What is spinal pain management?
RIA Endovascular offers minimally invasive procedures to help patients with back pain. These include:
Epidural steroid injection
Patients who have back pain that radiates into one or both lower extremities also known as sciatica may benefit from epidural steroid injection. The physician places a small needle into the space where the nerves exit the spinal canal and injects a combination of anesthetic and steroid. This decreased inflammation in the nerves and helps with pain. Pain relief can last up to months and can be repeated, as needed.
Facet nerve block, medial branch nerve block and rhizotomy
Patients with low back pain that is bothersome after sleep, associated with bending to the side, extending and prolonged standing may have degenerative disease of the facets (the joints of the spine). This pain can be treated with steroid and anesthetic to improve mobility and treat pain. Patients who benefit from the nerve block procedures may achieve a prolonged relief with rhizotomy, which is a treatment to ablate or disrupt the nerve sensation from the affected joints. Pain relief can last up to 12 months after rhizotomy.
Why would you need spinal pain management?
If you suffer from sciatica, have chronic low back pain due to degenerative disk disease, disk bulging or facet arthritis you may achieve pain relief from minimally invasive spine treatments.
Risks Involved
Our ability to use imaging guidance and cutting-edge technology minimizes patient risk. Prior to your procedure, your physician will discuss any potential risks with you.
Conditions to let us know about
Let your doctor know if you have numbness or weakness in your legs or abnormalities of bowel or bladder function. Also let your doctor know if you are currently pregnant or breast feeding, feeling ill, have a fever, or are taking any blood thinners.
Insurance coverage
Treatment for spinal pain is covered by most private insurance providers as well as Medicare. We will seek authorization from your insurance company prior to your procedure.
Preparing for your procedure
If you are on blood thinners your doctor will instruct you if you need to stop these medications prior to the procedure. If your procedure requires sedation, then you will need a responsible adult to give you a ride home.
Recovering from your procedure
Most injections for spinal pain are done with local anesthetic but sedation may be employed as needed. After your injection your pain will be reassessed, and you will stay in the recovery area until you are ready for discharge. You will be given written post procedure discharge instructions that will advise you about return to normal physical activity. If you have any questions after your procedure, please call the RIA Interventional Suite at 720-493-3406.