas, California, office of Total Spine Institute today and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online.

Pain Management Q&A

What is pain management?

Pain management consists of a wide-ranging program of interventions that aim to reduce and, where possible, eliminate pain.

If you undergo surgery, your anesthesiologist uses their expertise in pain management to ensure you stay comfortable during the procedure and when you’re recovering afterward. Pain management is also of great benefit to patients with chronic pain. It can improve your quality of life even when your pain is incurable.

Pain is an essential function. It warns you that something’s wrong, so you can act quickly to stop further tissue damage. For example, if you place your hand in a hot oven, pain quickly tells you that the heat is burning your skin, and you remove your hand.

Unfortunately, pain sometimes persists when it’s not serving a useful purpose. Arthritis, for example, causes continual joint pain that’s often worse when you’re active. However, avoiding movement worsens the condition, while regular, moderate activity keeps you stronger and more mobile.

Why might I need spine pain management?

Pain management is vital when you suffer an injury or have an invasive procedure and is standard practice in health care. You can also benefit from expert pain management if you have a chronic condition that isn’t improving.

Examples of chronic pain conditions the Total Spine Institute team treats with pain management include:

Spinal stenosis
Herniated discs
Degenerative disc disease
Spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae)
Scoliosis
Radiculopathy (pinched spinal nerves)
Sacroiliitis
Failed back surgery syndrome

When you have a disorder like one of these, spine pain management helps optimize your function and limit discomfort. The Total Spine Institute team offers many pain management treatments. Their aim is always to cure your condition when possible, using the least invasive approaches.

What treatments does pain management use?

Your spine pain management plan might include a combination of treatments, such as physical therapy, ice and heat, activity modification, and medication. The team focuses on minimizing the medication you need to take by using effective alternatives that tackle the root cause of your pain.

For patients with persistent pain, the Total Spine Institute team uses advanced treatments like epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, and other pain injections. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which promotes healthy tissue growth, can also be helpful for some patients.

If your condition has a good chance of improving with surgery, you can benefit from the team’s expertise in minimally invasive spine surgery and robotic-assisted surgery. These procedures can often resolve long-standing pain very effectively while causing minimal tissue damage and postoperative discomfort.

To find the pain management plan that’s right for you, call Total Spine Institute today or book an appointment online.

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