Intelligent Pain & Regenerative
Medicine Solutions
George J Graf, MD
Anesthesiologist and Pain Management
Physician located in Beverly Hills, CA
Pain Management
Chronic pain medications are lawfully prescribed by healthcare professionals. The use pain relievers and other medicines are the basis of chronic pain management. However, as with all medications, what works for one patient may not work for another person. In fact, for some people, pain medications may actually worsen their symptoms over time, or worse, they could lead to dangerous side effects.
Classes of Pain Medications:
There are essentially four major classes of medications used in the treatment of chronic pain. These are:
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Non-opioids - This includes aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and acetaminophen.
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Opioids - Also called narcotics, these include hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and others.
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Adjuvant analgesics - These medications are used to treat conditions other than pain, but have been found to be beneficial for the treatment of pain. Examples include anticonvulsants and antidepressants.
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Other - These medicines have no direct pain-relieving properties, but are often used to treat associated conditions (anxiety, depression, muscle spasms, etc.).
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can my pain be controlled without injections or pain medicines?
Yes, there are many options depending on if it's musculoskeletal or nerve pain.
If I need an injection, is it dangerous?
There are risks of inserting a needle into the body. These include bleeding, infection, and lack of benefit. These risks are minimal and the vast majority of patients see enormous benefits because we select the treatment modality carefully. The benefits of performing pain intervention are carefully calculated and discussed against risks before we proceed with any treatment.
What do you inject?
There are different medications/compounds that may be offered. The goal is to reduce or eliminate pain and improve function. The medication and compounds may include steroids, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), A2M (alpha 2 macro globulin), and/or stem cells.
How long with the benefits of an injection last?
It's not possible to accurately predict the level and duration of benefit. Many of our patients have improvement or elimination of their pain with a single injection. We reevaluate every patient after each intervention. All decisions on further treatment are discussed as a team.
Do you provide medicine management?
Dr. Graf uses many medications for pain. Many of these medications are habit-forming and require careful monitoring. When appropriate, patients will receive opioid medications under Dr. Graf's supervision. Dr. Graf is recognized for his expertise as as addiction management physician in assisting patients in withdrawing from habit-forming medications.
LOCATION
Intelligent Pain & Regenerative Medicine Solutions
8929 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Phone: 310-362-3812
Fax: 310-854-0284
OFFICE HOURS
Monday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Tuesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Thursday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday By appointment
Sunday Closed