Invasive Pain Management

Epidural Steroid Injections

Cortisone is placed over the nerve sac and nerves to reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by compression of the bone or disc material.

Nerve Root Injections

This may be done with just an anesthetic medicine to localize the source of pain or a combination of anesthetic medicine and cortisone to treat the problem.

Facet Injections

A combination of anesthetic or numbing medicine with a steroid is injected to help diminish pain. This may also be done to determine the source of pain. Sometimes the nerve to the joint is injected or numbed to determine if that is the source of pain. This test is called a Facet Nerve Block.

Radiofrequency Neurotomies/Ablations

A radiofrequency neurotomy is a type of injection procedure in which a heat lesion is created on certain nerves with the goal of interrupting the pain signals to the brain, thus eliminating pain.

Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)

This innovative treatment works by blocking pain perception from traveling up through the spinal cord
to the brain. It involves a small device that is placed near the spinal cord in the epidural space. The SCS device delivers
low-level electrical impulses that obstruct the perception of pain, especially chronic nerve pain. (see Spinal Cord Stimulation).

For more information also see Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (note: will take you to St. Jude Medical website)