Do You Offer Pain Management? How Our Physiatrists Treat Pain
Original Publication Date: October 2016
Updated October 2026
When it comes to pain management, our approach may look different from what you expect. Rather than starting with a prescription, we start by finding out where the pain is coming from.
At Rocky Mountain Spine & Sport, our goal is to help you find relief so you can return to the activities you enjoy.
What Does Pain Management Mean?
Pain management is a broad term for care that reduces pain and improves how well you function. According to the CDC, the goal of any pain care plan is to safely reduce pain and increase your ability to do everyday activities.
When people hear "pain management," they often picture a long-term prescription. Medication can play a role, but it is one of many tools that are available.
Why an Accurate Diagnosis Comes First
Pain does not look the same from one person to the next, even when two people share a diagnosis. Imaging has its limits, too. An MRI might show a bulging disc that has nothing to do with the ache you feel when you stand up from your desk.
That is why our providers start by asking questions and listening to your story. They also check how you bend, walk, and reach, then compare what they find with your imaging before recommending treatment.
Doctors often describe pain by how long it has lasted:
- Acute pain: Pain that has lasted in the short term and usually has a known cause, such as a fall on winter ice. It typically improves as the body heals.
- Chronic pain: Pain lasting more than three months. It can stem from an injury, a condition such as arthritis, or sometimes no clear cause at all.
- Subacute pain: Pain that lasts between one and three months.
Knowing what kind of pain you have helps as well. Sore muscles, strained joints, and irritated discs tend to produce one type. Neuropathic pain is different; it starts in nerves that have been injured or are misfiring. People with nerve pain often say it burns, stabs, or feels like a jolt of electricity.
Certain tests help narrow things down. An EMG (electromyography) can help find the cause of numbness, weakness, or tingling, while a medial branch block can both ease pain and show whether it is coming from the facet joints in the spine.
Where Do Opioids Fit In?
Opioid medications such as hydrocodone and oxycodone can reduce severe pain in the short term. Unfortunately, they also carry serious risks, including dependence, tolerance (needing more medication for the same relief), and overdose. Even when taken as directed, they may cause constipation, nausea, sleepiness, and confusion.
Our focus is on care that addresses the source of your pain, with multiple options available.
How We Treat Pain
Each plan is built around your diagnosis and goals. Several of our treatment options can serve as alternatives to surgery when a condition does not require it.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very thin needles placed at specific points on the body. This option can relieve chronic pain for some people, and it comes with fewer side effects than opioids.
Injections
An injection places medicine right where the pain starts. Our providers often turn to epidural steroid injections when an inflamed spinal nerve sends pain from the low back down the leg, or from the neck down the arm.
Facet, sacroiliac (SI) joint, and peripheral joint injections are other choices, depending on where your pain starts. For some patients, regenerative treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or prolotherapy may also be considered.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Many people with pain start with physical therapy, though everyone’s situation might look a little different. Bending forward might bother one patient, while leaning back is what sets off another.
A customized program can strengthen the muscles that support your spine and joints and teach you safer ways to move at work and at home. Many procedures are also followed by a home exercise program.
Procedures for Longer-Lasting Relief
When injections help but the relief fades, our spine treatment options include procedures designed to last longer. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses radiofrequency energy to heat the nerves that send pain signals from the facet joints. It usually follows a medial branch block or facet injection.
For chronic nerve pain that has not improved with other care, a spinal cord stimulator may be an option. This implanted device sends mild electrical stimulation to nerves in the spinal column, which changes the pain signal that reaches the brain. Patients complete a short trial first to see whether it helps.
Weight Management and Daily Habits
Excess body weight adds pressure to the spine and weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips. Our weight management program offers personalized support.
We also recognize that pain itself can make exercise much harder, so we move at a pace that fits your health.
When to See a Specialist for Pain
Pain that lingers or keeps returning deserves attention. Signs to watch for include:
- Dropping objects often: Trouble keeping hold of things can point to a problem with the nerves.
- Muscle weakness: Weakness in an arm or leg may signal nerve involvement.
- Numbness or tingling: A "pins and needles" feeling is worth having checked.
- Pain that is not improving: Pain that continues despite rest and home care may need a closer look.
Seek emergency care right away if severe pain, numbness, or weakness is quickly getting worse, or if you notice new trouble urinating.
Local Pain Management in Idaho Falls and Rexburg
Pain can touch every part of your life, and we understand how discouraging it is when relief feels out of reach. Thankfully, help is available. Our team will work with you to find the source of your pain and build a plan that supports healing.
Connect with us today to schedule a visit at our Idaho Falls or Rexburg location.