A Conversation about Pain Management Chronic Pain is a common condition that affects many individuals in the United States. The Gateway Veteran spent a few moments with Interventional Pain Management Specialist and Anesthesiologist, Dr. Kathleen “Kate” Meacham, MD, PhD., to learn more about what VASTLHCS offers Veterans who suffer from chronic pain. Gateway Veteran : What is Interventional Pain Management? Dr. Meacham : Interventional Pain (IP) Management is the part of Comprehensive Pain Management that involves injections, procedures, and devices for reducing or blocking pain. Usually these procedures are injection-based and can promote healing, reduce inflammation, and/or change the way that pain is felt by the body. We work for and with the Veteran-- based on what is important to them--and what works best for their pain management goals. As our VA’s IP specialist, I work closely with the Veteran’s entire healthcare provider team to ensure that each Veteran has a coordinated and comprehensive plan for meeting their chronic pain needs. Gateway Veteran : Tell us about patients who come to see you for Pain Management. Dr. Meacham : More than 1 in 5 adults * in America experience chronic pain, with numbers being even higher for Veterans. Many suffer in silence, so it’s very rewarding when we get a chance to help. Veterans of every age, race, and gender come to see us for their Pain Management, which means I get to meet (and help) all types of amazing Veterans as part of my job. I can’t express Dr. Meacham : Available treatments for managing chronic pain are growing, both in the field of Pain Management as well as here at our VA. We most recently added a procedure called “Radio Frequency Ablation” that target nerves in the back and knee. So many of my VA colleagues went above and beyond to make sure that I could do this, because they knew it would be of great benefit for our Veterans. With their support and guidance, I will continue to add procedures based on what our Veterans need the most. Let me add that if we don’t offer a specific procedure here, we can connect our Veterans with providers who do. As a field, Pain Management can target every aspect of the chronic pain pathway, including nerves, muscles, joints, bones, spinal cord, and the brain. If we don’t offer a procedure or technique here, we know about what options are available and what evidence exists for their safety and effectiveness. enough what a tremendous privilege that is for me, every day. Gateway Veteran : What types of treatments are available?
* Refs: Yong, R. Jason et al, Prevalence of chronic pain among adults in the United States, Pain 163(2): p e328-e332, February 2022
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