What is MEDLINK’s Pain Management Network?
MEDLINK’s Pain Management Network is dedicated to improving accessibility to Pain Management providers for patients, the physician and the benefit plans located throughout the United States.

Where are these Pain Management sites located?
The extensive panel of pain management sites are strategically located throughout the Nation and the Network is continuously expanding.

How about the quality of these providers?
The MEDLINK providers are credentialed and re-credentialed using NCQA guidelines. Technical quality and professional readings are continuously reviewed to meet the highest standards. The MEDLINK Pain Management providers include Board Certified/Eligible providers experienced and trained in Pain Management and/or Rehabilitation Medicine.

What specialties are included in the MEDLINK Pain Management Network?
The MEDLINK Pain Management providers include Neurosurgeons, Physical Medicine Specialists, Orthopedic Surgeons, Doctors of Osteopathy, Radiologists, Anesthesiologists, Pain Management centers, ambulatory surgery centers and hospitals. Most of our pain centers are multidisciplinary and vary in focus.

What types of pain disorders are treated with Pain Management providers?
A sampling of these disorders follows;

Work related injuries
Chronic Abdominal Pain
Post-herpetic Neuralgia
Back/Neck Pain
Phantom Limb Pain
Post-Surgery Pain
Cancer Pain
Chronic Pain Syndrome
Myofacial Pain
Joint Pain
Post Whip Lash Pain Syndrome
Neuropathic Pain
Regional Pain Syndrome
Headaches
Facet Joint Syndrome

What types of procedures are scheduled through the MEDLINK Pain Management Network?
Most Pain Management procedures can be scheduled through the MEDLINK Pain Management Network. These procedures include;

Discograms
Epidurals
Facet Blocks
Nerve Blocks
Trigger Point Injections
IDET’s
Radiology
Fluoroscopy
MRI’s

What are these procedures and the expected outcome?

Discogram: This procedure is usually done when a patient’s pain is significant enough to consider surgery. This procedure helps to confirm or deny the disc(s) as a source of one’s pain. A small needle is placed in the disc(s) using x-ray guidance and injects contrast (dye) into the disc(s). A CT or MRI can only demonstrate anatomy and can not absolutely identify one’s pain source. This procedure helps the surgeon plan the correct surgery or avoids surgery that may not be beneficial.

Epidural Injection: This injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into the epidural space to decrease inflammation of the nerve roots and normally reducing the pain and assisting an injury to heal. Increased function and reduced pain usually occurs within 3-7 days. The Epidural procedure is normally done in three (3) sessions when the first injection significantly reduces the level of pain that a patient experiences. This procedure may provide permanent relief or a period of pain relief that allows that allows other treatment like physical therapy or chiropractic care to be more effective.

Facet Joint Injection: This injection serves many purposes. A numbing medicine is placed in the joint and the amount of immediate pain relief one experiences confirms or denies the specific joint as a source of the pain. This numbing medicine also will allow a physical therapist or chiropractor to treat the joint. The time release medication will serve to reduce inflammation and further assist the therapist or chiropractor.

Nerve Root Block: A Nerve Block serves to prove which nerve exiting one’s spinal cord is causing pain. Numbing medication is placed over the nerve of concern. If the pain complaint is improved after the injection, this nerve is most likely the source of pain. If pain is not improved, the subject nerve is most likely not the source of the pain. This information is most helpful in determining future treatment.

IDET: The Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) is used to treat lumbar disc problems. The treatment is intended to treat the protein wall of one’s disc and reduce the volume of disc material that causes nerve irritation. After x-ray identifies the area affected, a catheter is guided into the disc through a needle and is heated for about 15 minutes and removed. The physician usually selects this procedure because it offers a less invasive option for the pain condition. It is normally a promising step in trying to reduce pain.
Trigger Point Injection: This procedure is normally used for treating chronic low-back pain or myofacial pain when bed rest, physical therapy and medication have not been a successful treatment program. Medication is injected into localized areas of pain in the muscles. These areas are trigger points.

What is the scheduling process with MEDLINK Pain Management Networks?