Interventional Pain Management

Why Choose Ochsner for Pain Management?

Don’t let pain control you. Remember when you used to be able to take the steps three at a time? When you didn’t have to grab a shopping cart in the parking lot just to get you to the front door of the grocery store? When you could clean your kitchen without having to sit down between tasks?

Not only is dealing with chronic pain exhausting, it’s depressing. When you hurt, it affects every aspect of your life. It’s hard to take joy in the little things when your knee is throbbing, you can’t turn your neck without wincing, or you’re constantly having to call in sick with a migraine, something non-sufferers just don’t understand. Shingles, too, are something people can’t understand till it happens to them.

Fixing the Problem, Not Just the Pain

At Ochsner, we offer revolutionary new therapies to treat patients suffering from chronic pain when conservative medicine hasn’t helped. With today’s treatments, most pain – regardless of type and amount – can be controlled safely and effectively. Our team has deep, specific expertise in a broad range of specialty areas. We’re here to help you sleep better, eat better; move more and feel more positive. With our help, you can become yourself again.

Schedule An Appointment

To schedule an appointment, call 866-624-7637

Ochsner Interventional Pain Management

More than 100 million Americans suffer from severe pain, an incidence rate which outpaces heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. Every year, thousands of patients who have tried multiple treatment options without success are finding the relief they seek from head to toe – from migraine to diabetic foot pain and everything in between – from the team at Ochsner Pain Management. We have locations all over South Louisiana with doctors who are part of the #1 medical center in the region.

When it comes to pain, there’s no one answer. Relief usually comes in the form of a combination of diet, strengthening exercises, procedures such as injections and ablations, medication, social support and – sometimes – complicated surgeries only performed at Ochsner.

The Latest Diagnostic Technology

Ochsner patients are diagnosed and treated with cutting-edge technology, from open MRIs to electromyograms to image-guided injections. No in-and-out, stand-alone pain management center in the region can offer you more.

The benefits of receiving care at a large research hospital such as Ochsner are many. Here, your doctor is part of a larger treatment team comprised of nationally known interventional pain physicians and renowned surgeons. The team also includes skilled radiologists armed with the latest diagnostic technology, experienced rehabilitation therapists, specially trained physician assistants and compassionate nurses. Here we take a true team approach to your health. Collectively, there is no condition we can’t tackle.

Conditions We Treat

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. Pain is your body’s way of responding to injury, illness or stress. Stress and anxiety may increase the pain you feel. Our specialized team treats a broad range of pain, including but not limited to, that caused by:

Low back pain/injury
Neck pain/injury
Sports related injury
Cancer related pain
Work related injury
Back pain after surgery
Herniated discs
Spinal stenosis
Degenerative disc disease
Post laminectomy syndrome
Chronic headaches/migraines
Arthritis
Spinal facet syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Sciatica
Vertebral compression fractures
General neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy
CRPS/RSD
Postherpetic neuralgia/shingles
Trigeminal neuralgia

Leading Edge Procedures

The Ochsner team was the first in Louisiana and one of only a handful of teams to perform a Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) implant. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in February of 2016, this Neurostimulator System for DRG stimulation was specifically created to treat pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Unlike similar devices, DRG stimulation has the ability to target specific areas of the body where pain occurs.

We also were the first in New Orleans to offer Cooled Radio Frequency Ablation, a non-invasive, outpatient treatment option that allows doctors to treat a larger area than conventional radio frequency treatments.

Prep and What to Expect

The Ochsner team performs thousands of treatments and procedures every year, including, but not limited to the following:

Click here to learn more what to expect after your visit.

Research and Clinical Trials

Ochsner is the only pain center in the area that can offer clinical trials. We are on the forefront of breakthrough therapies that can mean the difference between spending night and day in a recliner and getting out there and enjoying life again. Many trials are available to our patients at no cost.

New Neurostimulation Technology Treating Chronic Pain of the Trunk and/or Limbs

Do you suffer from chronic trunk and/or limb pain and has your doctor suggested spinal cord stimulation as a treatment plan? If yes, you may be eligible to participate in a spinal cord stimulator study, ECAP. The study is sponsored by Saluda Medical Americas, Inc. and utilizes the Evoke Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) System (Evoke System). This new technology, closed-loop, uses unique programming which not only send out stimulation signals, but actually measures your body’s response to the treatment and utilizes that information to automatically adjust how you receive stimulation. This can therefore create the potential for more targeted, consistent therapy. If interested, please contact Colleen Dionne (colleen.dionne@ochsner.org / 504-894-2864) to discuss how the study works and to see if you are eligible to participate. (ECAP #2020107)

Chronic Back Pain and Not Eligible for Spinal Surgery

Have you suffered from chronic back pain and are not eligible for spinal surgery? You may be eligible to participate in a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) study, NOVA, which compares two different types of stimulation treatment. If you have spoken to your doctor and they have identified spinal cord stimulation as a potential treatment option for you, please feel free to reach out to Darby Larson (darby.larson@ochsner.org /504-704-6091) at the Baptist New Orleans Clinic or Erin St. Pierre (erin.stpierre@ochsner.org /985-898-7304) at the Covington Pain Management Clinic, and we can discuss the study further and see if you qualify. (NOVA#202076)

Knee Pain After Total Knee Replacement

Do you currently suffer from Knee pain after total knee replacement? We are current enrolling for a study, SPRINT, that uses a short-term peripheral nerve stimulation device to treat knee pain after a total knee replacement. Please contact Colleen Dionne (colleen.dionne@ochsner.org / 504-894-2864), to discuss how the study works and to see if you are eligible to participate. (SPRINT#2019188)

BSC Spinal Cord Stimulator Registry

Are you currently scheduled for implantation of a Boston Scientific (BSC) Spinal Cord Stimulator to treat lumbar pain? You might be eligible to participate in a registry study, RELIEF or ENVISION, which tracks the pain treatment experience of patients implanted with a BSC SCS device. One study, RELIEF, tracks your pain experience starting at the trial implant, then the implant, and then follow-up visits at 6M, 12M, 24M, and 36M. The ENVISION study follows a patient’s daily experience post-permanent implant. The study has a 1M, 3M, and 12M visit, and includes the use of a phone application for tracking daily pain experiences and a study watch for tracking heart rate. To learn more about this unique registry and to see if you meet eligibility, please contact Colleen Dionne (colleen.dionne@ochsner.org / 504-894-2864) at the Baptist New Orleans Clinic or Erin St. Pierre (erin.stpierre@ochsner.org /985-898-7304) at the Covington Pain Management Clinic. (RELIEF#2016155)

NALU Neurostimulation System (nPower)

Do you suffer from chronic pain in the legs and back with no relief from standard treatment options? You might be eligible to participate in a new spinal cord stimulator study, utilizing the NALU system. The unique factor of this system is that the device was designed with an external battery which allows for a less invasive implant procedure and an external battery. The external battery gives the patient with the capacity to remove the device as needed. This primary purpose of this study is to confirm the safety, comfort, and efficacy with the NALU Neurostimulation System. study is evaluating the efficacy of various waveforms produced by the device to treat chronic pain. To learn more about this unique study/device and to see if you meet eligibility, please contact Kayla Barney (kayla.barney@ochsner.org / 504-897-5844) at the Baptist New Orleans Clinic. (NALU #2020307)

Treatment for Refractory Trigeminal Neuralgia

Are you experiencing Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) pain with minimal relief from your current treatment options? Trigeminal Neuralgia is a neuropathic pain condition, which can impact the sensations of the face causing pain. We are currently recruiting patients for a study sponsored by Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which looks at the efficacy of the medication Rimegepant for the treatment of TN pain. If interested, please contact Colleen Dionne (colleen.dionne@ochsner.org / 504-894-2864) to discuss how the study works and to see if you are eligible to participate. (BIOHAVEN #2020379)

Click here to learn more about research and clinical trials.

Meet the Team

Yashar Eshraghi, M.D., Research Medical Director

Collen Dionne, Clinical Research Coordinator

Jill Collins, Clinical Research Coordinator

Erin St. Pierre, Clinical Research Coordinator

Kayla Barney, MHA, Clinical Research Coordinator

Carmel Alemayehu, Clinical Research Coordinator

Darby Larson, Clinical Research Coordinator

Fellowship Training Program

Ochsner Clinic Foundation offers one-year multidisciplinary Fellowship in Pain Medicine. A prerequisite for entry into the program is completion of accredited residency training in any of the four specialties: anesthesia, neurology, Physical medicine and rehabilitation or psychiatry. Our aim is to train a consultant in pain management who is able to work with a multidisciplinary team to manage acute and chronic pain patients, including cancer pain, in both the outpatient and inpatient settings.

Click here to learn more about the program.

Patient Resources

Please contact your local/regional government agency for services that are available to those suffering from addiction. Access to care is available to those without insurance who live in the local area.

Clinic Locations

Bayou Region: South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority (SCLHSA)

Clinic Locations

Clinic Locations

Louisiana Department of Health: Behavioral Health Local Governing Entities Locations Map

Articles from Our Team

Ochsner Pain Management Locations

When mobility is an issue, going the doctor can be painful in itself. For your convenience, Ochsner Pain Management centers are located throughout South Louisiana with valet or drop-off parking options. Find the one nearest you and make an appointment today.

Ochsner Health Center - Baptist, Napoleon Medical Plaza 2820 Napoleon Ave New Orleans, LA 70115, 504-842-5300

Ochsner Health Center - Kenner, 200 W. Esplanade Ave., Ste. 702, Kenner, LA 70065, 504-464-8588

Ochsner St. Anne Specialty Clinic, 141 Twin Oaks Dr, Raceland, LA 70394, 985-537-2666

Ochsner Medical Center - North Shore, Building 2, 105 Medical Center Dr, Ste. 103, Slidell, LA 70461, 985-639-3777

Ochsner Health Center - Covington, 1000 Ochsner Blvd, Covington, LA 70433, 985-875-2828

Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock, 202B Drinkwater Blvd, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520, 228-220-5200

Ochsner Health Center – Belle Meade, 605 Lapalco Blvd. Gretna, LA 70056, 504-371-9355

St. Bernard Parish Hopsital - Ochsner Health System, 8000 West Judge Perez Dr, Chalmette, LA 70043, 504-493-2200

Ochsner Medical Complex – The Grove, 10310 The Grove Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70836, 225-761-5200

Ochsner Health Center - Lake Terrace 1532 Robert E. Blvd New Orleans, LA 70122, 504-846-9646

Pain Medications

Pain medicine often works better when taken on a regular schedule rather than “as needed” in response to discomfort. Also, if you know that pain may worsen with an activity, take medication first to prevent discomfort. Your nurse may be able to assist you with other pain relief measures, such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, positioning, splinting and so forth.

A Few Words About Opiates

You can’t turn on the news today without hearing about people who resort to street drugs after becoming hooked on legal prescription pain medication. Here at Ochsner, our goal is to get to the root of your pain and not to give you a band-aid solution. Research shows that high doses of opiod medications have great risks without long-term benefits. When we prescribe opiates, it is at lower doses for short-term use.

The Patient’s Role in Pain Management

Only you know when you are hurting and what kind of pain you are experiencing. Ochsner doctors and nurses will work with you to assess your level of pain. Some patients, including the elderly and small children, may not be able to say they are feeling pain. Healthcare professionals look for non-verbal clues. Do not hesitate to discuss any concerns you have.

Where is the pain located?
Is the pain sharp, achy or dull?
How long did it last?
What have you taken or done that brings relief or eases pain?
How does the pain affect your daily life and your family’s life?
When should you ask for pain medication?
When did it start?
What makes it better or worse?

The best way to control pain is to address it as soon as you begin to hurt. Being anxious, afraid or tired can make pain worse.

What Exactly is Pain?

Pain is often referred to as the body’s fifth vital sign. It is your body’s way of responding to injury, illness or stress. Anxiety or stress may increase the pain you feel. The following are some terms you may hear your doctor use when talking about pain.

Chronic Pain – pain that is present for months, even years, that is unresponsive to many treatments.
Acute Pain – Pain that lasts less than three months and is responsive to many treatments.
Breakthrough Pain – an unpredictable episode of severe pain not controlled by your current pain regimen.

Pathologic Pain – more severe pain than would be expected for the illness being treated. It may indicate a complication or the occurrence of a different medical problem.