Services
Pharmacologic Management
This refers to the use of pain medications (or pain pills) to manage your pain. Dr. Osta understands that the use of pain medications is necessary in order to improve the function and quality of life for many of his patients. When used safely and responsibly, a reasonable regimen of well selected pain medications can attenuate the level of pain to a certain degree. These medications vary from the over the counter remedies, to prescription non-narcotic medications, to the narcotics or opioids. Dr. Osta’s education and experience allow him to prescribe a pain medication regimen that is tailored to each patient’s specific condition while taking into consideration the possible side effects and complications that may result from the use of these medications. Dr. Osta follows the guidelines of the DEA, the State of Michigan and the professional societies in order to ensure a safe prescribing environment and ascertain the patient’s compliance. Pain medications have limitations and often can not provide a complete pain relief around the clock. As Dr. Osta tells his patients, pain pills are a “Band-Aid” and other modalities of pain management should be considered such as physical therapy and Interventional Pain Management.
Interventional Management
This is what is commonly referred to as the “Pain Shots” or “Pain Injections”. The use of this treatment option has proven benefits in order to improve patients’ function and quality of life and minimize the reliance on pain medications. Such interventions include Epidural Steroid Injections, Facet Joints Injection, Sacroiliac Joints Injections, Rhizotomy (burning of the pain nerves), Shoulders, hips, and Knees steroid injections, and others. These are simple office procedures that are done with the use of x-ray (fluoroscopy) guidance in order to maximize the accuracy and minimize patient’s discomfort. They are done with local anesthetics with no need for general anesthesia. There is usually no down time after these procedures. Dr. Osta has extensive education, training, and experience in performing these procedures. As an educator in some the major hospitals in the area, Dr. Osta taught many of the current pain specialists in the surrounding clinics how to perform these procedures.
