Pain Management Specialist
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Stephen P. Gibert, MD
Pain Medicine Physician & Addiction Medicine located in West Ashley, Charleston, SC
Lasting relief is hard to accomplish when you live with a chronic pain condition. With 20 years of experience as a pain management specialist, Stephen Gibert, MD, can help you manage your pain at his office in the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Gibert uses a conservative, holistic approach to treatment that includes both interventional methods and safe opioid management. To schedule an appointment, call Stephen Gibert, MD, or book a visit online today.
Pain Management Q & A
Why is pain management important?
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for 3-6 months or more and can take a toll on your physical, mental, and social health. It can affect every aspect of your life, from your ability to exercise to your concentration at work. Chronic pain conditions can be difficult to diagnose and treat, which is why doctors often prescribe opioids to mask the pain.
While Dr. Gibert appreciates the importance of opioids in pain management, his focus is targeting the root cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. This holistic approach ensures that you experience lasting relief from your chronic pain.
What are the most common chronic pain conditions?
Dr. Gibert treats a number of common chronic conditions including:
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain throughout your bones, muscles, and joints. Experts don’t know exactly what causes this painful condition, but there are effective treatments.. Along with chronic pain, fibromyalgia can lead to brain fog, fatigue, depression, and headaches.
Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is pain that reflects a problem in your nervous system. It often develops as a result of nerve damage. Most people describe neuropathic pain as a shooting or burning sensation that comes and goes. Many diseases and chronic conditions can cause neuropathic pain, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), and certain cancers.
Musculoskeletal pain
This includes common problems like back pain, joint pains, and myofascial pain, which is pain related to trigger points and muscular injury. There can also be widespread pain throughout your musculoskeletal system, as in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. If you have myofascial pain, you may also experience fatigue, headaches, poor sleep, and muscle stiffness. Correct diagnosis of this type of pain can be difficult and is especially important.
How do pain management treatments work?
Once Dr. Gibert determines the cause of your chronic pain, he can design a pain management treatment plan that eliminates your discomfort at the source. Experienced in medical pain management, he provides a full range of traditional, holistic, and interventional treatments, such as:
Lidocaine infusion
Lidocaine is a powerful anesthetic that numbs pain sensations. Physicians often use lidocaine gels, creams, or injections before certain procedures to reduce pain and discomfort. If you experience widespread chronic pain, Dr. Gibert can deliver lidocaine directly into your blood through an IV. This is a safe, effective treatment and provides lasting pain relief.
Lifestyle modifications
A healthy diet full of leafy greens, whole grains, and cruciferous vegetables helps reduce inflammation to relieve pain. Dietary changes may also help you lose weight, which decreases pressure on your joints. Along with a healthy diet, regular exercise helps strengthen your muscles, giving your joints an opportunity to heal.
Opioid management
Opioids help mask pain while your body heals. Opioids can also be useful to treat chronic pain when there are sometimes no other options. They’re especially effective at numbing pain when combined with other restorative treatments, such as physical therapy and nerve block procedures.
To schedule a visit with an experienced pain management specialist, call Stephen Gibert, MD, or book an appointment online today.
