All of our spinal injections are performed under image (fluoroscopy) guidance.
It is indicated to prevent chronic migraine headaches in adults who have 15 or more days each month with headache lasting 4 or more hours each day. Injection will be placed in multiple areas of you head/neck to cover all the potential areas that can trigger migraine. It can be repeated no more frequent than 3 months and the result is generally very positive.
Discography will help your doctor determine if your pain is originating from a damaged disc. In this diagnostic test, contrast dye is injected into the spinal discs that are presumed to be the source of your back pain. We intentionally put pressure into the discs to provoke pain. First, the skin and deeper tissues are numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, using x-ray guidance, a needle is inserted into the disc. Contrast dye is injected, and careful monitoring of the flow pattern of the dye and your pain response is recorded. Patients with pain not originating from the discs will not experience discomfort during dye injection.
It is a very common procedure perform for pain management. Many people heard about epidurals or had one during labor. It is a very similar procedure except we use x-ray guidance to ensure safety and pin-point accuracy. Epidurals can be performed in the neck, mid-back or low back. Our experts take only a few minutes to perform the injection and patients generally feel minimal pain during the procedure. It is an effective treatment for sciatica, pinch nerves, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease.
A facet joint injection is a precise diagnostic tool that also provides excellent therapeutic results. Using X-ray guidance, physicians are able to see and accurately target the affected joint(s). Facet joints are the small joints located between each vertebra that provide the spine with both stability and flexibility. Facet syndrome occurs when one or more of these joints become inflamed or irritated. Arthritis occurs when the cartilage lining the joint surface shrinks and wears thin, causing stress on the bone (bone spurs), inflammation, and enlargement of the joint.
Facet joint injections combine a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid anti-inflammatory medication. This mixture relieves both pain and inflammation coming from the involved joint. Even if the injection provides short term relief, it supports the diagnosis that the facet joint is indeed the “pain generator” and the cause of your back pain. Because they are performed using local anesthetic, facet joint injections offer the advantage of providing immediate feedback in confirming the source of your pain.
A very selective group of chronic pain patients and patients suffering from cancer pain, intrathecal therapy can dramatically improve pain and suffering, often right after the procedure. Intrathecal medicine has a significant lower risk of side effects than oral, intravenous and transdermal(patch) opioids. With the pump, most patients restore their function, able to sleep well and regain their appetite. A small number of pain specialists with strong surgical background perform this procedure safely and manage the pump effectively. We are happy to discuss with you about the option if you suffer from intractable pain. 
We routinely perform these procedures for osteoarthritis and joint inflammation on a daily basis. All of our providers are extremely experience in doing these injections accurately with minimal discomfort.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome of the lower extremities and shingles of the legs conduct pain signals through the sympathetic nervous system. After a series of this block in the lumbar spine, patients can receive sustained relief and facilitate adjunctive treatment with physical therapy. After the block, patients can expect a temperature increase in the leg. You may also experience some fullness of the leg due to increased blood flow from the nerve block. This is normal and will resolve in a few hours.
Corticosteroids and anesthetic are injected in the back of the head.
Radiofrequency interrupts the sensory nerve supply to the involved facet joint by thermal energy. Using a radiofrequency probe, the small nerves that uniquely supply the facet joint are denervated to reduce pain. Radiofrequency neurotomy is performed using a local anesthetic. The physician numbs the site and, using x-ray guidance, places a special radiofrequency needle alongside the nerves that supply the inflamed joint. The nerve is then deadened by radiofrequency. This procedure should provide at least 6 months of relief and many patients average more than 9 months of improvement of symptoms.
This joint connects the pelvic bone and the sacrum of the spine. The injection is simple and safe. If it only provides short term relief, radiofrequency is an option.
Patients who failed surgery with persistent radiating pain to their upper or lower extremities, CRPS, neuropathy, phantom pain are candidates for stimulator trial. A local anesthetic is used to numb the area before one or more leads are placed in the epidural space along the spinal cord. These soft, thin wires with electrical leads on their tips are placed using a thin needle. When the leads are positioned in the best location, they are connected to a portable, external generator. The leads will be programmed to disrupt pain signals transmission to the brain and decrease or eliminate your normal pain.
The trial period usually last a week. The trial allows you to test how well you respond to the therapy. At home, you can determine how it impacts your ability to engage in different activities. If your trial is successful, we will work with you to schedule the placement of a permanent system.
This injection specifically target one or 2 nerves that are affected and believe to be the source of shooting, burning pain in the trunk or legs. It could be a diagnostic injection with only anesthetic. It could be both diagnostic and therapeutic with injection of anesthetic and steroids. Our physicians will make sure the placement of the injection accurately to provide the best results.
This procedure is commonly performed as a treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (RSD) for the upper extremities. However, it could be effective to help PTSD, shingles, hyperhidrosis of the face and hands. An anesthetic is injected into the neck. Immediately after the injection, patients will have a droopy eye, redness of the eye, feel warmth in the face and may experience hoarseness of the voice. These effects are temporary and last a few hours.
A simple muscle injection with a local anesthetic and small amount of steroids to relieve inflammation and muscle tension.
