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Pain Relief Center

The team at St. Mary’s Pain Relief Specialists provides pain treatment and relief for patients with acute or chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Many patients who come to St. Mary’s Pain Relief Specialists have undergone medical and/or surgical treatments in the past, but are still experiencing significant pain. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of pain treatment in a caring and professional atmosphere while striving to enhance the quality of life and function of each and every patient.

At the Pain Relief Specialists, physicians and staff work one-on-one with each patient to design and implement a personalized pain management program. New patients begin with an initial evaluation at which time pertinent medical records, X-rays, and other test results are reviewed. The patient is then examined by a physician consultant for an in-depth assessment, followed by development and implementation of a comprehensive pain relief program.

Patients must be referred by a physician to the Pain Relief Center.

St. Mary’s Pain Relief Specialists offer the latest therapies available for treating common pain syndromes.

Featured Treatments

DRG Stimulation

St. Mary’s Pain Relief Specialists were the first in the Huntington area to use the Abbott neurostimulation system that targets the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a spinal structure densely populated with sensory nerves that transmit information to the brain via the spinal cord. This first-of-its-kind device delivers a form of spinal stimulation that can target the specific areas of the body where pain occurs. As a result, DRG stimulation gives physicians the ability to effectively provide pain relief to patients with neuropathic conditions in areas otherwise underserved by traditional spinal cord stimulation, such as the groin, lower leg and feet. DRG stimulation is also effective for patients suffering from chronic lower limb pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) who have previously tried multiple treatment options without receiving adequate pain relief.

NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic

St. Mary’s is also integrating Abbott’s NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic into its treatment model for patients currently receiving neuromodulation therapy. The first-of-its-kind remote patient care system allows a patient to both communicate with physicians and receive new stimulation treatment settings in real time anywhere with a cellular or Wi-Fi connection and a sufficiently charged patient controller.

mild®

mild is a  treatment option for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), a condition in which the lower spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal nerves in the lower back (Think of a kink in a drinking straw.). The mild Procedure removes excess ligament tissue to restore space in the spinal canal. The procedure typically takes less than an hour and can be performed thorugh a single, tiny incision smaller than the size of a baby aspirin. mild is an option for those patients for which more conservative therapies, such as physical therapy or pain medications, have not provided adequate relief. LSS symptoms include pain or numbness in the lower back when standing upright. 

Targeted Drug Delivery

Targeted drug delivery (or intrathecal drug delivery) uses the SynchroMed™ II infusion system to manage chronic pain. Targeted drug delivery interrupts pain pathways at their source in the cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord. An implanted, programmable pump and catheter release prescribed amounts of pain medication directly into the intrathecal space. The benefits of targeted drug delivery include: effective pain relief, reduced or eliminated use of oral pain medicines, improved ability to function and participate in day-to-day activities, fewer side effects compared to oral medication, patient satisfaction and cost benefits.

Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

A lumbar RFA is a procedure that uses radio waves to stop the lumbar media branch nerve from transmitting pain signals from an injured lumbar facet joint to the brain. Lumbar facet joints form a working motion unit that allows movement between two vertebrae. Abbott’s IonicRF™ Generator uses heat to target specific nerves and block pain signals from reaching the brain. Radiofrequency ablation has been used to treat pain, such as low back pain and Sacroiliac joint (buttocks) pain that failed to resolve with conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, injections or medication. 

Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or neurostimulation, is an innovative and unique treatment option used to treat a variety of pain conditions without the need for invasive surgery. Abbott’s BurstDR™ stimulation works to reduce pain by altering the pain signals as they travel to the brain, using a generator, a small device implanted in your body similar to a cardiac pacemaker. The generator sends pulses that modify the brain signals and change the way the body perceives pain. Neurostimulation may be an option for patients with: chronic pain in the back, arms or legs lasting at least six months; neuropathic pain; or patients who have found little or no relief from other treatments.

Other treatments include:

  • Physical or occupational therapy
  • Psychological assessment and therapy
  • Epidural steroid injections
  • Peripheral nerve blocks
  • Facet blocks
  • Sympathetic block (lumbar sympathetic and stellate ganglion)
  • Plexus blocks
  • Neurolytic blocks
  • Ultrasound-guided injections
  • Joint injections
  • Trigger point
  • Botox injections
  • Medication management

Common pain syndromes treated include:

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

CRPS, formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), is a condition that causes symptoms including pain, swelling, and changes in skin color, texture and temperature. CRPS usually affects the extremities — arm, leg, hand or foot — but can affect any part of the body. Most cases of CRPS start after a soft tissue injury (such as a sprain), fracture or surgery. The pain can be intense and is much more than what would be expected during recovery from an injury, fracture or surgery.

Signs and symptoms of CRPS include:

  • Continuous pain that gets worse over time.
  • Pain that is out of proportion to the severity of your injury.
  • Extreme sensitivity to pain such that a very light touch to your skin produces severe pain.
  • Pain that spreads. (For example, pain from an injury to a finger or toe spreads to your entire arm or leg. Also, pain that travels to the opposite extremity.)
  • “Burning” pain or a feeling that the affected limb is being squeezed.
  • Skin swelling. Swelling in your affected limb that may come and go or remain constant.
  • Decreased range of motion/loss of function, tremor. Decreased ability to move your affected limb and/or increased stiffness. Difficulty placing pressure on your affected limb or joint.
  • Changes in skin temperature. The skin on your affected extremity feels warmer or cooler compared to the opposite extremity.
  • Changes in skin color, appearing as blotchy, pale, purple/bruised or red.
  • Changes in skin texture, becoming shiny and thin or excessively sweaty.
  • Changes in nail and hair growth. There may be rapid hair growth or no hair growth.

Symptoms of CRPS typically start within four to six weeks after the injury, fracture or surgery.

Other common pain syndromes treated include:

  • Cancer pain
  • Joint pathology of the spine (facet and sacroiliac joints)
  • Radiculitis
  • Myofascial pain syndrome
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Deafferentation pain (post amputation, phantom limb pain)
  • Postherpetic neuralgia/shingles
  • Facial pain
  • Pelvic pain
  • Spasticity
  • Chronic back/neck pain

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