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Back & Neck Pain Patient Resources
Before arriving at our FirstHealth Interventional Pain Medicine centers, many of our patients had difficulty planning their lives around chronic pain.
FirstHealth is here to provide you with a bit of peace of mind, knowing what to expect when our specialists help diagnose and treat you as a patient.
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Overview
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT:
Our pain physicians are experts in the prevention, assessment and treatment of pain. First established in 1995, we are the longest standing practice of pain management specialists in the Sandhills. The team at FirstHealth Interventional Pain Medicine includes seven board-certified anesthesiologists who also specialize in pain medicine and four advanced practice providers who combine for more than 40 years of experience as clinicians.
Initial appointments might include one or more of the following: a physical exam, interview about your medical history, pain assessment and diagnostic tests or imaging. We will work together to determine a diagnosis and then develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
WHAT TO EXPECT BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
Improvement of chronic pain commonly requires a combination of treatments including physical therapy, medications and interventional procedures. We work with our patients to develop the best treatment plan for their pain and lifestyle. Our goal is for our patients to have improvement not only of their pain, but also sleep, mood, physical activity and relationships.
Prior to scheduling you for a procedure, we will review your past medical history and current medications thoroughly to ensure safety. You will have time with our team to review the possible risks and benefits of each procedure before proceeding. Our goal is to make your experience with us as stress-free as possible.
Some of the procedures we perform do require sedation through an IV, which will require you to stop eating and drinking at midnight the day of the procedure. There are also certain medications (blood thinners, in particular) that should be stopped prior to a procedure. Our team of nurses will give each patient a specific list of instructions prior to a procedure to ensure safety and seamless experience.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE PROCEDURE
Our providers offer a wide array of procedures, ranging from simple steroid injections to more involved procedures requiring minimal sedation, and the recovery process may vary for patients. The good news is that all interventions are done on an outpatient basis and you will be able to go home the same day.
For most procedures, we advise you to rest for the remainder of the day, and then gradually resume your normal activities over the next few days. The benefits of some procedures can be seen in as little as 15 minutes. Others may take up to a week to evaluate any changes.
Your nurse and doctor will have answered questions and gone over all aspects of your procedure, including after care, at your consultation. Once your procedure is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area where our nurses will monitor you. During this time, your nurse will also re-educate you on the post-procedure instructions. Additionally, a handout will be provided with written instructions and phone numbers to contact should you have any further questions.
ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE PATIENT RESOURCES
FirstHealth is here to help manage your pain. For more information on the location of your procedures, visit our location page and contact the nearest location most convenient to you or check out our list of pains and treatments to see the different options of how FirstHealth can help you manage your pain:
PATIENT RESOURCES LINKS