Patient education & FAQ

A pain management specialist focuses on diagnosing the source of pain and treating it with a combination of approaches — such as targeted injections, nerve ablation, stimulation devices, medication guidance, and coordination with physical therapy — with the goal of reducing pain and improving day-to-day function.

It depends on your insurance plan. Some plans require a referral from your primary care provider before a specialist visit. Call us at (318) 855-3291 and we’ll help you check.

Acute pain is the body’s short-term response to an injury or surgery and usually improves as healing occurs. Chronic pain lasts beyond normal healing time — often defined as three months or more — and may need a different kind of treatment plan.

The skin is numbed before procedures, and most people describe pressure more than pain. Many treatments use local anesthetic only; some include light sedation. Your provider will explain what to expect for your specific procedure.

If you receive sedation, or for certain procedures that can briefly affect strength or blood pressure, you will need an adult to drive you home. We’ll let you know ahead of time.

Tell us about every blood thinner you take. Some procedures require pausing these medications, but never stop one on your own — we coordinate with the doctor who prescribes it to do this safely.

Steroid injections can raise blood sugar for a few days. Many people with diabetes can still have them; we recommend checking your sugar more often afterward and contacting your diabetes provider if readings run high.

It varies. Numbing medicine can work right away and then wear off; steroids often take several days; treatments such as radiofrequency ablation or PRP can take weeks to show their full effect. Results differ from person to person.

We accept most major insurance plans; please call to verify. Coverage for individual procedures differs between plans, and some treatments, such as PRP, are often not covered. Our staff can help you understand your benefits.

Please don’t. Our website form is only for contact information and scheduling requests and is not a secure channel for health information. For medical questions, call the office during business hours.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Signs that need immediate care include new loss of bladder or bowel control, sudden leg weakness, numbness in the groin area, chest pain, or trouble breathing.