Pain Management vs Interventional Pain Management: Key Differences and What to Expect

Pain management or interventional pain management, which one is the best choice? Both of these medical approaches provide relief from discomfort and can improve body function. However, because of their differences, one is better than the other depending on your case. 

In this article, we will tackle what pain management and interventional pain management are, their key differences, when either is needed, and what you can expect.

Pain can occur after a car crash, a motorcycle accident, or even a simple slip & fall. That’s why at Surgery Consultants of Florida, we only provide efficient interventional pain management. Our surgeons, physicians, and other medical experts create pain management plans that are tailored to patients’ medical needs.

What is Pain Management?

Pain management is a comprehensive medical method focusing on relieving discomfort and improving daily function. This healthcare approach can deal with short-term discomfort or chronic pain. It can also manage different conditions, such as complex regional pain syndrome and peripheral neuropathy.

Different Pain Management Approaches

There are different types of pain control approaches. Understanding each one of them can help you take full advantage of their benefits.

Physical Therapy

Pain management therapy or physical therapy can help you regain your strength and flexibility after an accident. Through targeted exercises and manual techniques, stiffness can be reduced and mobility can be improved. Physical therapies could include physiotherapy regimens to aid recovery and avoid further injuries.

Pain Management with Medication

In some cases, medications are needed to manage symptoms. Some can be acquired without a prescription, while other medicines require medical supervision. Anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and nerve pain medicines are some of the common medications.

Alternative Approaches

Alternative options like acupuncture, massage, and cognitive-behavioral therapy help in relieving discomfort. Lifestyle changes, such as weight management and reducing stress are also included in alternative approaches since they can reduce pain levels.

What is Interventional Pain Management?

Interventional pain management—also called interventional pain therapy—is a specialized approach for pain relief. It directly targets the source of discomfort. Interventional pain treatments, such as nerve blocks, injections, and implantable devices are used to deal with long-term or severe pain.

Different Kinds of Interventional Pain Management

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections are often used for back and neck pain. By reducing inflammation around spinal nerves, they can reduce discomfort.

Facet Joint Injections

If you’re suffering from arthritis-related pain or joint discomfort, facet joint injections can help you. They can numb the affected area and improve mobility at the same time.

SI Joint Injections

Sacroiliac joint injections or SI joint injections are usually done when lower back pain occurs. These injections target the joint connecting the spine and pelvis.

Many people think that interventional pain management is just injections. However, interventional pain therapies go beyond that. They also include other minimally invasive procedures, such as spinal cord stimulation and radiofrequency ablation.

Pain Management vs Interventional Pain Management: 5 Key Differences

Pain management and interventional pain management can be confusing to many people. Many think that these medical approaches are the same. However, PM and IPM still have differences. Understanding their key differences will help you identify which treatment is right for you.

Approach to Treatment

• PM: often includes medications, therapy, and exercise.
• IPM: uses injections and procedures.

Targeted vs. General

• PM: can relieve the pain of many conditions.
• IPM: targets nerves, joints, and muscles to give better pain relief for certain conditions.

Non-Invasive vs. Minimally Invasive

• PM: doesn’t need invasive surgeries or procedures.
• IPM: relies on injections and nerve blocks, which are minimally invasive.

Efficiency

• PM: can’t handle pain caused by severe injuries or conditions from car crashes, workplace mishaps, and other traumatic incidents.
• IPM: can provide quicker pain relief from trauma-related pain.

Long-Term vs. Short-Term

• PM: ongoing, recurring sessions are needed to achieve optimum pain relief.
• IPM: requires fewer and less frequent sessions to provide longer pain alleviation.

The key differences between PM and IPM can provide insight to which would be best for your injury management. While PM can’t handle severe trauma-related pain, it is a great option for common pain and is non-invasive. Meanwhile, IPM options are minimally invasive. That’s why they can offer better targeted pain relief.

Do You Need Pain Management or Interventional Pain Management?

Pain management works best for mild to moderate pain.. This medical approach can also support those who are already recovering from their injuries by relieving ongoing discomfort.

On the other hand, if the pain is caused by severe injuries, then interventional pain management is a better choice. It can also deal with nerve-related pain, spine discomfort, and joint inflammation. IPM treatments are also used if the pain doesn’t improve after standard PM solutions.

Knowing which one to choose can help you relieve the pain sooner. You can start with PM treatments then opt for IPM solutions if the discomfort worsens. In some cases, patients begin with IPM to immediately alleviate severe pain then rely on PM treatments as their health gets better. In some cases, patients begin with IPM to provide immediate relief from severe pain to benefit PM treatments. For instance, if you have severe neck pain because of a car accident, doctors may suggest nerve blockers to loosen tension prior to starting PM treatment.

What to Expect from PM and IPM

Before you decide to get PM or IPM treatments, you should know what to expect from each of these medical approaches. Each of them follows a structured process to maximize pain relief results.

What to Expect from Pain Management

• Full assessment of medical history.
• Treatment plans that include medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.
• Ongoing follow-ups to track progress.
• Gradual improvements, but continued care is still needed.
• Treatment modifications to meet medical needs.

What to Expect from Interventional Pain Management

• A detailed evaluation involving MRIs, X-rays, and other medical imaging techniques.
• Treatment plans that include injections and nerve blocks.
• Scheduling of targeted treatments.
• Short recovery period after IPM sessions.
• Possible follow-up procedures for long-term relief and care changes.

Knowing what to expect from PM and IPM methods can help you make better decisions.

Trust Surgery Consultants of Florida for Reliable PM and IPM Services

At Surgery Consultants of Florida, we know how painful accident-related injuries and conditions are. With over 30 years of experience managing orthopedic extremity discomfort, such as shoulder, knee, and wrist pain. We also handle other severe injuries, such as bone fractures.

Our team offers reliable interventional pain management procedures, which includes facet joint and SI joint injections. We also create pain management plans where we complete a diagnosis to identify the cause of pain then tailor treatments to satisfy your medical needs.

If you’re in pain after a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact us. Book a consultation today and start achieving optimum recovery results.