The Henry Ford Hospital Pain Center provides a wide range of diagnostic studies and therapies to help patients in the management of pain conditions. Patients receive a personalized care plan based on the individual medical history, pain history, and current medical and pain condition.
Epidural Injection: This procedure involves injection of an anesthetic into the epidural space between the spinal cord and the bony spine structure. The medication injected works to numb the specific nerve area of the spinal cord and reduce inflammation caused by the problem disc. This procedure may provide relief of pain for several months and sometimes permanently.
Facet Joint Injection: The facet joints of the spine may become irritated and cause pain. Often the facet joints of the spine are the cause of neck and back pain. To help reduce the swollen and irritated facet joints, medication is injected into and around the problem joints. Facet joint injections may help to pinpoint the pain source and also provide significant pain relief.
Headache/Facial Pain Therapies: For people suffering from chronic headaches and facial pain, pain management therapies may include botulinum toxin (Botox) and other injections to relieve and manage the pain.
Intrathecal Pump Therapy: This modality of therapy is recommended for patients with chronic intractable cancer and non-cancer pain who have failed more conservative treatments. It involves the placement of a pump with a reservoir containing pain medication for consistent delivery of medications to the spinal canal. This facilitates the reduction in the amount of narcotics required by the patient and thereby reduces the side effects of the medication.
Nerve Block: This therapy involves the injection of anesthetic near the nerves identified as the source of pain. Nerve blocks can be done anywhere in the body and are common to help reduce pain associated with cancer, pancreatitis, shingles, surgical scars, neurological conditions, and others.
Radiofrequency Lesioning: This procedure serves to deactivate painful nerves by use of radiofrequency energy. Significant pain relief may be achieved for several months. The procedure involves insertion of a special radiofrequency needle via X-ray guidance into the tissue near the affected nerves. After confirmation of correct needle position, the radiofrequency energy is applied to the painful nerves.
Spinal Cord Stimulation: This procedure involves implanting a device that works to block the pain messages from the spine to the brain. Instead of experiencing pain, patients will feel a buzzing or tingling in the affected areas. Spinal cord stimulation has helped many patients with chronic pain regain the ability to perform daily activities without disabling pain.
TENS: Called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), this noninvasive device works by delivering electrical current to the painful areas to help block and reduce pain.
Trigger Point Injections: Muscle fibers may form a knot where strain or injury has occurred, producing pain. This knot, or trigger point, can spread pain to other parts of the body. Trigger point injections involve use of a needle to inject anesthetic and/or steroid medication into the muscle knot areas.
The Henry Ford Hospital Pain Center provides a wide range of diagnostic studies and therapies to help patients in the management of pain conditions. Patients receive a personalized care plan based on the individual medical history, pain history, and current medical and pain condition.
