Overview
More people in the U.S. seek medical care for pain than for any other reason. The National Health Interview Survey from 2019 reported that 50.2 million adults, or approximately 20.5% of adults, experienced pain on most days or every day.
Our integrative pain management program offers a broad range of evidence-informed integrative therapies to help you find relief from pain, cope with persistent pain that is not relieved with treatment and improve your overall quality of life. In some instances, these complementary methods have been shown to reduce the need for pain medication. We also provide conventional treatment options through collaborations with UCI Health colleagues who specialize in pain management.
Principles
The Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute pain management program considers all aspects of your life in determining the best treatment to help you manage pain, restore function and optimize your physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
Our expert providers explore a range of potential contributing factors.
Dietary triggers and gut health, for example, are primary determinants for addressing some autoimmune-related pain issues. Exposure to gluten — a protein typically found in wheat, barley and rye — may cause intestinal inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s or migraines in individuals with celiac disease.
Other areas that may be considered include stressors on mental or physical wellbeing, occupation, posture, lifestyle, and structural issues and trauma history related to the somatic system or body framework.
This approach results in a complete picture for determining the most effective, scientifically supported treatment to address your pain and help you achieve your personal health goals. Your provider may involve others on your multi-disciplinary care team, ensuring that you benefit from the institute’s rich depth of expertise.
Conditions Treated
Conditions we commonly treat:
Any musculoskeletal condition of the spine or peripheral joints including:
- Chronic sprains
- Dupuytren’s contracture
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Meniscal/ligament injuries
- Muscle, ligament or tendon injury
- Osteoarthritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rheumatological conditions affecting joints (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis)
- Rotator cuff injury
- Sports injuries
- Tennis/golfer’s elbow
- Trigger finger
- Neurological pain/injury including
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Migraine headaches
- Painful peripheral neuropathy
- Radiculopathy/sciatica
- Ulnar neuropathy
Services
Some of the services and treatments we provide include:
- Medication management
- Supplement recommendations
- Bracing prescriptions
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment
- Regenerative injections (prolotherapy and platelet rich plasma therapy)
- Acupuncture (inpatient and outpatient)
- Massage therapy (including manual lymphatic drainage)
- Biofeedback
- Mindfulness meditation
- Integrative physical therapy
- Stress management
Why Choose Us?
Noninvasive techniques for addressing pain can lead to exceptional healing. Some of these techniques have also been shown to reduce the need for medication.
As part of the only academic medical center in Orange County, our board-certified providers partner with you to harness your body’s ability to heal and repair. Experts in modalities relevant to your condition provide input into treatment plan, then follow through with coordinated care to support your goals for health and wellbeing. Patients are also referred to renowned UCI Health specialists when clinically appropriate.
Our Team
Price
Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute accepts a variety of insurance plans or private pay. Your visit may be subject to copay and deductible. Please contact us at 949.824.7000 for more information.
Research
Bonakdar, R., & Sukiennik, A. (2016). Integrative pain management / edited by Robert A. Bonakdar, Andrew W. Sukiennik. Oxford University Press.
Deer, T., Leong, M., & Ray, A. (2015). Treatment of chronic pain by integrative approaches: the American Academy of Pain Medicine textbook on patient management / Timothy R. Deer, editor-in-chief, Michael S. Leong, associate editor-in-chief, Albert L. Ray, associate editor. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1821-8
Lin YC, Wan L, Jamison RN. Using Integrative Medicine in Pain Management: An Evaluation of Current Evidence. Anesth Analg. 2017 Dec;125(6):2081-2093. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002579. PMID: 29189365
Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, MacPherson H, Foster NE, Sherman KJ, Irnich D, Witt CM, Linde K; Acupuncture Trialists’ Collaboration. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018 May;19(5):455-474. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005. Epub 2017 Dec 2. PMID: 29198932; PMCID: PMC5927830.
Yong, R. J., Mullins, P. M., & Bhattacharyya, N. (2022). Prevalence of chronic pain among adults in the United States. Pain, 163(2), e328–e332. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002291
Chronic Pain in Depth. NCCIH. https://www.nih.nccih.gov/health/chronic-pain-in-depth.
