Traditional pain management focuses on treating symptoms with periodic epidural steroid injections, trigger point injection or sometimes radiofrequency ablation. Too often patients get some relief but have to return in a few months because the underlying cause is not addressed. Diagnostic and interventional pain management identifies and addresses the root cause. Some physicians have taken the time to acquire specific training in new surgical techniques using the most advanced working channel endoscope. These new techniques allow the interventional pain management physician to directly visual and address the pain generator that is the root cause of neck, back and leg pain.

Unlike some physicians that teach you to manage your pain because they may or may not have a solution for your pain, the emerging new surgical subspecialty focuses on finding the source of the pain and treating it surgically. Once the pain source is identified, a specific surgical treatment can be tailored to each individual patient. Some patients will get success from traditional non-surgical treatments practiced by pain management because your condition is not severe enough to warrant surgical intervention. On the other hand, when appropriately selected patients are candidates they may receive benefits from less invasive surgical procedures such as endoscopically assisted radiofrequency rhizotomy and Open endoscopically assisted tubular retractor surgery options that can provide significant pain relief.

Diagnostic Injections:

Facet Joint Block: The facet joints are found on both sides of the spine. These joints can become very painfully irritated and inflamed. A facet joint injection can pinpoint the root cause and diagnosis for patients suffering from back pain. This injection can also relieve pain and inflammation temporarily. The injection itself contains a soothing anesthetic and anti-inflammatory steroid.