I am Dr. Priya Nair, a Pain Medicine Specialist in Bangalore. In this blog, I share insights into the scope and methods of pain management. As you read on, you’ll find responses to common questions about my specialty, helping you understand more about the approaches we use to manage pain effectively.
What is the scope of pain medicine in India?
Pain medicine is a rapidly evolving specialty. It involves prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a variety of chronic pain conditions. Pain medicine has witnessed an exponential growth in the last 2 decades Indian patients are now opening up to the idea of recognizing and getting their chronic pain symptoms treated rather than silently bearing the symptoms and suffering. We still need to create awareness about the conditions and the availability of a plethora of medical management and interventional facilities in the field of pain medicine in India.
What attracted you to pain medicine?
As Anesthesiologists we are well versed with the art and science of managing patients with acute pain and the role of a pain physician can be seen as a progressive extension of this role as well. What drew me to pain medicine is that pain medicine is a very rewarding field in terms of the fact that alleviating a patients chronic pain gives him/her a new lease of pain free life , reduces the morbidity and reduces the burden on the family and society as well . Also pain physicians are well versed and skilled with interventional pain management skills, hence diagnosing to management of pain can be rewarding. Patients with chronic pain need a sympathetic clinician. It also involves directly interacting with the patients and understanding their problems and treating them gives immense satisfaction.
Can you tell us a bit about your training in pain medicine?
After specializing in Anaesthesiology and practicing for a few years I decided to train in interventional pain management. I completed 1 year fellowship in interventional pain medicine from Daradia pain clinic. After completion I also pursued European Diploma in pain medicine that I successfully cleared in Brussels (Belgium).
What are the kinds of patients you commonly come across ?
I see a wide variety of pain patients. It involves patients having chronic whole body pains(fibromyalgia) chronic backaches, nerve entrapments, joint pains, myofascial pain, neuropathic pain , cancer pain chronic post traumatic or surgical pain, some of these patients are referred from the other specialties like neurology of surgery as well.
What is a usual day like for you?
I run a pain clinic at Manipal hospital Hebbal twice a week and Acute pain management services all days. So at OPD I come across a patients with a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions. After a thorough clinical examination and necessary investigations, I plan the interventions if required subsequently in the operation theatre. Rest of the days I practice anaesthesia so that is a team work with a group of enthusiastic anaesthesiologists and surgeons.
Can you tell us about the newer advances in pain medicine?
Pain medicine has evolved from pharmacological management to interventional management, radiofrequency ablation of nerves, regenerative therapies using Platelet rich plasma therapy, viscosupplementation. Advanced neuromodulation approaches using PNS(Peripheral nerve stimulators) and SCS(spinal cord stimulators) . Treatment of complex regional pain syndromes(CRPS), refractory backaches and painful diabetic neuropathies with devices like spinal cord stimulators, endoscopic discectomies.
How do you spend time off work?
I enjoy my day off from work with family and friends. I love cooking and reading. Iam passionate about gardening and Iam trying to learn the methods of growing ones own food and to live sustainably. Iam a fitness enthusiast who loves to get involved in outdoor activities as well.