Monday, July 7th, 2014
Today, many minimally invasive techniques exist for treating chronic pain. Your pain management physician will evaluate you and explain those procedures that best suit your suit your needs.
Minimally Invasive Techniques Radiofrequency treatment. X-ray guided transmission of radio frequency waves delivers heat to destroy the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain. Although eventually the nerves can regenerate, this treatment may reduce pain for up to two years.
Facet joint injection. Degeneration of facet joints located up and down your spine can cause significant neck or back pain. Injections of a long-acting, local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroids can block the pain.
Epidural steroid injection. A solution of long-acting, local anesthetic, long acting anti-inflammatory steroid, and sometimes other pain modifying drugs is injected into the spinal nerve through the epidural space between the covering of your spinal cord and your vertebrae. Pain relief may last from a few days to a few years.
Transforaminal epidural injection. If you are receiving epidural steroid injections, you may also receive one or more transforaminal epidural injections which deliver medication to a very specific nerve area. If the injections are successful, their effects can last for six to twelve weeks.
Sacroiliac joint steroid injection. An x-ray guided injection containing an anesthetic to test numbness and a corticosteroid to deliver pain relief may be administered in one or both sacroiliac joints. The effect of the injection may not take effect for a few days, but results may last several months. Up to three injections may be administered within a six month period.
Selective nerve root block (SNRB) for diagnosis and back pain management. Primarily a diagnostic tool, this injection of an anti-inflammatory steroid and pain reliever medication such a lidocaine is used to pinpoint the specific location of nerve root pain. Secondarily, the steroid also relieves back and neck pain.
Stellate ganglion block. A local anesthetic is injected into the sympathetic nerve that affects your arms, hands and face. The nerve lies in front of your spine at the level of your larynx. Taking only a few minutes to administer, the block may last several hours or more. You may need from two to ten blocks to achieve results. Spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation can be very effective at treating nerve pain and dysfunction. It involves implantation of a battery-powered generator which sends electrical signals to nerves in your spinal cord to disrupt pain signals.
Spinal cord stimulation. Spinal cord stimulation can be very effective at treating nerve pain and dysfunction. It involves implantation of a battery-powered generator which sends electrical signals to nerves in your spinal cord to disrupt pain signals.
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Please contact your pain management physician at Abington Surgical Center to learn more and to discuss which procedures would be most beneficial for you. Need a referral to a pain management physician?
Please call our Referral Coordinator: 267-960-1440.
Information provided is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor.
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