What Is Interventional Pain Medicine?

Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, often diminishing their quality of life and limiting daily activities. While traditional pain management approaches like medication and physical therapy provide relief for some, others require more advanced solutions. This is where interventional pain medicine comes in—a specialized field that uses minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat pain at its source.

In this article, Dr. Charron D. Woods from the Riverside Orthopedic and Spine Center discusses the principles of interventional pain medicine, common procedures, and how this evolving field is transforming pain management for those seeking lasting relief.

What Does Interventional Pain Medicine Involve? 

Interventional pain medicine is a specialized field focused on reducing pain through various interventions, ranging from medications to more advanced procedures like injections and surgeries. Physicians in this field utilize imaging techniques such as ultrasound and fluoroscopy (X-ray) to precisely guide treatments, ensuring the safe and effective delivery of medication to the targeted area.

“The most common issue we see people for is back pain,” notes Dr. Woods. “When you look at the data, about forty to fifty percent of people are going to have some type of pain over the next three months of their lives. The majority of those patients are going to be patients with back pain.”

Back pain can present in various forms, including pain in the lower back, mid-spine (thoracic spine), and neck, which is also considered part of the back. Many conditions stem from back-related issues, such as pinched nerves and sciatica, a common diagnosis treated through interventional procedures. Specialists address a wide range of back pain-related conditions to help patients find relief.

How Common is Chronic Pain? 

Individuals experiencing chronic pain—defined as pain lasting more than three months—should consider seeking treatment, especially if it begins to impact their daily life. Approximately 20% of adults suffer from chronic pain, with 6-10% experiencing high-impact chronic pain, which significantly affects their ability to work, care for loved ones, or perform basic self-care.

This widespread issue leads to billions of dollars in lost productivity annually. Patients should seek medical attention when pain starts interfering with their lifestyle and prevents them from doing what they need or want to do.

“A lot of times it's as simple as, ‘I can't stand up and vacuum my house.’ Sometimes, it's a bit more like, ‘I can't help my elderly parent’ or ‘I can't help my grandparent or my children.’ I have patients who come to me and say, ‘I have grandkids and I just want to pick them up, but my back is killing me. I need some help.’ So, those things, they seem simple, but they're very important for those folks,” shares Dr. Woods.

Riverside Healthcare's Specific Approach

Interventional pain specialists often receive referrals from orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons, as these surgical specialties typically do not perform the injections that pain specialists provide. While some procedures involve surgery, the majority are minimally invasive injections. At Riverside, providers perform nearly 60 per week.

When consulting with patients, the focus is on education and shared decision-making. Patients are presented with various options, including physical therapy and medications, though many have already tried these approaches before seeking interventional treatment. The goal is to inform patients about the risks, procedure details, and recovery expectations, allowing them to make autonomous, pressure-free decisions about their care.

“There are options for chronic pain,” assures Dr. Woods. “Like I said, low back pain is the most common reason for years lost, meaning you lose your productivity over time because you're less likely to do things. So, it's not like it's killing people, but quality of life is so deteriorated. Back pain is something we can treat quite effectively. It might not be a complete reduction to zero, but it can be to the point to where you're able to function a bit more and enjoy life more.”

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