Treating pain requires an exceptionally broad range of expertise, technology, resources, and research. That’s why our inpatient and outpatient pain management services at UofL Hospital take a unique approach to treating pain.

Because no two patients are alike, and no one specialty can provide enough expertise to deal with all types of pain, each patient is treated by a team of experts. Thanks to this team approach, our pain management services have helped hundreds of patients reclaim their lives.

The Pain Management Center provides advanced medical expertise and the latest advances in pain management. Our center was developed when physicians began to see the long-term effects of pain.

Services

At UofL Health, our drive goes above and beyond to assist patients with the best possible care. Our physicians are anesthesiologists with fellowship training in pain. They all have been certified in the field of pain management.

The nursing staff has been specifically trained in pain management and keeps up with the latest treatments. Several have been certified in pain management nursing.

Inpatient Care: Acute Pain Service

Pain management is a priority at UofL Health. Our goal is to keep patients as comfortable as possible during their hospital stay.

We always strive to provide patients with excellent pain control. That is why our patients have the latest and most advanced care available to manage pain.

The amount of pain people experience varies. No two people are alike, therefore we all experience pain differently.

The acute pain service is available to patients at the doctors’ request. The acute pain service consists of a team of anesthesiologists that specialize in pain management. The pain specialists perform procedures or regional techniques that can block or reduce pain in specific areas. The block can last several hours to several days.

We encourage our patients and families to please ask if they have any questions or concerns about our procedures. We are here to both care for and support you.

Epidural Infusions

An example of one of these blocks is an epidural infusion for patients undergoing abdominal, chest, or pelvic surgeries. An epidural infusion is a way of giving pain medicine directly to the painful area.

The medicine is given through a small tube called a catheter into the epidural space in your back. The pain medicine surrounds the nerves in your spine. Epidural infusions can provide significant pain relief and allow patients to participate in activities to improve healing sooner, leading to a faster recovery.

Peripheral Nerve Injections

A peripheral nerve block is accomplished by injecting a local anesthetic near the nerve, or nerves, that control sensation and movement to a specific part of the body. This injection will temporarily numb the area in question, resulting in a number of benefits.

Peripheral nerve blocks are typically performed for surgeries of the upper or lower extremities but can also be used for other surgeries. Peripheral nerve blocks give us an alternative to general anesthesia and central nerve blocks for surgery.

In some cases, especially for patients with more serious medical issues, peripheral nerve blocks are safer than general or spinal anesthesia. Peripheral blocks can reduce the risk of post-operative fatigue/confusion, as well as dramatically reduce the incidences of nausea and vomiting.

Outpatient Care

Our Pain Management Center is an outpatient interventional pain practice, which means we do injections and work with other specialties, such as physical therapy, psychiatry, psychology, neurologists, and neurosurgery – as well as physical medicine and rehabilitation – to help manage painful conditions.

Chronic pain is “an unpleasant sense of discomfort” that persists or progresses over a long period of time, usually more than six months. In contrast, acute pain is pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable.

We are conveniently located across the street from UofL Hospital in the Jackson Street Outpatient Center. In addition to examination and treatment rooms, we also have a minor operating room. We also see patients in Shelbyville.

Research

In addition to diagnosis and treatment, the Pain Management Center at UofL Hospital conducts research into both acute and chronic pain.

Refer a Patient

Referring a patient to our Pain Management Center is a simple process. Simply provide us with a written physician’s order including:

  • Patient’s name, address, phone number, social security number and date of birth
  • Initial history, physical and progress notes
  • Notes indicating the reason for the referral
  • Any labs, X-rays or other pertinent studies
  • The patient’s insurance information
  • Referral and authorization numbers
  • Any other pertinent information you think may be useful

Pain Management Locations

Pain Management Providers

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