Minimally-Invasive, Non-Opioid Treatment Options for Your Pain
Treating your pain is what the providers of SC Pain & Spine Specialists in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina do best! We specialize in epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation of painful facet joints, interspinous distraction devices, spinal cord stimulators, kyphoplasty, and more.
After an evaluation by one of our board-certified pain specialists, a personalized treatment plan will be developed to address your specific pain issues. No matter the source of your pain, the providers of SC Pain & Spine Specialists have the knowledge and expertise to diagnosis your condition and map out a safe, non-narcotic treatment plan. Here are some of the minimally-invasive therapies that may be incorporated into your individualized plan:
Epidural Steroid Injection
Conditions such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis can compress nerves, causing inflammation and pain. The pain may radiate to other areas such as into the arms or down the legs. By injecting steroid medication, the swelling and inflammation of the nerves is reduced helping to eliminate the pain. Epidural steroid injections may be performed in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar regions of the spine.
Medial Branch Block
A medial branch block is a diagnostic procedure that is performed to identify a painful facet joint. Facet joints are the joints between the vertebrae in the spine. They allow the spine to bend, flex and twist. The medial branch nerves, which attach to the facet joints of your spine, hurt when those joints are injured or diseased. This injection bathes the nerves with a numbing medicine and helps find the source of your pain. It may relieve your pain for a brief time. If successful, you may be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation.
Radiofrequency Ablation
If diagnostic medial branch blocks successfully alleviate facet pain for a brief amount of time, you may then be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation. During this minimally-invasive procedure, the physician uses heat from radio waves to treat the painful facet joints. This procedure is also called radiofrequency rhizotomy. It can treat pain that has not responded to medications or to physical therapy. Radiofrequency ablation may provide six months to two years of relief from painful facet joint symptoms.
Genicular Nerve Block
A genicular nerve block is a diagnostic procedure that is performed in the knee. A small amount of numbing medicine is injected to anesthetize or block the nerves that may be contributing to knee pain. The injection may reduce knee pain for several hours. If successful, you may then be a candidate for radiofrequency ablation of the genicular nerves.
Radiofrequency Ablation of Genicular Nerves
Radiofrequency ablation provides a therapeutic alternative for effective management of chronic knee pain. The procedure involves using heat from radio waves to disrupt the nerve’s ability to transmit pain signals. This may alleviate symptoms and restore function to the knee. If successful, it may provide six months to two years of pain relief.
Interspinous Distraction Device
An interspinous distraction device is a small, titanium spacer that is implanted between the vertebrae in people who suffer from moderate lumbar spinal stenosis. It opens up the narrowed space and relieves pressure on the nerves which may alleviate painful symptoms in the low back and legs.
Spinal Cord Stimulator
Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and those for whom conservative treatments have failed. Before permanent implantation of the SCS, patients undergo a trial to determine if it the implant will be effective for them.
Kyphoplasty (Vertebroplasty)
Kyphoplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure used to treat compression fractures. Bone cement is injected into the vertebra to fill the fractured areas and strengthen and stabilize the spine. One or more vertebrae may need to be treated.