About Us

Our philosophy is to treat our patients with a combination of safe medication management, and interventional procedures and innovative therapies. Our patients often yield better results through this method than just utilizing oral medications. Access Pain Solutions is one of the few pain management centers in Oklahoma with onsite pain specialists that specialize in a wellness approach to pain. Our program uses therapies and treatment plans derived from the latest scientific advances.

Chronic pain is pain that occurs constantly over an extended period of time, normally six months or more. We know that living with chronic pain is hard. When a person is in pain for an extended period of time it directly affects their quality of life. Chronic pain can be treated by a variety of procedures designed to block pain signals reaching the brain. Oral medications play a role in blocking the pain receptors and treating inflammation. Opioids significantly block pain, but are also associated with abuse and mortality. However, if used properly and responsibly, patients can achieve relief from pain, regain normal functions and abilities, and live normal, healthy lives.

Our practice takes the utilization of oral pain medications very cautiously. We follow state and federal guidelines for recommended morphine equivalent dose (MED) limits. These guidelines help us to make sure we are adequately relieving pain while still keeping our patients safe.

There can be many adverse effects to using medications that include nausea, vomiting, itching, dry mouth, delirium, hypothermia, and constipation. Higher doses have been directly linked to accidental overdose rates. The combination of benzodiazepines and opioids also increases the risks for accidental death. This is because benzodiazepines and sleep aids, like Ambien, are central nervous system depressants. These combinations cause respiratory depression and irregular heart rates.

As part of Access Pain Solutions’ efforts to maintain patient safety, we want all of our patients to have a full understanding regarding controlled substances they are currently being prescribed. The combination of scheduled opioids and benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sleep aids and muscle relaxants increase the risk of death by suppressing the respiratory system. Although these medications may be prescribed with the goal of improving comfort and functionality, their medical use is also associated with the risk of serious adverse effects. We strongly discourage our patients from being on a medication regimen that includes opioids and central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs.

We ask that all of our patients sign an agreement that they understand the risks associated with medications they are prescribed. We as a pain management provider, remain in contact with other healthcare providers for the purposes of sharing information concerning any situation, as is deemed necessary for coordinated, high quality care.

There are other risks associated with opioid use. These include a lack of alertness and motion control, most often associated with higher doses. This may affect the ability of patients to undertake activities such as driving. Opioids remain a popular and widespread option in pain relief to this day. They can elicit pain relief and the complete return of normal function in individuals whose chronic pain caused severe debility and the loss of mobility and normal activity.

Introducing opioid treatment for chronic pain should be considered a major step, and requires an assessment by one of our board-certified pain management physicians to determine what is appropriate for each individual patient. Before prescribing these drugs, our staff will ensure the patient has had an insufficient response to the non-opioid pharmacological options, such as NSAID. This is assessed by pain scores and patient reports. Screening of patients for abuse risk factors also plays a factor.

If opioid use is deemed necessary, and the patient is not at significant risk of becoming an abuser, our clinic will monitor the patient throughout the course of their chronic pain treatment. This can be done through documentation ,tracking pharmacy and prescription reports. In addition, recording information such as dose, changes in pain severity, any adverse effects and the patient’s quality of life, mood, physical, and functional findings at each visit to the physician’s office. Urine drug testing may indicate abuse or diversion to other drugs. Patients who require high doses (e.g. the equivalent of 120mg morphine per day) are monitored very closely by our clinic. Our physicians that are prescribing opioids are very familiar with issues of opioid administration, risks, and addiction. We also hand out patient education, as this may help the patient be responsible and help them avoid misuse.