Interventional Pain Care
Pain is our most common health complaint.
It has been estimated that over 50 million Americans live with chronic pain. That makes pain one of our most pervasive, costly and disabling national health problems. Worst of all, only 5% of these chronic-pain sufferers have ever visited a pain specialist.
Here at Spine Care & Pain Management in North Georgia, our doctors are all board-certified in anesthesiology and pain medicine. We use proven treatments based on clinical evidence to help patients overcome all types of pain. We perform interventional procedures under X-ray guidance for pinpoint accuracy. Patients won’t be inconvenienced by having to travel to another facility for interventional treatment. We have two fully accredited onsite ambulatory surgery centers. Interventional procedures we may use include:
We know that an accurate diagnosis sets the foundation for care. That’s why we invest extensive time with your physical examination, taking your medical history and reviewing your past and present diagnostic and treatment information.
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Epidural steroid injections.
Epidural steroid injections reduce nerve root irritation pain when it originates within the spine. Nerve root irritation may be caused by:
- Disc prolapse – Bulging spinal discs that may compress nerves & cause pain
- Foraminal stenosis – Narrowing of nerve exit spaces can develop over time & cause pain
- Spinal stenosis – Narrowing of the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord & nerves
- Spondylolisthesis – Slippage of a spinal vertebra from its normal position
By injecting steroid drugs at the source of nerve root irritation, we can reduce the degree of nerve inflammation and relieve symptoms such as numbness, tingling and pain. If a series of epidural injections helps your nerve root pain but spinal pain persists, we may assess further and provide additional evidence-based treatments.
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Nerve blocks.
Diagnostic nerve blocks help us locate pain-causing nerves. Therapeutic blocks are used to temporarily control pain at the source nerve. Nerve blocks can help patients with:
- Low back, mid back & neck pain
- Herniated disc & sciatica (leg pain)
- Arthritis, osteoarthritis & degenerative joints
- Musculoskeletal injuries & muscle weakness
- Post-herpetic neuralgia (begins as shingles)
- Diabetic & peripheral neuropathies
- Postsurgical & post-trauma pain
- Chronic headaches
- Fibromyalgia
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Radiofrequency ablation & lesioning.
Radiofrequency ablation and lesioning are minimally invasive procedures using heat or microwave energy delivered via needle probe to interrupt the pain signals transmitted from a painful area to your brain. The procedure does not require an incision and may cause only mild discomfort, which we control with local anesthetic and medication. The effects of this procedure can last from three to 12 months.
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Spinal cord stimulators.
For chronic neurologic pain, implanted spinal cord stimulation alters the patient’s perception of pain. We place the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) into the epidural space percutaneously. SCS is effective for treating failed back syndrome, CRPS and peripheral neuropathies.
Over the years, we have accurately diagnosed pain conditions in thousands of patients, then successfully controlled or eliminated their pain while improving their quality of life. We have helped people return to work, sports, activities, hobbies and lifestyles. Discover how we can help you, too.
Call today to schedule your preferred appointment time. We also encourage and welcome your referrals.
Please visit our Patient Education Library to read more about Interventional Pain Care.
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