Surgical Pain Management

Abstract

Pain management is often difficult, and patients frequently do not achieve complete pain relief with conservative measures. Surgical procedures for pain management can be efficacious treatment options for those experiencing chronic pain. Procedures can range from minimally invasive, such as single disc decompression, to complex, such as spinal reconstructive methods. Radiofrequency ablation is an additional method for reducing pain in an interventional manner and has been researched heavily in a few specific areas of chronic pain modulation. These modalities can be offered and should be discussed as options for patients with chronic pain that is persistent despite medical management. In our text we discuss the preoperative evaluation of surgical pain patients, the different methods of surgical pain management, and the role of radiofrequency ablation and the associated risks.