Pain Management

Chronic pain can interfere with daily activities of work and lifestyle, but pain relief and improved quality of life can often be realized through pain management practices. The providers with Maury Regional Medical Group Interventional Pain Management specialize in finding each patient a unique plan that meets their specific needs. Services provided at Maury Regional Medical Group Interventional Pain Management include:

Radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive technique that utilizes heat to destroy the nerve or nerves that are transmitting chronic pain signals. While patients may feel a tingling sensation, it should not hurt and there is little to no downtime, though you shouldn’t engage in strenuous activity for 24 hours after the procedure.

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections are commonly used to treat back pain. Patients who may benefit include those experiencing herniated disc, radiculopathy, spinal stenosis or sciatica. These injections utilize corticosteroid medication to reduce inflammation and relieve nerve pain. 

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections

This type of epidural steroid injection is administered by inserting a needle between the spine and spinal cord, or the area where the spinal nerve exits the spine. It can be beneficial for those with back pain.

Facet joint injections and medial branch nerve blocks

Facet joint injections and medial branch nerve blocks are used to diagnose or treat pain arising from facet joints, the connections between the bones in the spine. While facet joint injections of an anesthetic or medication are given directly into the facet joint, medial branch nerve blocks target the medial branch nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints to the brain.

Sacroiliac joint injections

Sacroiliac joint injections are used to diagnose or treat lower back pain that comes from the sacroiliac joint, which is where the spine connects to the pelvis. Injections consist of numbing and steroid medications to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

Spinal cord stimulation

Spinal cord stimulation is a clinically proven approach to pain management that can give patients relief without the need for more medications. Spinal cord stimulation works by interrupting the pain signals sent by the nerves in the spinal cord to the brain.

A small device — called a stimulator — is implanted under the skin near the waistline on the patient’s back. It is connected to thin, flexible leads that are placed along the spinal cord near specific nerves.

The stimulator sends mild pulses through the leads that interrupt the pain signals going to the brain. It can be personalized to each patient, and a wireless remote control can adjust the level of stimulation.

Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive procedures used to treat vertebral body compression fractures, which are small breaks in the vertebral column of the spine commonly caused by osteoporosis or injury. If left untreated, the fractures can lead to a humped spine, called kyphosis.

With both procedures, a surgeon inserts a hollow needle into the fractured vertebra. In vertebroplasty, bone cement (called polymethylmethacrylate) is injected through the hollow needle into the fractured bone. In kyphoplasty, a balloon is first inserted and inflated to expand the compressed vertebra to its normal height before filling the space with bone cement. The procedures are repeated for each affected vertebra.

Trigger point injections

Trigger point injections are used to help soothe pain caused by inflammation in the muscles and the surrounding fascia, especially in the neck, shoulder, arms, legs and lower back. Trigger points are painful spots in the muscles that can be sensitive to the touch or when pressure is applied. They’re caused by muscle fibers being stuck in a contracted state due to repetitive micro-trauma or acute trauma.

Non-surgical treatment of vertebral compression fractures

Your physician may suggest non-surgical treatments for vertebral compression fractures, including medication, custom-fit back braces and an activity plan with exercise recommendations to treat pain.