Radiofrequency ablation is an effective treatment for facet joint pain caused by arthritis or spinal degeneration. Using heat delivered through a specialized probe, the targeted nerve is deactivated to reduce pain signals.

Key Benefits

• Minimally invasive
• Relief may last up to nine months
• Can be repeated when symptoms return

Before RFA, patients undergo a diagnostic nerve block to confirm the correct pain source.

A spinal cord stimulator interrupts chronic pain signals before they reach the brain. Patients undergo a trial first to determine whether the therapy provides meaningful relief.

How SCS Trials Work

• A thin temporary lead is placed near the spinal cord
• Light sedation and local anesthesia are used
• Patients try the device at home for several days
• If effective, a permanent system may be implanted

Candidates complete a psychological evaluation beforehand to ensure they fully understand the therapy.

Trigger point injections treat painful, tight knots within muscles that restrict motion and cause chronic discomfort. When combined with physical therapy and stretching, they can significantly reduce myofascial pain. Botox may be used in select cases for longer-lasting relief.

Epidural steroid injections reduce inflammation around irritated spinal nerves, decreasing pain, numbness, and tingling. These minimally invasive injections are performed in an outpatient surgery center with mild sedation.

Most patients return to normal activities the next day, and optimal relief may require a series of injections.

This procedure blocks the sensory nerve supply to the facet joint. Facet joints are located between the vertebras and provide stability and flexibility to the spine. If one or more of these joints becomes inflamed or irritated, facet syndrome occurs, which results in pain.

A medial branch block is conducted to help reduce the inflammation. This procedure typically takes about 30 minutes. First, a local anesthetic is applied, followed by a fluoroscopy (x-ray) guided needle placement along the nerves that supply the joint. A local anesthetic will then be injected with possibly a steroid medication as well.

After the procedure, relief from the pain is usually experienced within minutes. However, patients are asked to record their pain level for the first few days following this procedure.

Greater Trochanteric bursitis is a condition in which the sac that lies over the outside of the thing bone becomes inflamed and causes pain and stiffness in the hip area.

If conventional methods, including resting the affected area, applying ice, and taking anti-inflammatory drugs, don’t resolve the situation, a greater trochanteric bursa injection may help. This procedure is done by inserting a needle containing a local anesthetic and steroid medication into the affected area. The steroid takes 2 – 3 days to take effect and lasts for several weeks.

After the procedure, the patient rests for a few minutes and is then driven home by someone. Normal activities can be resumed the following day.