MSA highlights the role anesthesiologists play in pain management in September
LANSING, Mich. — Highly trained physician anesthesiologists play a vital role in diagnosing and managing pain for acute and chronic pain sufferers.
Throughout the United States, nearly 100 million people experience chronic pain, which can be debilitating and can adversely affect daily life. Pain management by a physician anesthesiologist can decrease pain and often improve function without the need for surgery.
“Physician anesthesiologists use a variety of sophisticated techniques to alleviate pain, improve function and increase quality of life,” said Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists President Dr. Neeju Ravikant. “September is Pain Awareness Month, when we recognize the acute and chronic pain many people suffer and the work physician anesthesiologists do to diagnose and reduce their pain.”
Pain management is a multidisciplinary field that functions on its own or in conjunction with other departments to treat patients. Not confined to the hospital, physician anesthesiologists run most outpatient pain clinics in Michigan and across the country. Anesthesiologists use individualized and multimodal approaches to pain care.
“We focus on non-opioid based treatments, using a wide variety of medications and techniques that can decrease painful conditions,” said Dr. Ali Jaffer. “Anesthesiologists can perform complex procedures to stop nerves from transmitting pain so patients can eliminate the need for opioid-based medications.”
Innovations in chronic pain have led to an increase in options that are minimally invasive, which are especially important for senior citizens. These sophisticated treatments include targeted medication therapy, injection therapy, spinal cord stimulator devices and more. A benefit to working with a physician anesthesiologist is decreased inflammation, enabling patients to participate in physical therapy, which leads them to regain strength and prevent further injury.
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