Frequently Asked Questions
Flouroscopy
What is Fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique commonly used by physicians to obtain real-time images of the internal bony structures of a patient through the use of a fluoroscope. The images are projected on a monitor and can be used to guide a needle precisely toward a target spinal structure.
Epidural Steroid Block
What is a Epidural Steroid Block?
A needle is guided into the epidural space of the spine and anesthetic drugs and/or steroids are injected to confirm a diagnosis of back or leg pain and to treat inflammation and decrease pain.
What is the goal of an Epidural Steroid Block?
To isolate the source of back pain to the level of disc pathology and decrease pain from inflammation.
How is a Epidural Steroid Block done?
A local anesthetic is given in the skin. A special needle is then inserted into the epidural space of the lumbar or caudal spine. An anesthetic substance and/or steroid are injected into the epidural space.
How is fluoroscopy used with Epidural Steroid Block?
To guide the needle into
Facet Injections
What is Facet Injections?
Facet joints are located on each side of the spine where one vertebrae slightly overlaps the adjacent vertebrae. The joints guide and restrict movement of the spine. These joints have been identified as a source of back pain.
What is the goal of the block?
To confirm that a facet joint is the source of back pain and to decrease pain and inflammation in a facet joint.
How is it Facet Injection done?
The patient is given a local anesthetic in the skin. A needle is then inserted into the facet joint and an anesthetic and steroid are injected.
How is fluoroscopy used with Facet Injections?
To guide the needle into the joint and to verify that it is in the correct position in the joint. Contrast material is given in the joint to make it visible on fluoroscopy.
Discograms
What is Discograms?
A diagnostic test performed to view and assess the internal structure of a disc and determine if it is a source of back pain.
What is the goal of the Discograms block?
To confirm that a particular disc is the source of back or leg pain.
How is it Discograms done?
The patient is given intravenous medication as a relaxant and pain reliever. A local anesthetic is then injected into the patient’s skin. A needle is inserted through the skin and into the disc using fluoroscopy. Saline solution and contrast are injected into one or more discs. A CT scan is usually performed after the dye is injected to visualize the contrast and emonstrate annular tears, scarring, disc bulges and changes in the nucleus of the disc.
How is fluoroscopy used with Discograms?
To guide the needle into the disc and verify that it is in the correct position. Contrast material is given into the disc to identify the pathology.
Stimulator Implants
What is Stimulator Implants?
A spinal cord stimulator (“SCS”) treats pain by applying an electrical “stimulation” to the spinal cord. This stimulation increases the nervous systems’s ability to “turn down” pain signals. An SCS consists of two parts: a wire placed next to the spinal cord and a battery to supply the electrical stimulation. The battery and wire are implanted under the skin. A “controller” can be placed over the battery to turn the SCS on or off or increase or decrease the intensity of stimulation. The controller does not have to remain over the battery for the SCS to operate. An SCS allows a patient more control over his/her pain and does not have the side effects associated with pain medication.
What is the goal of Stimulator Implants?
To relieve back and leg pain through the use electrical stimulation of the spinal cord.
How is it Stimulator Implants done?
Under general anesthesia an incision is made in the abdomen and a small subcutaneous pocket is created. The generator is inserted and then connected to a set of spinal cord stimulator leads that are placed in the low thoracic or cervical spine.
How is fluoroscopy used with Stimulator Implants?
Fluoroscopy is used to place the stimulator leads precisely in the epidural space.
About Our Services
Consultations
Our expert staff is available for consultations with physicians and patients to discuss the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment options.
We offer a variety of ambulatory surgery procedures such as:
• Epidural steroid Injections
• Intradiscal injections
• Facet injections
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Intrathecal pumps
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Injections
The Pain Management Specialists can help identify the source of a patient’s pain by selectively injecting one or more structures of the spine and observing the effect on the patient’s symptoms. Once the source of the pain has been identified, we administer therapeutic injections to treat and relieve the patient’s pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture plays an important role in the elimination of pain, and gives us a valuable alternative for the treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions. Find out more how the Pain management Specialist can make acupuncture work for you.
Cancer Pain
Pain from cancer or cancer treatment caused by numerous factors and is o
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