Articles by Laxmaiah Manchikanti, MD
and Mahendra Sanapati, MD

What Are The Goals Of Interventional Pain Management?

As Interventional Pain Physicians, similar to other physicians, we have many goals. While our major goal appears to be to relieve the pain, but it is relief of the pain in conjunction with function. Of course the most successful patient is one who goes back to work, enjoys family life, and does not use any medications.


In many cases, as you well know, that is not achievable. The majority of patients who come to us consider us as their last hope. They have seen many doctors, had surgeries, and in the majority of cases, they are already disabled. Chronic, persistent intractable pain is a condition which might not be cured. We can only cure pain in some cases, but in the majority of cases, we can manage it. Our dictum is to improve the quality of life by reducing pain to a tolerable level and increasing function so that you can enjoy life and carry on activities of daily living even though sometimes they may be very simple such as going to the bathroom, grocery store, playing with kids or grandkids.