Patient History: Doctor gathers detailed information about the patient’s medical history, including any previous injuries, surgeries, chronic conditions, and any family history of pain-related disorders. Doctor will also ask about lifestyle factors like activity level, posture, and occupation.

Pain Assessment: The patient is asked to describe the pain—its location, intensity, frequency, duration, and any triggers or relieving factors. 

Physical Examination: Doctor conducts a physical exam to assess the patient's range of motion, muscle strength, posture, and areas of tenderness. This helps identify any obvious sources of pain or dysfunction.

Once the initial consultation is complete, the next step is to conduct diagnostic tests to gain a clearer picture of the underlying cause of the pain. These tests may include:

X-rays: To assess bone structure, detect fractures, joint degeneration, arthritis, or other abnormalities.

CT Scan (Computed Tomography): A more detailed imaging option than X-rays, CT scans can reveal joint damage, fractures, or spinal issues, especially in areas difficult to visualize with regular X-rays.

Electromyography (EMG): Measures the electrical activity of muscles and can help diagnose nerve damage or conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or radiculopathy.

Ultrasound: Used for real-time imaging of soft tissues and joints, particularly useful for guiding injections and assessing conditions like tendonitis or joint inflammation.

These imaging tests help confirm or refine the diagnosis, enabling the provider to choose the most appropriate treatment options.

Once diagnostic tests are completed, doctor will analyze the results to identify the underlying cause of the pain. This could include conditions like:

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Such as arthritis, tendinitis, ligament sprains, or muscle strains.

Neurological Disorders: Including nerve impingements (e.g., sciatica), herniated discs, or neuropathy.

Spinal Conditions: Like spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or facet joint dysfunction.

Chronic Pain Syndromes: Conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

With a clear diagnosis in hand, doctor can proceed to recommend appropriate treatment options.

Non-surgical interventions are typically the first line of treatment for pain management and may include:

Physical Therapy: Exercises designed to improve strength, flexibility, and posture, which can alleviate pressure on painful areas. Therapy may include stretching, strengthening, and low-impact aerobic exercises.

Medications: Depending on the nature of the pain, medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, muscle relaxants, or topical analgesics may be prescribed.

Heat/Cold Therapy: Applying heat or cold to the affected area can help reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and alleviate pain. This is often used in combination with other treatments.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation): This device delivers low-voltage electrical currents to the skin to stimulate nerves and reduce pain signals.

Massage or Manual Therapy: Sometimes used to relieve tension, improve circulation, and reduce pain in soft tissues.

These treatments are aimed at reducing symptoms, improving function, and avoiding the need for invasive procedures.

Injections are often used to deliver medication directly to the area of pain, providing more immediate and effective relief. Types of injections include:

Corticosteroid Injections: These are anti-inflammatory medications that can reduce swelling, pain, and inflammation in joints, muscles, and soft tissues. They are commonly used for conditions like arthritis, tendonitis, or bursitis.

Epidural Steroid Injections: These injections are delivered into the epidural space of the spine to treat conditions like sciatica, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis.

Facet Joint Injections: These are used to treat facet joint arthritis or spinal degeneration by injecting anesthetic or anti-inflammatory drugs directly into the facet joints.

Nerve Blocks: Used to target specific nerves that may be causing pain, such as in cases of radiculopathy or nerve compression.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: This is a newer treatment where a patient's own blood is processed to concentrate platelets and growth factors, which are then injected into the painful area to promote healing.

Ultrasound-Guided Injections: Ultrasound guidance allows for precise placement of the injection, especially in areas that are difficult to access or visualize. This is particularly useful for joint, tendon, or muscle injections, improving the accuracy of the injection and increasing its effectiveness.

Injections can provide fast, targeted relief, often allowing patients to engage in physical therapy or other treatments with less pain.

After injections, patients need appropriate post-care to ensure optimal outcomes and avoid complications. Post-injection care may include:

Rest: The patient may be advised to rest the treated area for a short period (usually 24–48 hours) to allow the medication to take effect and avoid irritation.

Activity Restrictions: Temporary restrictions on activities that could strain the treated area, such as heavy lifting or high-impact exercise.

Ice/Heat: Applying ice or heat may be recommended to manage any temporary soreness or inflammation after the injection.

Pain Monitoring: Patients should monitor their pain levels and note any changes, whether improvement or worsening. This helps the healthcare provider assess the efficacy of the treatment.

Follow-Up Appointments: A follow-up appointment may be scheduled to evaluate the response to the injection, assess progress, and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. This may involve reassessing pain levels, reviewing any new diagnostic information, or considering additional interventions like physical therapy, other injections, or alternative treatments.

Additional Treatments: Depending on how the patient responds, further interventions may be recommended, including additional injections, or a shift to other therapeutic options like more intensive physical therapy, chronic pain management strategies, or, in rare cases, surgery.