Holy Family to open Pain Center Sept. 1

From migraines to back aches, chronic pain sufferers can find some relief at Holy Family Medical Center’s new Pain Center, which opens Sept. 1 at the Des Plaines hospital.

The center, which will be open between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, is located inside the main hospital at 100 N. River Road.

The five physicians who will staff the center are board-certified specialists in interventional pain management for chronic conditions, said Pam Bell, hospital vice president of professional services.

The physicians use a multidisciplinary approach involving physical therapy, psychology and surgical evaluations when needed to treat pain.

“Our physicians are trained to dig deeper into that pain and try various alternate solutions,” Bell said.

“Before we would go to the surgical interventions, we might try rehab as a means of treating the pain. There are many types of simple interventional measures that the physicians can do to treat the pain.”

Patients can get treatment for chronic pain issues that are most common such as back, neck, headaches, certain types of cancers, arthritis, joint and muscular, diabetic neuropathy, shingles and work-related injuries.

However, the center will not treat acute pain that should be dealt with in the emergency room, Bell said.

Treatment options include medication, basic needle injections, spinal cord stimulators, nonsurgical disc procedures, implantable devices, radio-frequency ablation, and nerve blocks. Additional therapies include physical therapy, occupational therapy, biofeedback, rehabilitative nursing and rehabilitation psychology.

The center utilizes a portion of an existing full-service outpatient surgery center and much of the same equipment. Officials have plans to expand center hours to include Saturdays.

“The Pain Center at Holy Family is dedicated to improving the quality of life of our community,” said John Baird, hospital CEO.

“We want people to understand that they don’t have to live in constant pain and that there is help right in their own backyard.”

An open house is planned once the center is up and running. To make an appointment, call (847) 813-3350.