Interventional Pain Management

At Quantum Medical, PC, we employ a wide range of interventional pain management techniques to help you recover quickly from painful conditions. These include: 

Epidural Steroid Injections

If our pain physician determines that the chronic pain in your arm, back, neck, or leg is caused by intervertebral disc problems such as herniated or bulging discs, they might administer an epidural steroid injection.

The pain management specialist will inject a local anesthetic and steroid in the epidural space to treat your chronic pain. You will experience long-lasting pain relief as the steroid minimizes inflammation in your nerves.

Selective Nerve Root Blocks

A nerve root block can act as a diagnosis or treatment procedure. 

Our physician will inject an anesthetic at the site of the nerve causing your pain. If you experience pain relief, that specific nerve is determined to be the issue. Then, your physician can recommend physical therapy or any other procedure to provide pain relief over the long term.

Facet Joint Injections

This injection allows our physician to determine if your facet joints are the source of pain. Besides, these injections can also provide pain relief and aid in long-term pain management. 

Implantable Drug Delivery Systems

In this case, a surgeon puts in a pump that slowly releases different drugs to help with pain management. The medications are administered through a catheter under the skin to the intrathecal space around the spinal cord, where they most effectively block pain signals.

Rhizotomy

This procedure entails turning off your pain signals by using heated electrodes. These electrodes are applied to specific nerves that carry pain signals to the brain.

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation involves using electrical impulses to block pain signals from being perceived in the brain.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a medical treatment that involves the use of a small device to deliver electrical impulses to the spinal cord, with the aim of reducing chronic pain. It is a minimally invasive procedure that has been used for over 40 years to help manage pain caused by a variety of conditions, such as failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and neuropathic pain.

During the SCS procedure, a small electrode is placed in the epidural space of the spinal cord, which is the space between the spinal cord and the protective membrane that surrounds it. This electrode is connected to a battery-powered pulse generator that is implanted under the skin of the abdomen or buttock. The generator delivers electrical impulses to the spinal cord that interfere with pain signals, reducing the perception of pain.

SCS is generally considered to be a safe and effective treatment option for chronic pain that has not responded to other therapies, such as medications or physical therapy. It is also reversible and can be turned off or removed if it is no longer effective or if the patient experiences unwanted side effects.

Overall, spinal cord stimulation is an important tool in the management of chronic pain and has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for those suffering from chronic pain conditions.

Radiofrequency Ablation

Your physician may consider radiofrequency ablation to ease chronic pain caused by facet joint disease. Radiofrequency ablation can also block pain messages that originate in several areas of your body due to neuropathy, injuries, and other health conditions.

This technique uses radiofrequency energy to wound a nerve, stopping nerve signals and relieving pain for six to nine months.

Beyond these treatments, our interventional pain management physicians might suggest other treatments, including:

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractic Care

• Acupuncture

• Lifestyle changes, e.g., exercise, diet, etc.

Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks are a type of interventional pain management procedure that involves the injection of a local anesthetic and/or a corticosteroid medication into a specific nerve or group of nerves in order to relieve pain. Nerve blocks are often used to diagnose the source of pain and provide pain relief for conditions such as chronic back pain, neck pain, and neuropathic pain.

During a nerve block procedure, the area around the nerve is numbed with a local anesthetic, and then a needle is guided to the targeted nerve using imaging techniques such as X-ray or ultrasound. Once the needle is properly positioned, the medication is injected into the nerve or surrounding tissue. The medication works by blocking the transmission of pain signals to the brain, providing temporary pain relief.

There are several different types of nerve blocks, each targeting a specific nerve or group of nerves. For example, a spinal nerve block is used to treat pain in the neck, back, arms, or legs, while a sympathetic nerve block is used to treat pain related to the sympathetic nervous system, such as complex regional pain syndrome.

Nerve blocks are generally considered to be safe and effective, with few risks or side effects. However, as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks, including bleeding, infection, and nerve damage.

Overall, nerve blocks are an important tool in the management of chronic pain and can provide significant relief for those suffering from a variety of pain conditions. They are often used in combination with other pain management techniques, such as physical therapy and medication, to provide comprehensive pain relief.