Understanding

Pain Management

Not all problems of the spine require surgery, but sometimes they need more help than just medications and physical therapy. Pain management is a term that refers to interventional procedures that are invasive but not considered to the same magnitude as surgery. Pain throughout the spine, as well as, the joints of the shoulders, knees, ankles, wrists, and hands, can be treated with injections of steroids, anti-inflammatory medications, and local anesthetics. These minor procedures can be quite effective but can also be short-acting. Regardless, they contribute to our understanding of the source of the pain, can aid in planning surgery, and certainly at least have the possibility of long term pain relief and the avoidance of further procedures. Depending on the magnitude of the problem and the anatomic appearance on the MRI, we will discuss whether pain management modalities are appropriate and what the expectations are.