Pain Management Interventions
Pain management techniques are very effective for many types of spine and neck pain and some types of musculoskeletal pain. Because these procedures are minimally invasive, they offer patients less recovery time and risk than most surgical options. Triad Radiology Associates offers the following types of therapies to help diagnose and treat pain symptoms:
An epidural injection can provide temporary or prolonged relief from pain or inflammation in the spine or extremities. It is one of many methods use to relieve pain, along with physical therapy, oral medications and surgery if a patient is not responding to conservative treatments.
An epidural injection may be performed to alleviate pain caused by:
• A herniated or bulging disk that impinges nerves causing pain
• Spinal stenosis
• Post-operative “failed back” surgery syndromes (chronic back or leg pain after spinal surgery)
• Other injuries to spinal nerves, vertebrae and surrounding tissues
• Bone spurs
Imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy or computed tomography (CT) , may be used to place the needle into the right location for maximum benefit. The injection may also help confirm the exact site of the pain generator.
Celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) is a procedure in which injections of denatured alcohol are administered to help relieve abdominal pain, commonly due to cancer or chronic pancreatitis.
The celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves that surrounds the aorta and relays pain signals from the organs of the abdomen. Using CT guidance, denatured alcohol is injected around the celiac plexus with high precision and a minimal risk of exposing the surrounding tissue. Blocking these nerves from carrying pain information can help stop the feeling of pain in the abdomen.
Interventional Radiology
A facet joint block or injection is a procedure in which a Radiologist injects a small amount of anesthetic and/or steroids to numb a facet joint. Facet joints are located in pairs on the side of each vertebra in the neck and back. They allow for motion and provide support and stability in the spine.
Some common uses of a facet joint block typically include:
• Reducing inflammation
• Providing long-term pain relief
• Helping patients tolerate physical therapy or other rehabilitative exercises
• Helping physicians find the cause of the neck or back pain
A nerve block is an anesthetic and/or anti-inflammatory injection targeted toward a certain nerve or group of nerves to treat pain. The purpose of the injection is to “turn off” a pain signal coming from a specific location in the body or to decrease inflammation in that area.
In both types of injection procedures, the Radiologist will use image guidance to direct a needle to inject the medication. This allows the patient to receive maximum benefit of the injection.
Sources:
- https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=epidural
- https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=facet-joint-block
- https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=nerveblock
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3751497/
- http://oncolex.org/Prosedyrer/TREATMENT/ComplicationTreatment/CeliacPlexusNeurolysis
Triad Radiology offers Pain Management Interventions at a variety of locations, including hospitals, imaging centers, and clinics. Contact us if you want to learn more or schedule an appointment.
