Sacroiliac Joint Pain
Overview Your sacroiliac joints (we call them the "SI" joints) are the places where your hips meet your spine. These joints don't have a lot of flexibility, but they do move slightly as you move your body. And if SI…
Genicular Nerve Ablation
Overview During this outpatient procedure, the physician uses a radiofrequency device to heat up and disrupt the genicular nerves. These are the sensory nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee to the brain. Disrupting these pathways can provide long…
Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Overview Knee pain may keep you from being as active as you like. And it may come from a gradual breakdown of your knee's cartilage. That's a protective tissue on the ends of your bones. In a healthy knee, the…
Lumbar Sympathetic Block
Overview This procedure is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your lower back. It helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to these nerves. Usually, a series of injections is needed to treat a problem.…
Stellate Ganglion Block
Overview A stellate ganglion nerve block is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your neck. This helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to the nerves. Treatment may require a series of injections. About the…
Kyphoplasty
Overview This minimally-invasive procedure repairs a vertebral compression fracture. It helps restore the spine's natural shape. Some patients experience rapid pain relief after the procedure. Preparation Before the procedure, you are anesthetized. The physician guides a needle through the skin…
Lumbar Microdiscectomy
Overview This minimally-invasive procedure relieves pressure on nerve roots caused by a herniated disc. It can eliminate the pain of sciatica. Preparation In preparation for the procedure, you are anesthetized. The surgeon creates a small incision in the skin of…
Diagnostic Procedures
Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniations require a careful history and physical examination. Imaging such as MRI can provide excellent anatomical detail of the disc, spinal canal, and spinal nerves. Consequently, MRI is used to accurately diagnosis and characterize disc…
Lumbar Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Overview This procedure, also known as Thermal Rhizotomy, uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your lower back. It eases pain that isn't helped by medications or physical therapy. Preparation To begin, you lie on your…
Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
Overview This outpatient procedure is an injection of a steroid-anesthetic medication. The medication can reduce swelling and inflammation of irritated spinal nerves. This procedure is performed to relieve pain in the lower back and pain that radiates from the back…