Treating Pain, Improving Lives

    Fifty million Americans suffer from chronic pain, a constant condition that can ruin relationships, careers-even lives. Fortunately, in Greenville and eastern North Carolina, a team of highly qualified professionals is available to help alleviate this chronic problem.
    Eastern Carolina Pain Consultants is a division of East Carolina Anesthesia Associates and provides services at the Pain Management Center, in Greenville, NC, for all aspects of acute and chronic pain management in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. In addition, the Pain Center participates in the joint care of patients with East Carolina University's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. ECPC's physicians have advanced training, board certification, and extensive clinical experience in pain medicine. Their goal is to provide unsurpassed quality of care for acute and chronic pain services in eastern North Carolina.
    The ECPC interventional pain clinic provides all aspects of medical, interventional, behavioral and alternative techniques to manage pain. These techniques include: medical management, radio-graphically guided injections, intravenous infusions, neuro-modulation and implantable technologies (provided in cooperation with a specialized surgical team.)
    "Our goal is to help relieve the pain of a variety of patients and improve their outlook on life," said Dr. Lynn Johnson, the medical director and a physician with ECPC. "We offer state-of-the-art treatment options, and everyday, we strive to find new and less invasive technologies and treatment options to best serve the needs of our current and future patients," he said.
    ECPC specializes in treating spine disorders. They also evaluate and treat patients with post-surgical pain, cancer pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, post-herpetic neuralgia and other conditions. ECPC also performs procedures for refractory neck and back pain that can provide clinically significant relief of pain. The procedure can be repeated later if pain redevelops.
    "Once a patient is evaluated, a diagnosis is established. Many therapy options are available, which can also be combined with ongoing physical therapy, medication and psychological treatments," he added.
    ECPC works closely with referring physicians to determine the best possible care for patients. The group prides itself on staying abreast of cuttingedge technologies. They have used implantable neurostimulation devices and spinal pumps since 1998.
    Thyria C. Butler, a neurostimulation patient, who came to ECPC after incurring nerve damage to her leg from a surgical procedure, was in "excruciating long term pain."
    "The nursing staff at the Pain Center is superb. They have vast knowledge and true compassion for patients experiencing chronic pain," They always went the ‘extra mile' to make my visits comfortable," Butler said.
    According to Butler, after her procedure, there was no more excruciating pain, quality of life returned, and she returned to work full time.
    "Dr. Johnson took a personal interest in me, thoroughly explaining the procedure and risks with knowledge and professionalism that gave me the courage to proceed with the implant. I am most grateful!" she added.
    For more information about ECPC, call 252.847.0601.