Pain Management

Anyone with a long-term or incurable health problem that causes recurring or ongoing pain could benefit from pain management. Interventional spine and pain expert Gabriel Mattei, MD, provides specialized pain management programs at his offices in Atlantis, Boynton Beach, and Wellington, Florida, for people with chronic back, neck, and other pain disorders. Call the Gabriel Mattei, MD, office nearest you to learn more about the benefits of pain management, or book an appointment online today.

What is pain management?

Pain management offers a comprehensive approach to easing discomfort, increasing mobility, and improving the quality of life for patients with long-term pain conditions.

Chronic pain lasts for months or years — often, it’s incurable, and you must live with it for the rest of your life. Chronic diseases also make it harder to live a normal life, affecting your ability to work, study, and maintain relationships. 

People often develop mental health problems like depression when living with long-term pain.

Dr. Mattei’s pain management expertise helps you cope with your pain, avoid the problems it can cause, and enjoy life more.

When would I need pain management?

Conditions typically requiring pain management include:

• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic back and neck pain
• Arthritis
• Postherpetic neuralgia
• Vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis
• Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve dysfunction)
• Lumbar radiculopathy (sciatica)
• Migraine headaches
• Trigeminal and occipital neuralgia (head and face pain)

Infections, toxins, poorly healed injuries, and other things can sometimes cause painful symptoms requiring expert management. In some cases, the cause of pain is unclear — that’s known as idiopathic pain.

What does pain management involve?

Pain management uses various approaches, combining several in a personalized treatment plan designed to fulfill your unique needs. Treatments might include:

Physical therapy

Physical therapy keeps your joints and tissues healthy, increases strength and flexibility, and promotes healing.

Psychological counseling

Counseling helps you manage the emotional effects of severe or continual pain.

Steroid injections

Steroid injections into the spine or joints deliver potent anti-inflammatory medication.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

PRP uses concentrated blood cells to boost healing.

Nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are local anesthetic injections that numb the target area. Dr. Mattei uses them to help diagnose some conditions in addition to treatment.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat energy to deaden nerves that relay pain signals to your brain.

Spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation uses an implantable unit to help you regulate nerve function and reduce pain.

Medications can also help but need careful supervision. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often the first thing people turn to. Low-dose antidepressants and antiseizure drugs can also help some patients.

Opioids like oxycontin and hydrocodone might benefit some patients, but using them requires careful supervision; they could cause adverse effects and are addictive.

Call Gabriel Mattei, MD, to learn more about expert pain management, or request an appointment online today.