Our center provides many interventional options, including these special spine pain procedures.
Epidural steroid injections
An injection of steroid into the epidural space. The epidural space is in the spine between the vertebrae and the dural sac, which surrounds the spinal cord.
Medial branch blocks
Medial branch nerves are very small nerve branches that carry a pain message from the facet joints and the muscles around the joints to the brain. We block or numb the nerves so they will not be able to transfer the pain sensation from the joints to the brain.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) / Rhizotomy
A procedure using a specialized machine that generates radiofrequency current. We place a special needle next to the medial branch nerve. This nerve carries pain signals from spinal facet joints to the spinal cord and then onto the brain. This nerve does not control the muscles or sensation to the leg. We pass the radiofrequency current through the needle. The current generates heat or other physical forces which interrupts transmission of pain. These nerves recover function slowly with time.
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
A device that delivers low voltage electrical stimulation to the spinal cord. We deliver the electrical stimulation to the spinal cord through one or two wires. We place the wires in the epidural space, which is a space next to the spinal cord.