Medication Management

Using medications to treat your pain is a very important aspect of our patient care program.

We use many medications, including medications to treat neuropathic pain, such as Gabatril, Topamax, Neurontin, Zanaflex, Zonegran, Elavil, Trazodone, Seroquel, Effexor, Lexapro and Cymbalta.

The medications which generate the most discussion, however, are the narcotics (opioids). Opioids are very important medications, which can be the difference between your functioning well and not functioning at all. They are also abused.

In order for us to provide you medications, we have to have a medical diagnosis; otherwise, we are simply providing medications for diversion and abuse, a practice we are diligent to avoid.

We will require information from previous providers

We will take a history and perform a physical exam.

We may require imaging studies and referrals to specialists.

Our goal, as physicians providing controlled substances and as specialists in interventional pain management, is to diagnose and treat the causes of your pain.

One common concern is that they are just a band aid. Remember, we use these medications to allow you to function in situations where we cannot cure your pain.

Our goal in providing medications to you is to decrease pain and increase function. If you receive large doses of opioids with no decrease in pain and no improvement in function, then you should carefully consider stopping the medications