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“Many times, after a few sessions of physical therapy or some
lifestyle changes, patients are doing much better,” Dr. Young says.
But if not — and if the pain is still affecting the patient’s ability to
function and enjoy life — other interventional approaches, such as
medications or injections, may be needed. Dr. Young and his team
have advanced technologies to help patients be in charge of their
domains, including two that work by remote control.
With the press of a button
One of those options is a pump that’s implanted in the body to send
medication directly to the central nervous system. It can be used with
a remote control so patients are able to adjust the dose. With these
pumps, patients need smaller doses than if they took the medication
orally, and they may experience fewer or weaker side effects.
Many patients also find relief via another type of implanted device:
a spinal cord stimulator. This small device is implanted in the lower
back and sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord. Those
impulses are programmed to interfere with pain signals to
the brain. “Some people describe it as a bubbly sensation,”
Dr. Young says. The patient uses a remote control to adjust the
impulses according to the level of pain.
Easing the pain
Dr. Young thinks many people simply
accept their pain because they don’t
realize there are so many options. Helping
each patient find the right options — the
ones that lead to relief and the ability to function
again — brings him great satisfaction. “The other
day, a grandmother told me she’s able to pick up her
granddaughter,” he says. “That simple statement
means so much. It makes me very satisfied with
what we are able to do.”
If chronic pain has taken over your life, ask your
primary care physician about a referral to the
Ukiah Valley Medical Center Pain Management
Clinic. For more information, call 707.463.8003.
Meet our team
Rachel Chavez, PAC,
Pain Specialist
Michael Young, DO,
Interventional Pain Specialist
