Spinal Treatments for Pain Management

Spinal injection procedures for acute and chronic pain relief

At Accuhealth we offer several advanced forms of pain management procedures which are targeted to directly block the pain signals which originate from within the spine. These pain management procedures are highly effective for both diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain related to auto injury, work-related injury, or general injury conditions. Our state-of-the art Accuhealth facility is fully equipped to handle all spinal procedures in-house including:

• Nerve Block
• Epidural
• Rhizotomy
• Facet Injection
• Spinal Cord Stimulator Trials

Nerve Block

A nerve block is a type of anesthetic procedure which uses a numbing and/or anti-inflammatory medication to temporarily block the pain signals originating from the nerve. During this procedure the patient is awake while the doctor guides a needle via fluoroscopy or CT scan directly to the nerve. Once the medication is injected, the patient usually feels immediate relief. While the effects of the nerve block are not permanent, it provides temporary relief and in some cases allows the nerve to heal.

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Epidural

Most commonly known for their benefits during childbirth, epidurals can also be used to treat chronically irritated nerves of the spine. The spinal column is made up of many nerves which are surrounded by a thick protective membrane called the "dura" and run vertically inside the vertebrae. During an epidural procedure the doctor guides a needle through the openings between the vertebrae to just outside the dura where the doctor then deposits an anti-inflammatory and/or anesthetic medication. This "bathing" of the dura provides immediate pain relief as well as heals the inflammation around the nerves.

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Rhizotomy

A rhizotomy is pain management procedure which uses radio-frequency technology to destroy nerves which are causing chronic pain. The procedure is performed by a doctor under fluoroscopic guidance to target the problematic nerve. Rhizotomies are generally recommended for those who have successfully undergone nerve blocks in order to correctly identify the nerves responsible for the chronic pain. In some cases a rhizotomy provides permanent pain management, however if the nerve regenerates itself periodic repeat procedures may be needed.

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Facet Injection

Facet injections provide temporary relief from neck or back pain due to inflammation of the facet joints located between the vertebrae of the spine. In the case of injury, osteoarthritis, or chronic pain these facet joints can become inflamed and irritated and therefore benefit from injection therapy. During a facet injection the patient is awake while the doctor guides a needle to the joint via luoroscopic guidance. Once the joint is reached a mixture of medications including an anti-inflammatory and anesthetic is deposited, providing immediate pain relief for the patient.

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For more information about our spinal treatments please give our Accuhealth specialists a call today at 972.238.1976.