LESS PAIN, BETTER
QUALITY OF LIFE
Our main focus is on patients suffering from chronic pain. We adapt diagnostic and therapeutic measures individually and work in partnership to develop a customized treatment strategy. Our team guarantees evidence-based and targeted pain medicine care.
OPENING HOURS
Appointments by arrangement
Monday to Friday
08.00 to 12.00
13.00 to 17.00
SPECIALIST PRACTICE FOR PAIN MEDICINE
The team at ISSZ specializes in diagnosing and treating both chronic and acute pain conditions. We combine traditional medical methods (interviews, physical examinations, and imaging procedures) with targeted infiltrations. These precise image-guided techniques allow our physicians to accurately place injections at the affected sites to achieve effective pain relief. The use of ultrasound and X-rays helps to maximize the safety of the treatment and minimize potential complications.
THE BEGINNING OF SUCCESSFUL PAIN MANAGEMENT
Acute pain is essentially something natural. It serves a warning function. However, this function can be lost, leading to what is known as pain chronification. Chronic pain no longer serves a meaningful warning function but is a condition in itself. Pain often begins as part of an injury or illness but can persist after healing, severely impacting function and quality of life. The suffering of patients with chronic pain is often prolonged. Learn more about common pain conditions, their origins, and the pain mechanisms involved.
Current Affairs
News & Publications
Christmas greetings from the ISSZ practice team
Christmas greetings from the ISSZ practice team Dear Patients,Dear Colleagues,Dear Referrers, The year 2024 is coming to an end, and we would like to take
Treatment of neuropathic pain
Since October 25th, we have been using PraxisConcierge as a digital phone assistant. PraxisConcierge is an artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into our telephone system.
New at ISSZ – Practice Concierge
Since October 25, we have been using PracticeConcierge as a digital telephone assistant. PracticeConcierge is an artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into our telephone system.
Christmas greetings from the ISSZ practice team
Christmas greetings from the ISSZ practice team Dear Patients,Dear Colleagues,Dear Referrers, The year 2024 is coming to an end, and we would like to take
Treatment of neuropathic pain
Since October 25th, we have been using PraxisConcierge as a digital phone assistant. PraxisConcierge is an artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into our telephone system.
New at ISSZ – Practice Concierge
Since October 25, we have been using PracticeConcierge as a digital telephone assistant. PracticeConcierge is an artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into our telephone system.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Pain is a complex sensory and emotional experience often associated with tissue damage. It is an unpleasant sensation caused by actual or potential tissue damage. In its 'healthy'/natural form, pain serves as a protective mechanism of the body, indicating that something is wrong or that an injury has occurred. Essentially, pain is a protective mechanism of our bodies.
There are different types of pain: acute pain, which is usually short-term and associated with a specific injury or illness, and chronic pain, which is longer-lasting and often has no obvious cause.
Pain can also be categorized into different pain types. Nociceptive pain is caused by direct stimulation of pain receptors, neuropathic pain arises from a dysfunction of the nervous system, and nociplastic pain is considered a 'special form' inbetween the other two pain types.
The perception of pain is always subjective and can vary from person to person. Many different factors influence pain, complicating both its understanding and treatment.
Despite significant advancements in pain research over the last 50 years, the development of chronic pain remains relatively misunderstood. The triggers for pain are often unclear, and ultimately, the primary goal remains pain relief.
One hypothesis for the development of chronic pain involves a disruption in central pain processing, leading to what is known as pain sensitization. This sensitization can persist even after the original injury has healed. Essentially, this results in lasting, learned changes in the nervous system, which are not currently detectable through imaging or laboratory tests, yet the pain remains present.
Sensitization processes can occur either at the level of pain receptors, known as nociceptors, in the tissue through the release of inflammatory mediators, or at the level of the central nervous system through shifts in pain perception thresholds. In the latter case, normally non-painful stimuli can lead to heightened pain perception. The formation and reformation of new nerve connections can involve nerve cells in pain transmission that do not typically play a role, leading to the spread of pain. Some pain disorders involve general hypersensitivity, the causes of which are still relatively unclear. Repeated excitation of nerve cells at the spinal cord level can result in the reformation of synapses (nerve cell connections) or even the formation of new nerve connections. The brain 'learns' the pain, and the pain becomes a disease in itself.
For various interventions, patients must appear fasting. Medically, fasting means no solid food (including dairy products) for 6 hours and no liquids for 2 hours before the procedure/intervention. Medication intake is explicitly excluded from this rule and can be taken with a sip of water at any time. The pre-i
ntervention fasting rule is to prevent aspiration of stomach contents.
As a general rule, fasting for 6 hours is required for all procedures involving the cervical and thoracic spine, as well as for infiltrations of the spinal canal and all medication infusions. You will be informed of this requirement by your doctor beforehand. If in doubt, please ask our practice staff.
Multimodal pain therapy is a holistic approach to treating pain, particularly chronic pain. It combines and coordinates various treatment methods to address the individual needs of the patient. The focus is not only on treating pain on a purely physiological (biological) level but also on considering psychological, social, and functional aspects.
Typical components of multimodal pain therapy can include:
- Medication therapy
- Physical therapy
- Psychological support (cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation exercises, and stress management to cope with pain and psychological burdens)
- Social support (counseling and assistance in managing social and professional challenges)
- Interventional procedures (targeted injections, nerve blocks, or other interventional methods)
- Complementary therapies (such as acupuncture, massage, and chiropractic)
