Chronic pain can get in the way of living the life you deserve. When ongoing pain from an illness or injury interferes with your ability to live a meaningful life, there are options now available that incorporate the use of medications, physical therapy, surgery, nerve blocks or electrical stimulation to help enhance your quality of life.
Nicholas V. Varrati, MD, uses a peaceful approach to managing pain that begins with assessing the cause of your pain to determine what treatment options will be the most effective. The most common sources of chronic pain include:
- Chronic pain syndrome
- Chronic back pain in the lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine
- Degenerative disc disease – lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine
- Disc herniation
- Spinal stenosis – lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine
- Sciatica
- Arthritis – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Joint pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CPRS)
- Phantom limb pain
- Neuropathy – nerve pain
- Migraine headaches
Once the source of the pain has been determined, Dr. Varrati will employ methods designed to bring a level of relief to your pain. Some procedures may be done in the office including some joint injections to be major and small joints, trigger-point injections, and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), which involves the use of muscle energy to align your spine.
Some procedures are done in the hospital, often after more conservative non-surgical treatments have been ineffective. These include:
- Epidural injections into the lumbar, thoracic or cervical spine
- Transforaminal epidural injections to relieve leg and/or back pain and improve mobility
- Sacroiliac joint injections
- Medial branch block injections into the lumbar, thoracic or cervical Spine
- After the medial branch blocks have been performed, Dr. Varrati may also do radio frequency ablation, which burns the nerves to block pain. This procedure is only done in Dr. Varratti’s New Philadelphia Office.
Dr. Varratti’s serene approach to pain management works in concert with your desire for a solution that fits your personal goals to help control your pain. If you feel you could benefit from pain management assistance, talk with your physician for a referral. You can reach Dr. Varratti’s office by calling (740) 623-4142.