Doctor helps to eliminate chronic pain

Dr. Austin Horrocks is one of Coryell Health's management specialists, and made the move to a smaller setting after working in large cities, including San Antonio.

"I was born in Utah and grew up in a small town in Illinois about the same size as Gatesville," Horrocks said. "I worked in San Antonio and then completed a pain management fellowship in Utah. I worked in Phoenix and decided shortly after that I did not like the big city."

Horrocks' wife is from Texas, "and she suggested that we move back to Texas, so we moved to China Spring. We really like interacting with people in smaller towns. We much more comfortable in smaller towns than big cities."

Horrocks said his goal is to provide care to those who might be suffering and in need of relief.

"A lot of people need help and aren't getting it," Horrocks said. "For a while, we tried opioids and look where that got us (widespread addictions).

"There are different ways to offer relief to people who are in pain and I want to provide the same type of care that I would for my own family members. There are a lot of processes that can help people, and I pride myself on offering that."

Horrocks said one of his favorite treatments offers relief for those with spinal stenosis – a condition that causes back pain because of pressure on the spinal cord. The condition is often related to wear and tear and is commonly found in adults who are middle-aged or older. In addition to pain, symptoms can include numbness, muscle weakness and reduced bladder or bowel control.

Although more advanced surgeries can be an option, Horrocks said another possibility is the insertion of a flexible device that prevents nerves from being pinched. He said that process takes about half an hour.

Knee, shoulder and hip pain are also common problems. Horrocks said there are "minimally invasive techniques to help patients out." He said treatments that include installing medication pumps in an affected area in a procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Conditions that Horrocks treats to reduce or eliminate pain include: failed back surgery syndrome, sciatica, arthritis, cancer pain, musculoskeletal pain and joint pain. In addition to pain relief, Horrocks said a primary goal is helping people be able to function better during routine activities of daily life.

Although opioids can still be prescribed to help patients manage their pain, depending on the situation, Horrocks said he looks for alternatives.

"I prescribe them for pain for certain people in certain circumstances, but what I look at is whether I would prescribe them for my own family in a similar situation," he said. "If the answer is yes, then yes, I prescribe them."

One of the reasons to avoid unnecessary prescription of opioids, he said, is that they often have side effects. He said that inserting medication dispensing pumps in a specific area reduces the amount of medication needed and is also more effective because it goes straight to the source of the pain.

"I try to avoid opioids in most situations," Horrocks said.

What may be the best treatment for one person is not always the best treatment for another, he added.

"There's not a one size fits all approach," Horrocks said. "If there was, I probably wouldn't have a job. I pride myself on tailoring treatment for each individual patient."