Types of Pain
Living with untreated pain can severely impact one’s quality of life socially, psychologically, physically and financially. Pain may also cause other conditions such as decreased concentration, increased cortisol levels, weight gain, reduced sleep, impaired immunity, decreased mobility, depression and social isolation, sense of being a burden on others, anxiety, etc.
A team approach to each patient as an individual guided by expertise and compassion is critical for achieving the best outcome.
“Dr Baird and his staff have really helped with my shoulder and neck pain. I feel so taken care of.”
– Sarah, McAlester
Our Approach
Our team consists of a neurosurgeon specializing in pain, a pain management physician, nurse practitioners, addiction medicine, behavioral health and physical therapy. With this team we focus on identifying the source of the pain and addressing this directly. This approach will use various modalities of physical therapy, StimWave Therapy, home exercises, Non steroidal anti-inflammatories, compounding medicine topical creams, narcotic pain control as needed, injection therapies, and surgical intervention for spinal axis and nerve pain when appropriate.
This team approach allows a full array of treatment options so that you will be treated with a full choice of options.
Sedation Intervention
We offer conscious sedation and anesthesia as needed for all of our injection therapies. We understand the anxiety and pain around receiving an injection. The morning of the procedure you should arrive 30 minutes early to allow time for your IV for sedation. You should not eat or drink 6 hours prior to the planned procedure time.
Narcotic Pain Control
Many patients have tried everything without meaningful pain control. If you have exhausted non narcotic treatment options and your condition warrants further therapy for control of pain we may offer narcotic pain control. We recognize the concern this may raise and will carefully guide you through such prescribed therapies. We follow CDC guidelines while maintaining an individualized approach. For more information from the CDC please visit https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/patients/index.html.
Surgical Interventions
Being guided by a surgeon allows our pain team to recommend surgery when this is the best option rather than take you through a series of injections. Your surgeon may sometimes still recommend injections for diagnostic or potential therapeutic uses. Surgery is indicated when you have not responded to non surgical options and your imaging demonstrates anatomy that can be addressed with a surgical intervention such as severe spinal stenosis, disc herniations, a slipped disc (spondylolisthesis), or other anatomically addressable causes of pain.
