



Pain Management Clinic
Specialists that form the Pain Management Clinic:
- *Algologist – pain specialist
- *Neurosurgeon – specialist in the nervous system
- *Anesthesiologist
- Psychologist
- Rehabilitation
- Infirmary
- Psychiatry
- General practitioners
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that can be felt by all living beings having a central nervous system: It is associated with an injury and is also described as a set of neurophysiological mechanisms that modulate physical damage information and send “protective” signals to the brain warning and alerting the body about an injury or damage. The science that studies pain is called ALGOLOGY.
The body sends warning signals to the brain which, in turn, modulates the physical damage information and, through pain, acts in order to warn about an injury. If the pain is persistent for 3 months or longer, it is time for a check-up given it is hence called chronic pain.
Types and Causes of Chronic Pain:
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These patients have different types of pain sensations: burning, sharp pain, numbness, tingling, itching and tearing.
The pain ranges from moderate to severe and may vary; however, it is so unpleasant that some people cannot even stand clothes, quilts, changes in barometric pressure, changes in altitude or drastic changes in temperature, sun exposure, rain, or so much as wind.
The distress can affect life and is complemented by stress, anger, tics, noise discomfort, seeing bright lights, insomnia, etc.
Palliative Care
Palliative Care is the branch of medicine responsible of preventing and lessening pain and provides the best possible quality of life to patients suffering a serious illness that compromises their lives; both for their well-being and that of their families. Palliative care is usually applied to terminally ill patients who are off-medical treatment or have very serious illnesses and are undergoing life-sustaining treatments.
Pharmacological Treatments
- Non-opiate oral medication (pills)
This is the first resource used by physicians combining and using different drugs and doses for effective pain management. This includes NSAIDs, from mild analgesics to such as acetaminophen to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
- Opioids
If the above is not successful, the next step are the opioids such as codeine, morphine or a pain relief patch. The body produces endorphins to attack pain. Opioids have a similar effect.
Infusion pumps – external drug administration.
They administer the opiate medication through an intravenous or epidural catheter into the spinal column. They are very effective to ease the pain.
- Peridural infusion pump
Usually, infusion pumps are surgically implanted in the abdomen. They send pain medication through a thin, flexible catheter (plastic tube) to the area around the spinal cord (called “peridural space”). The pain medication goes straight to the area surrounding the spinal cord. The infusion pump can offer significant relief with a small portion of medication than the one used in other treatments.
Neurolytic blocks
Neurolytic blocs are injections directly applied to certain nerves that destroy them or inhibit them from sending pain messages.
Neuromodulator
An implantable device similar in size to a pacemaker, placed under the skin it sends electrical stimulation through an electrode cable implanted close to the spinal cord or affected peripheral nerves.
Neuroablation
With neuroablation doctors destroy (usually with heat) the nerves that serve as pathways to the brain. Neuroablation is often a last resort when other brain treatments have failed.
Procedures
Pharmacological Treatment
To fight the pain there are different types of medicines with analgesics, anti-inflammatories, opioids and opiate derivatives, antiepileptics, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, etc.
Peridural infusion pump
This is a medication delivery device surgically placed under the skin of the abdomen and connected through a catheter (thin flexible tube) into the “peridural” space surrounding the spinal cord. Given that the medication is directly administered into pain receptors large doses are not required as with the pharmacological treatment (pills).
Neuromodulator
When you have already resorted to drugs, physical therapy and nothing is enough, Costamed Pain Clinic (COSTAMED PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC) has a comprehensive specialists’ team who can provide suitable information to recover the well-being sensation through neurostimulation.
Palliative Care
Palliative Care is the branch of medicine responsible of preventing and lessening pain and provides the best possible quality of life to patients suffering a serious illness that compromises their lives; both for their well-being and that of their families. Palliative care is usually applied to terminally ill patients who are off-medical treatment or have very serious illnesses and are undergoing life-sustaining treatments.
Where to Do It?






