Center for Pain Management

Western Maryland Health System
904 Seton Drive
Suite 202, Second Floor
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: 301-723-6866
Fax: 301-723-6870

Pain management services at WMHS are now centralized into the Center for Pain Management. This expanded service is located in the same building as the WMHS Diagnostic Center at Sacred Heart at 904 Seton Drive.

Anesthesiologists Rohan Mullings and Meera Appaswamy and the staff at the WMHS Center for Pain Management use a team approach to manage acute pain, persistent pain, and cancer-related pain. They start with a comprehensive assessment to determine treatments that focus on attaining positive long-term results.

Some of the features of the WMHS Center for Pain Management are:

State-of-the-art fluoroscopic guided spinal injections for diagnostic and therapeutic applications
Comprehensive assessments and multidisciplinary team determination of treatments that focus on attaining positive long-term outcomes
Concurrent use of various treatment modalities, such as interventional procedures, medication management, physical therapy, and psychological support that may hasten the healing process
Opportunities for learning skills that minimize or prevent recurring pain
Individualized education regarding specific chronic pain syndromes and treatment plans
Encouragement of the patient's active participation in the treatment plan, including family members when appropriate

Objectives

The staff at the WMHS Center for Pain Management develops an individualized plan for each patient designed to:

Diagnose and treat persistent pain syndromes.
Reduce pain and increase comfort.
Increase the ability to manage pain and related problems.
Increase physical capabilities and activities.
Support the return to productive activity.
Optimize the appropriate use of medications.
Increase coping, self-care, and stress management skills.
Improve psychosocial adjustments and quality of life.

Assessment

Our Center places a strong emphasis on thorough and efficient multidisciplinary assessments to evaluate factors contributing to pain. We use this information to individualize treatment plans and to maximize patient outcomes. Problems frequently evaluated are listed below:

Back pain
Headaches
Joint pain
Shoulder pain
Complex regional pain syndromes (RSD/causalgia)
Myofascial pain
Neck pain with/without radicular pain
Cancer related pain
Neuralgia (pain from injured nerves)
Pelvic pain
Anxiety, depression, stress related to pain.

Available Treatments

A wide range of treatment options is available at the WMHS Pain Management Center, including:

Injections of the cervical and lumbar facet joints
Diagnostic discography
Percutaneous nucleoplasty
Peripheral and autonomic nerve blocks
Selective nerve root injections
Epidural steroid injections
Radiofrequency lesioning
Implantable intrathecal pumps
Pharmacological management
Biofeedback
Relaxation training
Acupuncture (referral)
Physical and occupational therapy (referral)
Psychotherapy and counseling
Family Therapy

Referrals

We welcome physician referrals for patients who have acute or chronic pain. We request that all pertinent records (history and physical, radiologic, psychological and other consultations) be forwarded to our Center prior to the initial appointment with the patient.

Increasing your ability to manage pain can improve the quality of your life. If you suffer from acute or chronic pain, talk with your physician about the possibilities for pain management. For more information about the services provided by the WMHS Center for Pain Management, call us at 301-723-6866.