The Institute for Pain Medicine

The Institute for Pain Medicine provides patients who experience chronic pain with specialized care and treatment.

Since 1997, The Institute for Pain Medicine has been providing the most comprehensive range of diagnostic procedures and treatments for people with chronic pain. Since then, the center has become the largest, most state-of-the-art center for pain treatment in the region.

Nerve blocks with fluoroscopy, medications, physical therapy and patient education are common treatments that can be conveniently performed in our newly expanded and renovated facility, which is equipped with its own freestanding fluoroscopy suite.

Our specially trained physicians perform highly-specialized procedures such as IDET, nucleoplasty, LASE, vertebroplasty, spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal infusion pumps in the West Penn Hospital operating suites.

At the initial evaluation, the treatment plan is discussed with the patient. All risks, benefits, and other treatments available are also presented. Communication about the treatment and the patient's progress is conducted with the primary physician on a regular basis.

Services
The Institute for Pain Medicine meets treatment objectives through a multidisciplinary approach to pain management. Various modalities of pain control may be used, including:

• nerve blocks, some of which involve the use of fluoroscopy
• various medications, most often anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant medications, in various combinations
• physical therapy, as appropriate for certain patients
• psychological evaluation and treatment, as indicated
• patient education to encourage the patient's understanding, cooperation, and participation in treatment

All treatments are carried out in close collaboration with the referring physicians and with other specialists as required.

The treatment of chronic pain has been shown to be more successful when initiated in the early phase of the problem, ie, before chronic nervous system changes have taken place. Physicians are encouraged to refer patients for treatment when the pain continues beyond the acute stage and the patient has failed to respond to available treatment.

Emergency Care
A pain physician is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer any emergent questions or concerns.

For more information about the Institute for Pain Medicine at West Penn Hospital, please call 1-877-286-7246.