Pain Therapy in Bergamo: Targeted treatments for chronic pain relief

Pain therapy is a specialized branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and management of chronic pain, with the goal of improving patients' quality of life. Our team of pain therapy experts offers targeted and personalized treatments for the relief of chronic joint and back pain.

What is pain therapy

Pain therapy is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic pain. Unlike acute pain, which is a defense mechanism of the body to signal tissue damage, chronic pain persists beyond the normal healing period (usually more than 3-6 months) and can become a condition in its own right, even when the original cause has been treated.

Chronic pain can have multiple causes, including:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (arthrosis, low back pain, cervicalgia,

  lumbago and lumbosciatica)

• Peripheral neuropathies (diabetic, post-herpetic)
• Complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS)
• Oncological pain
• Chronic headaches and atypical facial pain
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Fibromyalgia

This type of pain can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, limiting their ability to perform daily activities, work, sleep and enjoy leisure time. In addition, chronic pain is often associated with mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression and sleep disorders.

Pain therapy aims to address this problem with amultidisciplinary, individualized approach that takes into account the specific needs of each patient. The process begins with a thorough pain assessment, including history, physical examination and, if necessary, complementary diagnostic tests (imaging, neurophysiological tests, laboratory tests).

Based on this assessment, the pain therapist develops a tailored treatment plan, which may include:

• Drug therapies: painkillers, anti-inflammatories, opioids, adjuvants
• Interventional procedures: joint infiltrations, nerve blocks, neurostimulation
• Pain management techniques: biofeedback, mindfulness, hypnosis
• Rehabilitation approaches: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise
• Psychological support: cognitive-behavioral therapy, support groups

The goal of pain therapy is not only to reduce pain intensity, but also to improve patients' function and quality of life, helping them to resume their activities and manage pain more effectively.

Pain therapy treatments at Life Clinic in Bergamo, Italy

At Life Clinic, Dr. Masaracchio offers a wide range of specialized pain therapy treatments, with a focus on ultrasound-guided infiltrations. These minimally invasive procedures allow the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs and local anesthetics directly to the site of pain, under the precise guidance of ultrasound.

Among the treatments offered:

• Ultrasound-guided joint infiltration: for the treatment of chronic joint pain, such as knee, hip, and shoulder.
• Echoguided piriformis muscle infiltration: for relief of sciatic pain caused by piriformis syndrome.
• Echoguided sacroiliac infiltration: for the treatment of pain in the lumbosacral region and sacroiliac joints.
• Ultrasound-guided lumbar peridural infiltration: for relief of low back and sciatic pain caused by herniated discs or spinal stenosis.
• Cervical intraforaminal ultrasound-guided infiltration: for the treatment of neck and arm pain caused by disc disease or arthrosis.
• Ultrasound-guided zygopophyseal facet infiltration: for relief of pain caused by facet joint disease of the spine.
• Ultrasound-guided scapular nerve infiltration: for the treatment of pain in the shoulder and scapular region.

These treatments are performed on an outpatient basis, do not require general anesthesia and allow the patient to return to their daily activities in a short time.

Back Pain Therapy

Back pain is one of the most common conditions treated in pain therapy. Whether it is low backpain, sciatica, neck pain, or back pain, this problem can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, limiting their ability to move, work, and perform daily activities.

Life Clinic offers specific treatments for back pain based on an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause. Treatment options include:

• Ultrasound-guided lumbar epidural infiltration: indicated for the treatment of low back and sciatic pain caused by herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or facet joint disease. This procedure involves injecting a combination of local anesthetics and corticosteroids into the epidural space, reducing inflammation and nerve root compression.
• Ultrasound-guided facet joint infiltrations: useful for treating pain caused by facet joint disease, such as osteoarthritis or spinal instability. Injection of local anesthetics and corticosteroids directly into the facet joints can reduce pain and improve spinal mobility.
• Ultrasound-guided cervical intraforaminal infiltration: indicated for the treatment of neck and arm pain caused by disc disease or arthrosis. This procedure involves injecting anti-inflammatory drugs and local anesthetics directly into the intervertebral foramen, reducing nerve root compression.

In addition to these interventional procedures, back pain therapy may also include pharmacological treatments, pain management techniques (such as biofeedback or mindfulness), and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs that combine specific exercises, manual therapies, and psychological approaches to improve patients' function and quality of life.

How is the pain therapy visit conducted?

The first pain management visit at Life Clinic aims to identify, assess, and diagnose the cause of chronic pain. During the visit, which takes about 15-20 minutes, the physician will collect the patient's medical history, perform an objective examination, and evaluate any previous diagnostic tests (x-rays, MRIs, electromyography).

Based on this initial assessment, the specialist will propose an individualized treatment plan, which may include one or more of the interventional procedures offered at our center. In some cases, further diagnostic investigations may be necessary to precisely define the cause of the pain.

The pain therapy visit does not require specific preparation, but it is advisable to bring along all medical documentation related to your pain (reports of previous visits, instrumental tests, list of medications taken).

Why choose Life Clinic for pain therapy in Bergamo, Italy?

Choosing Life Clinic for pain therapy in Bergamo means relying on a specialized center with top professionals and state-of-the-art technology. Our strengths include:

• Medical doctor specializing in pain therapy with years of experience and special training.
• Minimally invasive ultrasound-guided treatments for maximum precision and effectiveness.
• Multidisciplinary approach, with collaboration with other specialists (orthopedists, neurologists, physiatrists) for comprehensive patient care.

If you suffer from chronic pain and are looking for a center specializing in pain therapy in Bergamo, book a visit to Life Clinic. Our goal is to help you regain wellness and quality of life by freeing you from chronic pain.

Performance:

• Joint ultrasound infiltration
• Echoguided infiltration of the piriformis muscle
• Echoguided infiltration of the pudendal nerve
• Ultrasound-guided infiltration of the scapular nerve
• Ultrasound-guided infiltration of zygapophyseal facets
• Cervical intraforaminal ultrasound infiltration
• Lumbar peridural ultrasound infiltration
• Sacroiliac ultrasound infiltration
• Pain therapy visit