Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Management

Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation in the body’s tissues. These injections can treat a variety of skeletal, muscular and spinal conditions, such as osteoarthritis, low back pain, radiating neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and tendonitis.

A discogram, or discography, is an interventional diagnostic imaging test that helps determine whether a specific intervertebral disc may be the source of back pain. Intervertebral discs are sponge-like cushions between the vertebrae, or bones, of the spine.

This therapy is designed to manage difficult-to-treat chronic pain in specific areas of the lower body, such as the foot, knee, hip or groin. It targets and stimulates dorsal root ganglia structures (made up of sensory nerves) along the spinal column that is associated with the area of pain.

An electrodiagnostic study measures electrical activity in nerves and muscles. Electromyography (EMG) or a nerve conduction study (NCS) may be ordered to help diagnose the cause of neck or back pain, particularly if accompanied by tingling, numbness and/or weakness.

Epidural steroid injections provide temporary relief for neck, arm, back and leg pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. Anti-inflammatory medications are delivered to the epidural space around nerves in your cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. Pain relief may last for several days or even years.

Small facet joints along the spine provide stability and guide motion. If they become painful due to arthritis, a back injury or mechanical stress, a facet joint injection may help. A local anesthetic and/or steroid medication is injected into the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine to help block the pain and allow for an accurate diagnosis of the source of pain.

This medical imaging procedure uses brief bursts of an X-ray beam to show video of internal organs and tissues moving in real time. It is used for diagnostic purposes and to help guide certain treatment procedures such as surgeries and catheter placements.

This minimally invasive procedure treats vertebral compression fractures of the spine, sometimes caused by osteoporosis or injury. Left untreated, these painful, wedge-shaped fractures can lead to a humped spine (kyphosis). By restoring vertebra height with a balloon and injecting cement into the fractured bone, recovery is faster and the future risk of fracture is reduced.

Nerve ablation can reduce certain kinds of chronic pain by preventing pain signal transmissions. A portion of nerve tissue is destroyed or removed to cause an interruption in pain signals and reduce pain in targeted areas. It is done using heat, cold or chemicals and may be called radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, neurotomy or rhizotomy based on how it is done.

This common form of therapy is generally used to treat and manage pain in the back, legs, arms, buttocks, neck and face. Groups of nerves that cause pain to a particular region or area of the body can typically be blocked via injections of a medication that numbs the nerves signaling the pain.

A small pump is surgically placed under the skin of your abdomen and delivers medication through a catheter to the area around your spinal cord, requiring a smaller dose of medication than needed with oral medication.

This non-surgical procedure can help relieve chronic back (lumbar or thoracic) or neck (cervical) pain. Also called radiofrequency ablation, the treatment uses heat to destroy a nerve that is causing chronic pain. It can help patients who suffer from osteoarthritis or spine conditions resulting from traumatic injury.

This implanted device sends low levels of electricity directly into the spinal cord to relieve pain. It is most often used after nonsurgical pain treatment options have failed to provide sufficient relief.

A trigger point injection (TPI) can help relieve muscle pain, usually caused by a “knot” in your muscle – a trigger point – especially in your neck, shoulder, arms, legs and lower back. TPIs commonly involves local anesthetic with or without steroids, Botox or dry needling.

The Vertiflex procedure uses a small implant placed inside the spine to help prevent the reduction of space when standing or walking. This provides relief by lifting pressure off the nerves to alleviate leg and back pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis.