Interventional Pain Management (IPM) finds the source of pain, and provides lasting treatment. The goal is as much pain-free time as possible – without prescription pain medication.
Dr. Kevin Smith may only visit Sault Area Hospital (SAH) a few times a year (every 3 months or so), but he is busy when he is here! Dr. Smith will book a full week in one of SAH’s Operating Rooms treating patients, back-to-back, all day.
Dr. Smith is an Anesthesiologist and IPM Specialist. He works to find lasting solutions for his patients’ chronic pain. “Pain is one of the most common reasons people seek treatment, second to the common cold,” said Dr. Smith. “The treatments we do seldom cure the underlying cause for chronic pain, but help reduce the pain burden. Patients can do more with less pain, and improve the quality of their life.”
Before Dr. Smith started visiting, SAH had been without this specialty for many years. Some patients went to Southern Ontario to see him, but the burden of travel was intense.
“The most common treatment that aligns with interventional pain medicine is spinal pain. People with chronic back or chronic neck pain,” explained Dr. Smith. “We use injection-type treatments to diagnose where the pain comes from. Different injections provide sustained pain relief for those parts of the spine. The goal is to stabilize the pain for the longest period of time with the fewest treatments.”
Most of Dr. Smith’s work relies on tools SAH already had in the surgical suite. There is one procedure that needed a new piece of equipment: a Radiofrequency Generator (RF Generator). Thanks to community support, we were able to bring this technology to SAH!
The RF generator uses radio waves to heat up a nerve that is sending pain signals. This can prevent the nerve from sending pain signals back to your brain. A successful RF procedure can leave a patient pain-free for 9 to 12 months. They may need repeat procedures, but relief lasts longer than
many other options. This can reduce the need for prescription pain medications.
Suzanne Aldersley was the first patient at SAH to receive treatment using the RF generator. She used to travel to Dr. Smith in Toronto for the same treatment!
"Traveling for treatment was difficult. We'd have to split our trip across two days because it was painful for mom to sit in the car for long stretches. Now, we can get that care here, at Sault Area Hospital." - Lisa Aldersley, daughter of patient Suzanne Aldersley
Gifts to Sault Area Hospital Foundation helped bring Dr. Smith and the RF Generator to Sault Ste. Marie. It’s thanks to the support of so many that patients will have access to pain management treatment, here at home.
The support of local donors helps SAH stay up-to-date with the latest equipment, helping every patient receive the best possible care.
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