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Chronic pain
Pain Relief : A Basic Human Right

Dr. Preeti Doshi
Consultant Pain Specialist
MD,FRCA,FIPP[USA]
Pain Management Specialist


Mobile: +91 9820028686
Email: preetipd@gmail.com

Jaslok OPD: Wednesday 12- 2 pm : Friday 1 - 3 pm
Contact: Jaslok Hospital for Appts - 6657 3015
Jaslok Hospital OPD Reception - 6657 3200
Office - 6657 3185
  
In today’s age, Pain relief is a basic human right. Adequate control of chronic pain can help to significantly improve quality of life of many of our ailing patients. It requires skills of an Anaesthesiologist trained specifically for it, working closely with a range of other healthcare specialists.


What is chronic pain?

 Definition: Pain that lingers long beyond normal healing time (more than 6 months) and is not relieved by standard medical management. Common conditions leading to chronic pain are

 


  • Cancer  
  • Low back pain-  Failed back surgery Degenerativepathology
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
  • Peripheral vascular disease pain  
  • Phantom limb pain
  • Occipital Neuralgia, Post herpetic neuralgia, Trigeminal neuralgia…..and so on…..  
  • Diabetic neuropathy

Why should chronic pain be treated?

Pain can have serious consequences than just hurt.  
    
  “LIFE STYLE MAY BE ERODED”  
    Inability to work
Mental and physical deterioration
Weakened relationships
Disruption of families
 


Myths about “PAIN”.

I will get addicted to pain medication.
I don’t want to be labeled a ‘bad’ patient or cause trouble for my doctor.
If my current treatment can’t control my pain, then I will just have to live with the pain.
People will think I am weak because I need help controlling my pain.

“Help and relief” are possible

What can be done?  
    
  • Medications:
    - Analgesics
    - Adjuvants
  • Nerve Blocks
  • Physical Therapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Behavioral Programs
  • Alternative Treatment
  • Advanced Pain Therapies
  • Neuro Ablation
 
“Help and relief” are possible - but only if you fully discuss your pain.

Pain and Relief is a "Team Effort".

Role of a Pain Specialist

With the sound knowledge and skills at the Regional techniques a Pain Specialist can perform the following interventional procedures;


Intra- articular Injections like -Facet Joint Injections- Mainly indicated in patient’s suffering from cervical or lumbar spondylotic pain, Sacro-iliac joint injections Sympathetic nerve blocks- for peripheral vascular diseases, post herpetic neuralgia and cancer pain IV Regional Blocks- pain from various etiologies Epidural Injections- chronic pain due to spondylosis, trauma, cancer etc. Radio-frequency Rhizotomy- for various pain syndromes that respond favorably to facet joint injections, Trigeminal Neuralgia, etc.

Advanced Pain therapies

These therapies can be offered to patients suffering from pain refractory to all the above modes of therapies. These are specialized implantable devices for selected candidates who have had an adequate trial for the same.


Dorsal Column Stimulators-Useful for patients with Failed Back SurgerySyndrome, CRPS, Phantom limb pain etc. Intrathecal Drug Delivery System-This is useful for selected Cancer patients and also for certain severe but Opioid sensitive pains. This enables opioid dose reduction which in turn minimizes their side effects.