What you need to know before referring your patient to a chronic pain specialist

Chronic pain impacts millions of patients annually, often leading to associated symptoms like fatigue, depression, anxiety and frustration. Novant Health's team approach to pain management provides innovative, nonsurgical solutions to help achieve long-lasting relief.

"I think our interdisciplinary approach to pain management sets Novant Health apart from our competitors," says Jonathan French, MD, an interventional physiatrist at Novant Health. "In the greater Charlotte and Triad regions, you may have only physiatry/interventional spine or pain management within a practice, but rarely both specialties under one roof. This allows us to offer a more targeted approach and comprehensive treatment plans that would otherwise not be available."

Novant Health offers an essential resource for patients who have either not responded to first-line treatments or have undergone surgery yet continue to experience pain. When the source of a patient's pain is unclear, pain management specialists are equipped to provide a precise diagnosis, which may include:

Depending on the diagnosis, patients will be referred to a neurologist, orthopedist, physical therapist, physiatrist or psychologist. Following initial evaluation, a multidisciplinary team can quickly implement nonsurgical, interventional therapies that often provide substantial relief. Patients requiring surgical interventions can be seamlessly referred.

"Our team is vertically integrated and works closely with the surgeons and therapists," said Jacob Wang, MD, a pain medicine specialist with Novant Health. "We want to make sure we do our best to address underlying causes of symptoms to help improve function and quality of life — not just in the short term but also in the long term."

Novant Health's nonsurgical pain management program includes several advanced techniques that are making a difference for patients:

CT-navigated procedures: For certain complex pain cases, CT-guided techniques improve the safety and efficacy of injections and other interventions.

Occupational and physical therapy: Proven movements and exercises to help relieve pain in specific areas of the body

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS): This newer, minimally invasive approach involves implanting a small device to stimulate peripheral nerves, offering significant relief from chronic pain.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): This minimally invasive technique uses heat from radio waves to target and destroy specific nerves, preventing their ability to transmit pain signals.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS): SCS uses an implanted device to deliver electrical impulses to disrupt pain signals before they reach the brain.

Ultrasound-guided injections: A precise and minimally invasive option for treating musculoskeletal and soft-tissue pain using ultrasound imaging to pinpoint placement.

"Many of the newer technologies are seeking a higher level of evidence, and studies often show durable relief out to three to five years, whereas in the past, many procedures had much more limited evidence," said Dr. Wang.

As one of the only systems in the area capable of managing complex cases within a single, integrated system, Novant Health offers a comprehensive suite of options that address even the most challenging pain conditions. Our pain specialists and physiatry bring extensive expertise in advanced interventional techniques and salvage therapies as well as medication management. With adjuvant medications, such as neuromodulators, antidepressants, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories, the team collaborates to provide a continuum of care.