Pain Management
Pain Management in Phoenix and Scottsdale Arizona…
Pain Management…The Right Way To Use Medical Pain Management for Maximum Relief
Too often doctors utilize pain management techniques like spinal epidurals, lumbar and cervical facet blocks, and SI joint Injections as a stand alone treatment for back and neck pain sufferers. While this can provide significant relief it seldom lasts. In fact studies have shown that treatments like epidurals and facet injections rarely help a patient avoid surgery.
While this may come as a shock to many, here at the Arizona Back Institute we understand that even though the research doesn’t support long term recovery for most back and neck injuries using these techniques, incorporating them as part of a comprehensive plan can make all the difference in the world.
Relieving pain gives our patients an opportunity to heal. Using traditional pain management techniques in addition to cutting edge treatments like Spinal Decompression, Manipulation Under Anesthesia and Active Rehabilitation creates an optimal environment for long term relief. The patient is afforded the benefits of pain relief while we work on restoring their function actively.
Pain Management Techniques
Spinal Epidurals
The epidural steroid injection is a procedure where numbing medicine(anesthetic) and anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) is injected into the epidural space to treat pain caused by irritation of the spinal nerves. A protectivec overing called the dural sac surrounds the spinal cord. This sac contains spinal fluid that bathes and nourishes the spinal cord. The space between the outer surface of the dural sac and the bones of the spinal column is the epidural space. Nerves that go from the spinal cord, through the spinal column and to the body pass through the epidural space. Depending on the location of your pain, the epidural steroid injection can be given in the neck (cervical), middle back (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar). Utilizing this technique we can often calm the inflamed area down and relieve pain, allowing us to then focus on fixing the problem with an active functional approach.
Facet Joint Injections
Facet joint injections are used to block or decrease pain caused by problems in the cervical or lumbar spinal joints. These joints connect each vertebrae together and can be a significant source of pain as the discs decrease in height.These joints provide stability and guide motion in the low back and neck. If the joints become inflamed you may experience not only low back pain or neck pain but also pain referred into the head, shoulder, arms, buttocks, hips and legs.
SI Joint Injections
A sacroiliac joint injection or SI joint Injection is an injection procedure used to diagnose and treat low back pain associated with injury or disease to the sacroiliac joint. The sacroiliac joints are located in the area of the low back and buttocks where the pelvis joins with the spine. Injury and disease to these joints will cause pain in the low back, buttocks, abdomen, groin, and legs. The medicine injected reduces inflammation and swelling inside the joint space. This may in turn reduce the pain. The SI joints are the 3rd most common cause of lower back pain behind the disc and the facet joints respectively. The longer a person is in pain, the more likely all three structures are involved.
High Power Laser Therapy
1. Laser Therapy Delivers Healing Energy Directly to the Nerve Cells
Class IV High Power Laser Therapy sends bio-available energy directly through intact skin to photoreceptors within the injured cells to “jump-start” the healing process. The photoreceptors act like solar panels. They accumulate and store energy (ATP) which is then used by the powerhouse of the cell (called mitochondria). The powerhouse then releases this energy to activate the healing process.
2. Laser Therapy Improves the Function of Blood Vessels that Feed the Nerves
The Avicenna Class IV High Power Laser sends radiant infrared energy deep into the walls of the blood vessels that feed the injured nerves. This improves the elasticity and function of the blood vessels. As the blood vessels become healthier the nerves begin to thrive. The Laser Therapy improves the oxygenation of the individual nerve cells allowing them to “plump up” and lengthen to fill-in the gaps between the nerve cells. This allows the nerve signals to “jump” from cell to cell more quickly since the distance between the nerve cells is lessened.
The opening up of the electrical pathways and the accelerated nerve cell repair allow for clear, correct communication between the brain and the rest of the body. The result is healthy function and a return to normal sensation.
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