Deb Meals, RN, prepares the X-ray room Friday at Butler Health System's Pain Management Clinic at Butler Memorial Hospital. She has observed an increase in patients there.

Pain management for people who have chronic pain problems is an expanding specialty.

“Over the past five to 10 years the specialty has been growing,” said Deb Meals, a registered nurse, who is staff nurse for the Butler Health System’s Pain Management Clinic in Butler Memorial Hospital.

Patients who have suffered major trauma, such as car accidents or on-the-job accidents, as well as those with pain from diseases or conditions, such as arthritis or cancer, are finding some relief at pain clinics.

Meals said the health system’s clinic is run by the Wexford Advanced Pain Medicine group, which has clinics throughout Western Pennsylvania.

She said general practice and family doctors are referring more patients to doctors who specialize in pain treatment.

“We are just part of the team when it comes to treating patients, as we conduct consults with both the patient’s primary physician as well as any specialists, such as orthopedists or oncologists,” Meals said.

The pain clinic does a complete examination of patients, plus a long initial discussion on their conditions when they first come in.

“It can take up to an hour,” Meals said.

Treatment can range from pain killers to physical therapy to nerve blocks.

The clinic is small, tucked into the old 3 South wing of the hospital. There is a separate waiting area for friends and family who help patients to and from appointments as well as a reception area at the entrance of the clinic.

Beyond that, there are curtained cubicals with monitors and beds, used to give patients pain treatments. In the back of the office, there is a florascope, a type of X-raying machine, that allows doctors to deliver pain medicine or steroids to specific spots in a patient’s body.

Meals pointed out that patients who receive narcotics must sign an agreement that allows for random drug testing and a count of any prescribed pills to ensure the patient is taking the medicine correctly.

“Some patients may not find a complete cure through treatment here, but hopefully through our evaluation and monitoring, they will find some relief or be able to go back to work,” she said.

As more doctors are becoming aware of pain management practices and their benefits to patients, Meals said more patients are asking about referrals. “I see this specialty continuing to grow as it becomes better known and people realize that we are taking a holistic approach to their pain when helping them through treatment,” she added.