{"id":566,"date":"2019-11-16T10:20:53","date_gmt":"2019-11-16T10:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonejoint1.wpengine.com\/?p=566"},"modified":"2021-08-02T15:38:20","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T15:38:20","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-integrated-pain-management-and-interventional-pain-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonejoint.net\/old\/blog\/whats-the-difference-between-integrated-pain-management-and-interventional-pain-management\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the difference between integrated pain management and interventional pain management?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Both integrated pain management and interventional pain management are treatment styles designed to help people relieve chronic and acute pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n

According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain \u2013 nearly four times the number of people who have diabetes and more than five times the number of people who suffer from coronary heart disease.<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Chronic pain is a problem of epidemic proportions.<\/h2>\n

Though they may look healthy on the outside, people who suffer from chronic pain often exert herculean efforts to get out of a chair, ride in a car, or sit at a table. For many people, the source of their pain remains a mystery, so they work with pain management specialists to manage the symptoms and achieve a level of normalcy and function in their lives.<\/p>\n

We know pain is a healthy and natural response of our nervous system to keep us safe and sound. Hitting a finger with a hammer or twisting an ankle prompts the nerves near the injury to send electronic signals about the wound through the nerve cells and spinal cord to the brain stem (medulla) and thalamus. Once the signal arrives in the brain, it is distributed to the brain\u2019s somatosensory cortex.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

While we know how these signals reach the brain, scientists still don\u2019t understand why some pain messages continue long after a physical injury heals. Fibromyalgia is an example of this. While an acute injury causes the initial pain reaction, the pain of fibromyalgia remains. The pain is real; though the cause is not readily apparent.<\/p>\n

All pain results from inflammation or the inflammatory response.<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the source of chronic pain remains elusive, pain management specialists can use an arsenal of treatments and techniques to intervene and intercept the messages of the nervous system before they create cascading and debilitating sensations.<\/p>\n

Pain management methods fall into two major categories: interventional and integrative pain management.<\/h2>\n

Integrative pain management\u00a0<\/strong>is a treatment approach that uses many types of complementary and alternative medicine such as laser technology, acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine, behavioral and physical therapy, and patient education to address and resolve pain.<\/p>\n

Since many of these integrative pain therapies are not backed by statistically significant clinical trial results, many insurance companies do not cover the procedures. The out-of-pocket costs make\u00a0the treatments unattainable for many people.<\/p>\n

Interventional pain management\u00a0<\/strong>is a more traditional and proven medical treatment approach. Medical physicians use minimally invasive medical procedures to interrupt the nervous system\u2019s transmission of the pain-filled messages from the nerve endings to the brain. In the case of chronic or severe pain, interventional pain management seeks to disrupt the pain cycle.<\/p>\n

Bone & Joint employs medical doctors who are board-certified and fellowship-trained in physiatry and pain management procedures. These pain management specialists are medical physicians dedicated to finding unique solutions for their patients. They use scientifically proven techniques and treatments to block or treat pain caused by:<\/p>\n