Pain Management

A minimally-invasive procedure to ablate the nerves that give sensation to the top and bottom of the vertebral bone, for long-term pain relief and functional benefit.

This injection deposits steroids with local anesthetic medications into bursa or fluid-filled sacs that act as padding throughout the body.

A field of medicine that focuses on using a multidisciplinary approach to reduce pain with the goal of improving quality of life. These may include injections, therapy/exercise, minimally-invasive procedures, and medications, among others.

This injection deposits steroids with local anesthetic medications into the epidural space of the spine, to decrease inflammation around pinched and/or inflamed nerve roots for pain improvement.

A subset of pain management that includes minimally-invasive procedures and injections to achieve pain relief and decrease pain medications.

This injection deposits steroids with local anesthetic medications or viscosupplementation (gel lubricants) into joints in the body (most commonly in the facet joints of the spine, sacroiliac joints, shoulder, knees, and hips) to decrease inflammation and pain.

Minimally-invasive procedures to treat vertebral compression fractures by reinforcing the fracture with cement. Kyphoplasty may restore the height of the compressed fracture, while vertebroplasty will not, but may result in good relief anyway.

A subset of nerve blocks for joint pain, but specifically pain from the facet joints of the spine, which can be painful from arthritis. These are for diagnostic purposes and may be followed by radiofrequency ablation or peripheral nerve stimulation for long-term relief.

These injections place local anesthetic alone or a mixture with steroids, near a nerve that is giving sensation to a painful area, for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons. If positive, this may be followed by radiofrequency ablation or peripheral nerve stimulation of the nerve for long-term relief.

A minimally invasive technique in which one to two tiny wire electrodes are placed next to painful peripheral nerves to stimulate and thereby restrict pain signals from reaching the brain. In some cases, this can reverse chronic “pain memories”. This can either involve a 7-day trial, followed by implantation, or a 60-day implant that is then removed with long-term benefit.

This technique uses controlled, electrical impulses to destroy nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain. Patients must have positive diagnostic nerve block(s) prior to RFA. These can be done for many nerves, but most frequently are used to treat spine, sacroiliac, knee, shoulder, and hip joint pains.

A minimally-invasive technique in which two electrodes are placed next to the spinal cord in the epidural space to stimulate the spinal cord and restrict pain signals from reaching the brain. This involves a 7-day trial, followed by implantation. While this technology can be used for many diagnoses, some of the most common are chronic spine and arm or leg pain, persistent pain after spine surgery, peripheral neuropathy, and complex regional pain syndrome, among others.

An injection of local anesthetic alone or mixed with steroids to nerve cell bodies (ganglia) that control sympathetically mediated pain to particular regions of the body. This can include stellate ganglion blocks, celiac plexus blocks, hypogastric plexus blocks, lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks, and ganglion impar blocks, among others.

These injections are done to break up tight bands of muscle and fascia (knots or trigger points) to treat muscular pain.