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Overview
Des Peres Hospital's Pain Center offers a multi-faceted approach to pain management. Problems addressed by the program include: headache, pain of the lower back, pain of the neck region, shingles, pain from cancer, pain following amputation, pain resulting from muscle spasms, pain from injury of a nerve close to the surface of the body, many other kinds of pain emanating from the nervous system, pain following spinal surgery, post-surgical pain that is chronic, and pain in the pelvis area.
Our goal is to improve the quality of life of our patients by
- Providing education to help take control of pain.
- Reducing pain and decreasing the need for medications.
- Coordinating and unifying pain management efforts
- Restoring an optimal level of functioning.
- Assisting patients to achieve and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Why Pain Management?
Chronic pain affects millions of Americans and represents a serious health problem. The constant stress caused by unremitting pain can interfere with a person's quality of life. Economic losses to patients, their families and employers amounts to billions of dollars every year.
Scope of Services
The Pain Center provides a wide spectrum of care including diagnostic and therapeutic interventional procedures aimed at improving quality of life. Our goal is to achieve maximum functioning in physical, mental, interpersonal and vocational spheres and to minimize patients' dependence on the health care system.
Our multi-disciplinary team consists of:
- Physicians on staff who are board certified in pain management and anesthesiology
- Registered nurses who have a special interest and experience in caring for patients who suffer from pain.
- Receptionists who schedule appointments and direct needs to the appropriate personnel.
The team works on a referral basis with other disciplines to meet patient needs. These include:
- Neurosurgeons
- Neurologists
- Physical Therapists
- Orthopedists
- Occupational Therapists
- Podiatrists
- Rheumatologists
- Internists
- Psychotherapists
- Psychiatrists
- Psysiatrists
Treatment Protocols
Because pain may be a complicated problem, the Pain Center uses a multi-disciplinary approach to address aspects related to its cause and treatment.
After an initial evaluation by a physician, a comprehensive, individual treatment plan is developed for the patient.
Although complete relief from pain may not be possible in each case, the treatment approach focuses on the patient's ability to manage his or her own pain, increase functionality, reduce dependence on medications and the medical system, and regain control of his or her life.
Procedures Performed
We offer the following services:
- Trigger point injections
- Botulinum toxin injections
- Piriformis injections
- Stallate ganglion blocks
- Lumbar sympathetic blocks
- Celiac plexus blocks
- Translaminar epidural steroid injections
- Diagnostic and therapeutic nerve root sleeve and facet injections
- Diagnostic and therapeutic peripheral nerve blocks
- Dorsal column stimulator trials and implantation
- Radiofrequency neurolysis
- Chemoneuroablation
- Provocative discography
- Spinal endoscopy,
- Minimally invasive discectomy
- Other indicated procedures or modalities
For a Physician Referral, call toll-free 1-888-457-5203. To reach the Pain Center, call 314-966-9162.
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