PAIN TREATMENTS & PROCEDURES

Basivertebral nerve ablation

Basivertebral nerve ablation or BVN is a minimally invasive spinal procedure used to treat patients with lower back pain. It is usually prescribed for vertebrogenic chronic back pain that’s not responding to conservative treatment options.

BVN is an outpatient procedure performed by a pain specialist. It utilizes radiofrequency energy that targets and prevents the basivertebral nerves from transmitting pain signals.

With the guidance of C-arm fluoroscopy, your doctor will make a small incision in your lower back near the target vertebra. Your doctor will then insert a special needle and curved cannula to locate and access the basivertebral nerve. Once the location is confirmed, a radiofrequency probe will be inserted through the cannula. The probe will be used to medically “heat” up the nerves and stop them from sending pain signals.

Discogram

Discography or discogram is a diagnostic test used to evaluate persistent neck and back pain. Physicians use this invasive exam to identify if your neck or back pain is caused by a displaced or damaged spinal disk.

During a discogram procedure, a special x-ray dye will be injected into the center of one or more spinal discs. Upon injection, the pressure inside the disk will increase. This will cause pain for a damaged disk but not for normal ones. Once the damaged disk/s is confirmed, a CT scan will be used to view the condition of the spinal disk.

Epidural nerve block

Doctors use epidural nerve block injections to bring relief to patients experiencing chronic pain in the neck, back, hips, and legs. Epidural injections contain anesthetic medications, steroids, or a combination of both, which helps block painful sensations so patients can resume their everyday activities.

This is a simple outpatient procedure wherein a spinal needle will be inserted into the epidural space to deposit a soothing medication inside. Typically, patients can feel its pain-relieving effects after three to five days and can last for up to 5 months, depending on their condition.

Hyaluronic acid injection

Hyaluronic acid injections serve as a treatment option for knee pains caused by osteoarthritis. People with osteoarthritis experience discomfort in their knees due to wear and tears in the cartilage along with the thinning of the hyaluronic acid.

Doctors inject hyaluronic acid into the body to increase its natural supply, thus lubricating the joints, relieving pain, and bringing back its normal function.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty refers to a minimally invasive procedure wherein bone cement is injected into the vertebral cavity to reduce pain, stabilize the vertebra, and restore its normal height. This procedure is recommended for patients experiencing chronic pain due to spinal compression fractures.

Spinal compression fractures happen in the vertebra as it becomes weakened due to osteoporosis. This can appear as tiny cracks in the spine, which can cause back pain, reduced mobility, and spinal deformity.

Non-surgical/minimally invasive treatments

Non-surgical procedures are the first-line of treatment options for mild to chronic muscle, ligament, or joint pain. Surgery only gets considered when all conservative procedures and minimally invasive treatments don’t work. Minimally invasive procedures generally limit the size of the incision which results in less pain, a shorter recovery period, and fewer complications.

Non-surgical treatments may include a combination of the following:

RICE or rest, elevate, ice, and compress
Activity modification
Referrals for acupuncture, massage therapy, or osteopathic manipulation
Pain-relieving medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants
Physical therapy or guided exercises
Minimally invasive treatments, such as kyphoplasty, hyaluronic injection, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation.

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PRP - PLATELET RICH PLASMA - REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, is a form of regenerative medicine that uses the patient’s own platelets to heal damaged joints, muscles, and other tissues. PRP therapy helps manage your pain by reducing inflammation and repairing the injured tissue. It also enhances the body’s healing process, thus removing any discomfort with mobility.

A PRP injection is prepared by taking a specific amount of blood from the patient then running it through the centrifuge to extract the concentrated platelet. Your doctor will then inject the activated platelets directly into the injured or affected area.

Some of the conditions that can benefit from PRP therapy include osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, chronic back pain, and knee pain.

Apart from the abovementioned, we also offer:

Get in touch with us today to discuss the best treatment option for your condition!

Click here to read more about PRP therapy.

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) helps with pain management by heating a specific group of nerves to prevent them from sending pain signals to the brain. It uses electric current to ablate either the medial branch nerves or lateral branch nerves, depending on the source of your pain.

This outpatient treatment procedure can provide long-lasting pain relief to patients with arthritic joints, chronic back pain, and neck pain.

Sacroiliac joint fusion

Sacroiliac joint fusion is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that treats sacroiliac joint pain. The main goal of SI joint fusion is to render the sacroiliac joint immobile by grafting the sacrum and iliac together.

The procedure involves a small incision at the pelvic area where special instruments will be inserted to implant screws and rods or perform bone grafting. This is an outpatient procedure that only takes about 45 minutes to perform.

SI joint fusion provides long-lasting relief from joint pain and brings back stability and normal joint function. Doctors usually recommend the procedure for people with sciatica, low back pain, pelvic instability, arthritis, and injured sacroiliac joint.

Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulator

Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation is a form of therapy that helps patients manage their chronic back, arm, and leg pain. It works by blocking the pain signals coming from the nerves before it reaches the brain. Doctors recommend it to patients when conservative options do not work or to lessen their use of opioid medication.

This stimulation therapy involves surgically placing a stimulator device made up of thin wires (electrode) and a generator. The generator will be placed under the skin while the electrodes are placed next to the peripheral nerves or in the epidural space.

The stimulator works like a heart pacemaker, wherein a pulse generator sends electric current to the nerve fibers via the electrodes. Using a remote control, you can turn it on, off, or regulate the amount of electric pulse it sends depending on the pain you are feeling.

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Spinal stenosis treatment - VERTIFLEX

Spinal stenosis is a condition wherein the spaces within the spine narrows, putting painful pressure on the spinal nerves. It is a chronic condition that can cause severe pain to your neck or lower back, making normal day-to-day tasks impossible to perform.

Treatment options for this condition can vary depending on the severity of the disease and patient preferences. One such procedure that can treat lumbar spinal stenosis is called vertiflex.

The Vertiflex procedure is a minimally invasive operation that involves placing an implant inside the spine. The interspinous implant helps relieve pain by bringing back the normal space between the vertebrae.

This procedure is a good treatment option for patients who are not good candidates for open spinal surgery. It is also prescribed for people whose condition does not respond to injections and medications.

Spinal stenosis treatment - MINUTEMAN

Minuteman® is another redefining treatment procedure for thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal stenosis. This minimally invasive procedure involves implanting an interspinous spacer (Minuteman) in the affected vertebra through bone grafting.

Besides lumbar stenosis, the Minuteman procedure may also be used to treat other spinal conditions that cause chronic pain, such as:

Grade 1 spondylolisthesis
Grade 2 spondylolisthesis
Disc degenerative diseases
Spinal injury due to trauma or tumor

What is the Minuteman?
The Minuteman® is a minimally invasive, interspinous-interlaminar fusion device intended for the fixation and stabilization of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine while awaiting bony fusion to occur The Minuteman® is designed for attachment to the posterior non-cervical spine at the spinous processes through its bilateral locking plates, and it is intended for use with bone graft material placed within the device. It provides immobilization and stabilization of the spinal segments. The core threaded post allows for optimal placement and a wide range of sizes allows for enhanced anatomical fit. The Minuteman® is delivered sterile and individually packed.

How is the Minuteman Procedure performed?
During the procedure, a 1-inch incision is made on the side of your body, dilation is used to access the spine, and the Minuteman® is implanted with bone graft material. The lateral approach does not require dissection or stripping of the sensitive back muscles, bones or nerves. This advantageous approach may lead to a shorter operative time, less blood loss, reduced hospital stay, and a faster recovery time. Watch our animation below:

What are the potential benefits of the Minuteman procedure?

The Minuteman may provide the following benefits:

Reduced procedure time
Decreased blood loss
Same day surgery
1-inch incision
Little to no post-op pain
Ability to place at L5-S1
Minimal tissue disruption
Supraspinous Ligament remains intact

Is the Minuteman procedure right for me?

The following questions will help determine if the Minuteman® System is right for you:

Does your back or leg pain worsen with prolonged standing or walking?
Does your back or leg pain improve while you are sitting?
Does leaning forward improve your pain?

If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, ask your doctor if this procedure may be right for you.

Spinal stenosis treatment - MILD procedure

Minimally invasive lumbar decompression or MILD is an image-guided treatment for spinal stenosis. The procedure involves the removal of excess bone tissues or thickened ligaments in the spinal column to relieve the pressure. It also increases the spinal canal space, which helps in decompressing the spinal nerves.

Doctors perform the MILD procedure using only a small incision where specialized tools will be inserted. Once tissue removal and repair are done, instruments will be withdrawn and the wound covered by a bandage. Since the treatment only uses local anesthesia, you can immediately go home right after the procedure.

Vertebral compression fracture Treatment

Compression fractures in the spine happen when the vertebral body collapses, causing pain and spinal height decrease of at least 15% to 20%. To relieve the pain and treat the fracture, doctors can perform two types of minimally invasive surgical procedures:

Kyphoplasty - a procedure wherein bone cement is injected into the vertebral cavity to reduce pain, stabilize the vertebra, and restore lost spinal height.
Vertebroplasty - a treatment option that involves injecting low viscosity cement into the fractured vertebra to relieve pain and restore mobility.

Vertebral compression fractures typically affect people with osteoporosis, metastatic tumors, or those who got into an accident, such as car collision or sports injury.

PAIN TREATMENTS & PROCEDURES

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