Advanced care for complex, chronic pain.

While some types of pain come from primary sources such as headaches, and others from secondary sources such as from surgery, the field of Interventional Pain Management treats all of it as a disease. This allows for the application of science and the latest advances in medicine to relieve your pain. And while many patients — especially those in chronic pain — may see a psychiatrist or therapist as part of their care, learning to cope with pain is less and less the focus of treatment.

Currently we have many modalities to help treat and manage your pain, including medication, interventional pain management techniques (nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulators, and similar treatments), along with physical therapy and psychological support. At our clinic, we focus on managing your pain with procedures — nerve blocks in particular. Medications are added when necessary.

The goal of Interventional Pain Management is to minimize pain, improve function, and increase quality of life. These three goals go hand-in-hand. Quite often it is not possible to completely eliminate pain, but meaningful relief and restored function are achievable.

The goal of interventional procedures is to diagnose the site of pain, decrease inflammation, and provide relief to help patients improve their quality of life. Pain that comes from injured or inflamed nerves can often be improved through medications delivered specifically to the area of injury. Patients who may benefit most are those with radiculopathy or other nerve injuries. An epidural steroid injection or selective nerve root block can target the nerve causing pain, providing immediate relief while steroids reduce inflammation over 2–3 days. These nerve blocks also allow patients to work effectively with physical therapists and regain strength with less pain.

Dr. Godoy has the expertise to perform a variety of nerve blocks that deliver both temporary and permanent pain relief. Implantable pain therapies such as spinal cord stimulators and intrathecal pumps are utilized when more conservative therapies have failed. Spinal cord stimulators deliver an electric current directly to the spine, masking pain with a pleasant tingling or numbing sensation. Patients use a remote control device to adjust the level of stimulation.