Synapse Pain and Spine Clinic is a specialized centre for managing patients’ pain. The pain could be because of an injury or bone-related, nerve-related, muscle-related problems. The pain physicians will identify the issues with clinical examination, appropriate blood and radiological investigations and come to a diagnosis. This is followed by treating the patients’ pain problems

Synapse Pain Clinic is a musculoskeletal pain management centre. They specialize in treating back pain (disc prolapse/sciatica), sports injuries, neck and shoulder pains, joint pains, knee arthritis, tendon and ligament injuries, nerve-related pain, headaches (migraines), cancer-related pain, etc. We emphasize correct clinical diagnosis, followed by appropriate medical treatment.

Synapse Pain and Spine Clinic is run by a team of doctors, including pain physicians, orthopedicians, neuro physicians, psychologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation experts. Each of these consultants brings their rich expertise and experience from their fields. So, arriving at the diagnosis and treatment plan is more accessible and convenient. The Clinic takes pride in providing “Second Opinion” to a host of the spine and joint-related problems. Patients who want to avoid open surgery for the spine or joints can avail of a second opinion consultation in Synapse Pain Clinic before deciding on further medical care.

Other physician’s referrals are not mandatory to consult our physicians. Our reception office takes queries through phone calls and emails and provided consultations through appointments with our experts. Patients can directly call us or email us or book online appointments.

Synapse Pain and Spine Clinic is a scientific allopathic based pain management centre. Initial consultation, which can take up to 20 minutes, is focused on correct diagnosis. The treatments provided include medications, pain injections, physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises, lifestyle changes, etc.

Depending on the diagnosis, pain medications are decided by our experts. Commonly used pain medications include paracetamol, anti-inflammatory medicines, muscle relaxants, regenerative supplements, mild opioids, etc. Patients may be put on drugs and physical therapy, and rehabilitation exercise regimes. Some group of patients will require pain interventions.

Pain interventions are image-guided injections performed by pain physicians. They may include nerve blocks, nerve root injections, radio frequency(RF) ablations, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, Visco supplements, neurolytic blocks and neurostimulation. All procedures are done under x-ray or ultrasound guidance for accuracy and patient safety. Pain procedures are safe procedures done under local anaesthesia or sedation on a daycare basis. Patients can go back to work from the next day onwards. Post procedures, patients have advised some medications, lifestyle changes, and rehabilitation exercises to be learnt in the Clinic and performed regularly at home.

Experts perform pain interventions in the Clinic – Dr Karthic Natarajan and Dr Vanmathy V. They are certified and experienced in interventional pain management. All procedures are done in a procedure room under sterile precautions. Image guidance in the form of x-ray guidance or ultrasound guidance is used for greater accuracy and safety. Procedures are performed under local anaesthesia and/or sedation, so patients are comfortable. The procedure room has excellent hemodynamic monitors and safety and resuscitation equipment if required. Post-procedure, patients are kept in observation for 1 to 2 hours and then sent home with instructions.

After an initial consultation, the doctors decide if you require an intervention to manage your pain. Once determined, the procedure is scheduled, and pre-procedure instructions are given. They include stopping blood thinners if you are on them. Patients are usually advised to come nil-per-mouth (without eating) for at least 4 hours before the procedure. Come to the Clinic at the scheduled time with all previous medical records (MRIs/ x rays/ reports). Expect to stay in the Clinic for 1 to 2 hours after completion of the procedure. You will require a car with a driver to be driven home post-procedure. Pain procedures are daycare procedures, and patients can expect to go back to work in a day or two.

We provide treatment for conditions like disc prolapse or disc herniation causing back pain and sciatica. The treatments include selective nerve root injections or transforaminal or epidural injections. Facet joint arthropathies, if present, may require facet joint injections or RF ablations. Sacroiliac joint problems can be treated with sacroiliac joint injections. This will be followed by physical therapy and rehab exercises. Yes, a good number of patients can avoid spine surgeries by undergoing pain interventions. Sometimes, spine surgeries will be required in severe cases.

Knee arthritis patients are usually put on patella femoral, quadriceps strengthening exercises. Pain interventions offered include Intraarticular injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, Visco supplements, genicular nerve radiofrequency ablations, etc. Pain interventions are suitable in early osteoarthritis (Grade 1 and 2) and unfit or unwilling knee replacement surgery patients.

Like in other conditions, the reason for nerve pain has to be identified in treating nerve pain. Nerve compression usually results in pain, tingling, numbness and nerve pulling sensation along the distribution of the nerve. Nerve related pain conditions include trigeminal neuralgia, sciatica, post-herpetic neuralgia, meralgia paresthetica, peripheral nerve neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, etc. Neuropathic pain medicines and nerve blocks are the best treatments for nerve pain.

Dr Vidhyasagar heads physical therapy and rehab services. She is a certified and experienced physiotherapist specializing in sports injuries. Her protocols include posture corrections, muscle stretching regimes, rehabilitation exercises, core strengthening, including isometrics regimes, etc. His areas of particular interest are sports injuries, muscle spasms, spine disc herniation management and rehabilitation. The physiotherapy team offers physiotherapy modalities like ultrasonic waves, interferential therapy (IFT) and LASER therapy. The rehabilitation exercises are taught under supervision, and patients are encouraged to do these exercises at home subsequently. Occupational therapy advice, posture corrections are essential. This treatment ensures long term relief from musculoskeletal pain.

Yes, absolutely. The Synapse Pain and Spine Clinic consultants are qualified and certified by appropriate boards from the US and UK. They are also consultants in tertiary care hospitals in Chennai like Apollo Hospitals and Fortis Hospitals in Chennai. The treatment provided is scientific, evidence-based and US FDA approved. Patient’s safety is the paramount concern in the Clinic.

Yes, Synapse Pain and Spine Clinic is registered as a clinic/nursing home with Chennai Corporation. All doctors are registered under the Tamil Nadu Medical Council. The best ethical standards in inpatient care are maintained.

Most of the pain procedures are covered by health insurance companies. Please check with the reception personnel in the Clinic to check for insurance/reimbursements, if applicable.