Arm and Elbow

Care and Management

Cervical Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Cervical Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your neck. It eases pain that isn’t helped by medications or physical therapy.

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) in the Cervical Spine

Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) in the Cervical Spine

This injection treats the pain of an inflamed nerve in your cervical spine. It relieves nerve swelling. If you have a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or some other problem that’s pressing on a nerve, it may help you.

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Living With Osteoarthritis

Living With Osteoarthritis

If you’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, you may need to make some changes in your lifestyle. But you can still do many of the things you enjoy. You just have to take steps to manage your condition.

Living With Peripheral Neuropathy

Living With Peripheral Neuropathy

If you have peripheral neuropathy, you know how frustrating it can be. It keeps you from doing many of the things you enjoy. It can affect your emotional well-being. But don’t lose hope. There are things you can do to get some relief.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant

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 for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant (Trial Procedure)

Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant (Trial Procedure)

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 for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Head, Neck and Spine

Care and Management

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

This injection procedure is performed to relieve low back and radiating leg pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by spinal conditions.

Lumbar Sympathetic Block

Lumbar Sympathetic Block

This procedure is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your lower back. It helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to these nerves. Usually, a series of injections is needed to treat a problem.

Managing Low Back Pain

Managing Low Back Pain

Low back pain can cause problems that ripple through every part of your life. You don’t do a lot of the things you enjoy because it just hurts too much. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage your pain.

Medial Branch Block

Medial Branch Block

This is an injection of numbing medicine. It bathes the medial branch nerves, which attach to the facet joints of your spine. These nerves hurt when facet joints are injured or diseased. The injection helps find the source of your pain. And it may relieve your pain for a brief time.

Stellate Ganglion Block

Stellate Ganglion Block

A stellate ganglion nerve block is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your neck. This helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to the nerves. Treatment may require a series of injections.

Hip, Leg and Knee

Care and Management

Genicular Nerve Ablation (RF Neurotomy)

Genicular Nerve Ablation (RF Neurotomy)

During this outpatient procedure, the physician uses a radiofrequency device to heat up and disrupt the genicular nerves. These are the sensory nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee to the brain. Disrupting these pathways can provide long term relief from knee pain.

Genicular Nerve Block (G Block)

Genicular Nerve Block (G Block)

This outpatient procedure is an injection of anesthetic to the genicular nerves. These are the sensory nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee to the brain. Anesthetizing these nerves can disrupt the pain signals caused by degeneration of the knee. A genicular nerve block can provide temporary pain relief. It may help determine if a patient is a candidate for nerve ablation, which can provide long-term pain relief.

Joint Injection: Hip

Joint Injection: Hip

This outpatient injection procedure relieves hip, leg or buttock pain caused by arthritis or other damage to the hip joint.

Living With Chronic Pain

Living With Chronic Pain

If you have pain that lasts for more than six months, you have “chronic” pain. It’s different from the temporary pain you feel when you hurt yourself. With chronic pain, you may not know why you are hurting. Your pain may affect your whole body and your mind, causing problems that ripple through every part of your life. But there is hope. Here are some tips to help you manage chronic pain.

Medications

Medications

How Opioids Affect the Brain

How Opioids Affect the Brain

If you’ve had an injury or a surgery, your doctor may prescribe an “opioid.” This is a type of powerful painkiller. Opioids can mask severe pain. They may help when other pain control methods aren’t working. But they can also affect your brain in a way that’s harmful. You can become addicted. Let’s learn about how they interact with your brain.

Managing Your Medications

Managing Your Medications

Did you remember to take your pills this morning? Wait, do you take the oval pill with food, or without? It’s easy to make a mistake with your medications if you aren’t organized. But relax, these tips will help you manage your medications with no worries.

Opioid Medications

Opioid Medications

Opioids are a class of powerful drugs. They can control severe pain. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, and codeine are examples of prescription opioids. So are morphine and fentanyl.

Opioid Misuse

Opioid Misuse

If you control pain with an opioid prescription, you may have been warned about the dangers of misuse. But what is misuse, exactly? Let’s take a few minutes to learn about opioid misuse and how to avoid it.

Opioids (Common Side Effects)

Opioids (Common Side Effects)

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But many people who use opioids experience some side effects. You should be aware of these side effects so you can use these drugs safely.

Opioids (Physical Dependence and Addiction)

Opioids (Physical Dependence and Addiction)

Opioids are a class of powerful drugs. They can block pain signals, and they can help control severe pain. But they can be dangerous. Over time, you may find it hard to stop taking opioids. And some people become addicted to the drugs.

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids and Chronic Pain Management

Opioids are a powerful class of drugs. They can control severe pain. But they often aren’t recommended for many types of chronic pain. That’s because their long-term use can cause your body to begin to depend on them.

Opioids and Depression

Opioids and Depression

We know pain and depression are linked. If you’re in pain, you can become depressed about it. But did you know depression is also linked to certain pain medications? Let’s take a few minutes to learn about this connection.

Tapering Opioid Use Safely

Tapering Opioid Use Safely

When it’s time for you to stop taking your opioid medication, you need to do it safely. If you’ve only been using your medication for a brief time, your doctor may say it’s OK to stop suddenly. But if you’ve used it for longer, your doctor may say you need to stop gradually to let your body adjust. We call this “tapering.”

Using Opioids Safely

Using Opioids Safely

Opioids are powerful drugs. They control severe pain. But they can be dangerous or even life threatening if used incorrectly. Follow these guidelines for safe use.