Common treatment options – Red Rock Pain

Trigger point injections

Involve a series of multiple injections into various muscle groups using a very fine gauge needle. This technique aims to relieve pain from "tender spots" or "knots" in specific muscles. It's particularly effective when combined with physical therapy and recovery-enhancing devices. This approach targets localized muscle pain effectively, providing relief and aiding in overall recovery.

Epidural steroid injection

Is a medical procedure involving the administration of various medications into the epidural space of the spine, where nerve endings are situated. This minimally invasive approach may be applicable for a wide array of conditions affecting the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions of the spine. It can be highly effective in reducing pain and discomfort.

Facet joint injections

Facet joint injections involve administering numbing medicine, often mixed with a steroid, into the spine's joint capsule. Each vertebral body is connected to the adjacent level by two "facet joints." Like any other joint in the body, they can suffer from arthritis or age-related deterioration, as well as potential displacement following a car accident. Injecting a mix of numbing medicine, with or without a steroid, into the joint capsule can help alleviate pain and significantly reduce associated inflammation. This technique is particularly useful for addressing spinal joint-related discomfort.

Medial branch blocks

Each vertebral body is linked to the adjacent level by two "facet joints." These joints, like others in the body, are prone to arthritis, age-related wear, or displacement due to car accidents. This stress can lead to pain from the nerves that supply these joints. Injecting a small amount of numbing medicine near these nerves can be a diagnostic tool. If patients experience significant pain relief after a medial branch block, it likely indicates the pain source. In such cases, radiofrequency ablation might be recommended to target these nerves effectively.

Radiofrequency Ablation

This procedure is a follow-up step if diagnostic medial branch blocks have successfully provided significant pain relief. It involves using either continuous or pulsed electrical stimulation to effectively disable nerves causing pain in the spine's joints. This concept is also applied to manage chronic pain in other joints, most commonly the shoulders and knees. This procedure can offer long-lasting pain relief and enhance the ability to perform daily activities.

Occipital nerve blocks

Involve injecting numbing medication, with or without steroids, near the nerves at the back of the head. These injections target the three major nerves responsible for sensation in that area, all originating from the neck. This treatment is common for those suffering from "occipital neuralgia," or headaches resulting from nerve irritation, often seen in car accident victims. If nerve blocks provide only temporary relief, more advanced techniques like pulsed radiofrequency ablation or peripheral nerve stimulation may be considered.

Peripheral nerve stimulation

(PNS) is a medical technique used for pain management. It involves implanting a small electrical device near a peripheral nerve, which sends controlled electrical impulses to the nerve. These impulses help to block pain signals from reaching the brain. PNS is typically used for chronic pain conditions, especially when other treatments have not been effective. It's a minimally invasive procedure and can be a long-term solution for managing certain types of pain. The device's settings can be adjusted to optimize pain relief for the individual patient.

Spinal cord Stimulation

Effectively manages pain conditions like phantom pain, chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), and neck or back pain. It involves implanting a pacemaker-like device in the spine to block pain signals to the brain. This selective method is based on the specific pain cause and nature. Patients usually explore treatments like physical therapy, radiofrequency ablation, or epidural steroid injections before considering SCS, which is the gold standard for certain conditions. A Board-Certified Pain Management Specialist's timely evaluation is crucial in determining SCS as the appropriate treatment option.

Kyphoplasty

The human spine, composed of individual vertebral bodies, is susceptible to fractures like any other bone in the body. These fractures are commonly due to age-related osteoporosis, but can also result from infections, tumors, or trauma. Kyphoplasty, a procedure involving the insertion of a hard material into a fractured vertebral body, is guided by fluoroscopy or live X-ray. Spinal fractures, especially in the elderly, can occur without clear causes. If you or someone you know experiences new onset back pain, we recommend consulting with one of our Interventional Pain Physicians for immediate assessment and potential treatment.

Vertiflex

Lower back pain often arises from the narrowing of the spinal canal or the openings where nerves and the spinal cord are situated within the spine. If physical therapy and epidural steroid injections fail to provide significant relief, the Vertiflex procedure may be an option. This minor surgery involves placing titanium spacers between the bones of the lower back (spinous processes) to widen the narrowed spinal canal. This method can be very effective, potentially avoiding more invasive surgeries and providing patients with substantial pain relief.