Jan asks: “My doctor suggested that I get an epidural injection for my low back and leg pain, however, I am afraid of needles and worried about pain from the procedure. What can I do to get over my fears?” Dr. Phung: Hi Jan. An epidural injection can be an excellent means of treating low back and leg pain caused by a herniated disc or irritation of the nerve root. Many people have a fear of needles and worry about pain from such procedures. At New York Pain Management we take many measures to make sure your experience is as comfortable as possible. First, we have experienced nurses that monitor your care before, during, and after the procedure. We also offer intravenous or intramuscular sedation to our patients for a more relaxing and comfortable experience. I tell my patients that you won’t be “knocked out” for the procedure, however sedation can make things considerably more pleasant and comfortable. Furthermore we provide an ample amount of local anesthetic to numb the injection area as well. Finally, all procedures are performed under x-ray guidance allowing us to know where the needle is at all times and to minimize the amount of irritation to the surrounding tissues. Although the physicians at New York Pain Management can’t guarantee your experience will be 100% pain free, I can promise that we do use a variety of measures to make sure that any procedure is as pleasant and comfortable as possible. Susan asks: “How important is it to find a physician that is board certified in pain management and what does it mean?” Dr. Phung: Hello Susan. Given the volume and breadth of medical knowledge, most physicians choose to specialize in a particular field of medicine and undergo additional training in a residency and/or fellowship. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which is comprised of roughly twenty-four individual medical specialty boards, oversees medical education and medical training. The ABMS requires high standards of training and performance and ensures these standards by rigid initial and periodic examinations. Applicants who successfully meet these standards receive diplomas and are considered “board certified.” Finding a physician that is board certified in pain medicine ensures that your physician has undergone the highest level of training and possesses the most up-to-date knowledge to address your pain needs. You can always check the credentials of your physician by logging on to the ABMS Web site at www.abms.org to see if your physician is indeed board certified in their particular field of practice. New York Pain Management has board certified pain physicians working for you. We have locations in Clifton Park and Queensbury and more information can be found on our Web site at http:// www.nypainfree.com. You can read the full article here.