A pain management doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating patients who experience acute (sudden), chronic (ongoing), or intermittent pain. Because of this physician’s focused medical training in determining the precise source of pain and recommending treatment that works, they’re best able to help you quell your pain effectively.
If you’re seeking a pain management doctor for your neck pain and arm pain, an orthopedic specialist is your ideal solution. Orthopedists are medical doctors who have in-depth knowledge and extensive training in the musculoskeletal system. Because of this, they’re highly equipped to treat the source of your neck and arm pain.
Let’s talk about how a specialized pain doctor can help provide relief from your arm pain and neck pain, and where you can go in Southeast Michigan for outstanding orthopedic treatment.
How Can a Pain Management Doctor Help You?
A pain management physician can provide some or all of the following, depending on the severity and location of your neck pain or arm pain:
Evaluation
During your first appointment with the pain management doctor, you will be asked questions regarding your medical history, lifestyle, and the medications and supplements you take. The physician will also conduct a physical exam to determine the location and severity of your condition and to check your muscle strength.
Diagnosis
The doctor will then provide a diagnosis of exactly what is causing your pain, or what is likely to be causing it. Some pain conditions are very complex, and so they warrant various types of testing in order to pinpoint the precise cause. Sometimes it’s a matter of a process of elimination – which is often the case when diagnosing fibromyalgia.
Treatment
The treatment your pain management doctor recommends will depend on the diagnosis, location, and severity of your pain. If your neck pain and arm pain are relatively mild, your doctor may recommend rest and physical therapy.
However, if you experience acute or chronic pain, your treatment recommendation will likely be a combination of two or more of the following solutions:
Prescription Medication
Your physician may recommend prescription-strength medicine to relieve your pain, reduce inflammation, and relax the surrounding muscles.
Nonsurgical In-Office Procedures
For chronic neck and arm pain, your pain management doctor may recommend and administer one of these popular nonsurgical pain-relief procedures:
- Cervical epidural steroid injection to deliver medication straight to the area of the spine (cervical = neck) from which the pain is emanating
- Cervical facet-joint injection to relieve pain and reduce inflammation in the joints of the spine
- Cervical medial branch block to disrupt pain signals from affected nerves
- Cervical radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat nerve pain
- Cervical selective nerve root block to calm down the nerve which is suspected as the source of pain
Physical Therapy
Your pain doctor may ask you to participate in physical therapy to relieve your neck pain and arm pain. That includes doing specific exercises to stretch and strengthen your muscles and teach you correct posture.
Surgery
If you do not achieve lasting and sufficient relief from nonsurgical treatments, then you may need surgery to effectively treat your neck and arm pain. The type of surgery that your doctor recommends will depend on your diagnosis and your overall health.
Keep in mind that many modern spine surgeries are now done via a minimally invasive approach and are outpatient – so you will likely go home later the same day.
Pain Management Doctor in Rochester Hills, Michigan
If you’re looking for a skilled pain management doctor to treat your neck pain and arm pain, contact Ahlgren Spine today. Our friendly team, led by Dr. Bradley Ahlgren, will help you address your pain so that you can get back to your daily life as quickly and safely as possible.
As a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, Dr. Ahlgren is experienced in treating different orthopedic conditions. Because the spinal cord is the nerve center of the body, it is instrumental in pain conditions of all kinds – and he knows exactly how to determine the cause of your pain and how to address it quickly, providing long-term relief.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahlgren, call us today at (248) 215-8080 or fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to relieving your pain and helping you get back on your feet!
