Published November 9, 2020
Whether you're exploring interventional pain management for the first time or already know a bit about it, this glossary of treatment options will help.
Interventional pain management is a medical subspecialty practiced by doctors trained in treating pain with targeted procedures. These treatments were developed as alternatives to relying on pain medication, and they use precise therapies to provide long-lasting relief.
Injections can relieve pain, and in some cases help make a diagnosis. How often and which injections are used varies from person to person as part of a customized plan.
Five common treatments for back and neck pain
- Rhizotomy. A non-surgical treatment for nerve pain and some types of long-term pain. Radiofrequency energy creates localized heat in the damaged nerve, which stops it from sending pain signals from the spine to the brain.
- Facet injections. Facet joints are the small joints along each vertebra. The procedure is quick and done in the office: a combination of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication is slowly injected into the joint. Pain eases right away, and relief usually lasts.
- Epidurals. One of the most common, best-known injections for lower back pain, useful for pain caused by damaged nerves or inflammation.
- Steroid injections. Caudal steroid injections target the lowest part of the epidural space in the back and help relieve pain from sciatica and herniated discs.
- Trigger point injections. Very effective for neck and back pain, these target tight knots of muscle that irritate nearby nerves and cause pain elsewhere.
This list isn't complete; there are many other options, which you can read about on our injections page. At AIPI we build a customized treatment plan for each patient based on their pain, its cause and its severity.
Our goal is effective relief from back and neck pain. To find out what will work for you, call 561-641-0089 to schedule a consultation.