PAIN IS A PAIN.
Chronic and acute pain can turn anyone’s world upside down. Activities that were once enjoyable may be impossible due to intense pain. Even spending time with friends and family may become difficult. Our physiatrists practicing interventional pain management believe that treating the patient, not just the condition, produces the best results. Integrating interventional pain management techniques, a patient-first approach, and innovative thinking, we are able to combat your chronic pain and return to you to a normal routine.
Types of Interventional Pain Management Treatments
There are many types of interventional pain management treatments. The type of treatment you receive will be based on your specific condition and symptoms, as each type of treatment varies in terms of invasiveness. Some of the most common interventional pain management techniques include:
- Injections: Some common types of injections are steroid injections such as Epidural Injections, Facet Joint Injections and SI Joint Injections. Each of these injections target different pain spots in the body. Injections generally include a numbing agent and a steroid.
- Regenerative medicine in spine and musculoskeletal applications: this treatment technique harvest’s the body’s own healing powers in order to aid in the recovery process. Treatments may include Platelet Rich Plasma injections and Stem Cell Therapy.
- Ultrasound guided injections: This technique utilizes a cutting-edge imaging device in order to guide needles into joints and other areas of the body without the use of radiation.
BACK OR SPINE PAIN
Corticosteroids, commonly just called “steroids”, are synthetic drugs designed to reduce inflammation in muscles and tissues. A steroid injection can serve as a temporary, long-term treatment for back pain. This nonsurgical procedure only takes a few minutes, and the results last for several months.
There are four main types of steroid injections for back pain:
- Epidural Injections: This is an injection in the spinal canal that surrounds the spinal cord. It is commonly used to treat sciatica.
- Trigger Point Injections: An injection for muscles in the back to reduce inflammation and pain in the back, hip, or legs.
- Facet Joint Injections: The facet joints are the joints that connect vertebra to one another. This injection can reduce inflammation and pain in the back.
- Sacroiliac joint injection: The sacroiliac joints are the joints that connect the pelvis to the spine. This injection can reduce inflammation and pain in the sacroiliac joint.
If steroid injections successfully treat your pain, they can prevent the need for surgery. Additionally, pain relief from steroid injections can allow you to perform new back strengthening exercises in physical therapy. This can potentially prevent the need for surgery altogether.
Steroid injections for back pain at a glance:
- Steroid injections insert corticosteroids into the back. Corticosteroids are designed to replicate anti-inflammatory hormones.
- There are three main types of steroid injections that are classified based on where they are injected into the spine.
- Steroid injections may reduce pain and restore mobility.
Risks & Side Effects of Steroid Injections
Steroid injections are one of the most effective ways to decrease pain and improve function. In addition, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone gets the same level of relief from the injections.
Since the amount of steroid injected is usually small, injections may be repeated up to three times per year if necessary with no significant side effects. Common side effects include:
- Insomnia
- Flushing
- Headache
- Muscle tensions
