Treatments

At Progressive Pain Management, we perform the following procedures to help give relief to our patients:

Lumbar and Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections – pinched nerves in the cervical and lumbar spine can cause pain in the neck, shoulders, and arms. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or radiculopathy can compress nerves and cause inflammation and pain. A cervical or lumbar epidural steroid injection can be used to reduce this inflammation. To administer the medication, the physician inserts a needle into the space through which the spinal nerves travel. Contrast dye and/or fluoroscopic guidance are used to make sure that the needle is positioned correctly near the painful nerve(s). An anti-inflammatory medication is injected to relieve pressure and decrease swelling. Some patients need only one injection, but some may need as many as three to significantly relieve pain.
Facet/Medial Branch Block (Lumbar and Cervical) – is a diagnostic procedure performed in order to determine if a specific facet joint is the source of a patient’s pain. This procedure involves administering an injection to block the nerves serving the facet joints. A contrast solution is injected in order to see the painful areas and to make sure that the needle is positioned correctly. Anesthetic is then injected around the nerves to block pain signals from reaching the brain. If there is no relief, then the physician tries a different level of nerves. If there is relief from the pain, then a different procedure may be performed to provide long-term relief. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to radiofrequency ablation and open rhizotomy.
Lumbar and Cervical Nerve Root Block – is an injection used to relieve pain in the neck, shoulders and arms. This pain is caused by a pinched nerve or nerves in the cervical or lumbar spine. The procedure is performed with the patient lying in such a way so as to expose the neck. The physician guides a needle to the painful area of the neck where an anesthetic solution is injected through the needle, immersing the irritated nerve.
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (mild®) for lumbar spinal stenosis
Celiac Plexus Blocks – is performed to help relieve abdominal pain commonly due to cancer or chronic pancreatitis.
Spinal Cord Stimulation – is performed to insert a device that will exert pulsed electrical signals to the spinal cord to control chronic pain.
Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections – is performed into the lowest portion of the epidural space to help reduce lower back and leg pain that is typically caused by sciatica, bone spurs, herniated discs and or other back problems.
Joint Injections – anti-flammatory medication is injected under ultrasound and or fluoroscopic guidance to reduce swelling and decrease pain in the affected joint spaces.
Radiofrequency Facet Ablation (Lumbar and Cervical) – a minimally invasive procedure that reduces or eliminates the pain of damaged facet joints. It does this by disrupting the medial branch nerves that carry pain signals to the brain. This procedure is performed by guiding a needle-like tube to the irritated medial branch nerves. A radiofrequency electrode is inserted through the tube. The physician administers a low electric current to check the position of the electrode. If it is positioned correctly, then the physician uses the electrode to heat and cauterize the nerve. This blocks the pain signals to the brain.
Bursa Injections – is performed to help reduce the inflamed small sac of lubricating fluid that helps the muscles and tendons in our bodies move without friction. When the bursa sac becomes inflamed, pain will result each time the muscles and tendons must move over the bone.
Sacroiliac Joint Injections – is performed to help diagnose Sacroiliac Joint disorder. This injection can also be performed to help treat lower back or leg pain that is associated with sacroiliac joint disorder. If responsive, the patient is a candidate for future radiofrequency ablation and/or open rhizotomy.
Brachial Plexus Blocks – is performed as an alternative to general anesthesia for surgery of the shoulder, arm, forearm, wrist or hand. An injection of local anesthetic is administered close to the brachial plexus which temporarily blocks any sensation and the patient’s ability to move the upper extremity.
Discograms (Lumbar and Cervical) – is performed to determine is a patient’s back pain is associated with a degenerated or damaged disc. A discogram may show tears, fissures or other damage to the disc. The results of this procedure can then be used determine future treatments whether interventional or surgical.
Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks – is performed to relieve leg pain caused by complex regional pain syndromes. Complex regional pain syndromes may develop after an injury to the limb or joint. Usually a series of injections is needed to treat the problem. A physician slides a needle into the spine where a dye solution is used to confirm the painful area and to make sure the needle is positioned correctly. A mixture of anesthetic, saline and anti-inflammatory medication is injected. This blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.
Stellate Ganglion Blocks – is an injection that can diagnose and treat pain coming from the nerve injury. It is a common treatment for shingles and for regional pain from the head, face, neck or arms. A series of injections is usually needed to treat the problem. Contrast dye is injected to make sure the needle is in the right place and then a mixture of anesthetic, saline and anti-inflammatory medicine is then injected around the ganglion nerves in order to block pain signals from reaching the brain. An example diagnosis for where a stellate ganglion block would be beneficial is complex regional pain syndrome
Peripheral Nerve Blocks – is performed by injecting a local anesthetic near the nerve or nerves that control sensation and movement to a specific part of the body. The procedure is performed using fluoroscopic and or ultrasound guidance.
Trigger Point Injections – is performed to treat painful areas of muscle that contain trigger points or knots of muscle that form when muscles are unable to relax.
Stem Cell Injection – this procedure is performed by using fluoroscopic guidance to aspirate and withdraw the patient’s own stem cells from the iliac crest and injecting them into the affected pain area to promote healing, regeneration and decrease pain.