Epidural Steroid Injection

There are many possible factors for neck or upper back pain, all of which can be examined and treated at PriMMed’s newly advanced facilities. Depending on the diagnosis of the patient, we may recommend a celiac plexus block.

A celiac plexus block is a diagnostic injection that interrupts the pain signals from the body to the brain, and thus provides pain relief. Located near the upper part of the abdomen along the spine, the celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves that can become inflamed or compressed due to trauma. This can cause a variety of pain sensations and lead loss of function.

When PriMMed recommends a celiac plexus block, a trial block is usually performed first. A local anesthetic is injected into the affected area, and if the patient sees short-term pain relief from this trial injection, then the long term neurolytic block is performed. This procedure can last up to two months and can be safely repeated throughout the care plan.

Contact us today to ask about celiac plexus blocks.

PriMMed uses a multidisciplinary approach to pain management to give their patients the best combination of care. This can often include physical or occupational therapy. These therapies are not only excellent options for reducing or eliminating pain, but also improve health overall and can prevent future injuries. Our pain specialists work closely with physical therapists to coordinate treatments.

Physical therapy can include:

• Massage
• Stretching
• Therapist led mobilization
• Prescribed exercises
• Hot or cold therapies
• Electrical stimulation

Physical Therapy has been proven effective for many musculoskeletal disorders, and has shown to improve effectiveness of collaborative treatments.

Contact us today to ask about physical therapy.

A discography is a non-surgical diagnostic procedure done to identify damaged intervertebral discs. The intervertebral disc is tissue located between the bones of the spine, which cushion the vertebrae and allow for proper support and functioning. If a disc is damaged or ruptured, the inner fluid of the disc begins to leak and irritate the surrounding tissue. This can cause immense pain and inflammation, and if left untreated may evolve into disc bulge or disc herniation.

To diagnose disc damage, a discography is performed. X-ray contrast dye is employed at the site of concern by a thin needle, and through this process tears are detected. A PriMMed pain specialist may recommend a discography as part of the treatment plan, and in combination with additional procedures and therapies will help determine the best course of action for pain relief.

Contact us today to ask about receiving a discography.

For patients who suffer from back pain caused by arthritis located at the facet spinal joints, a facet injection or a medial branch block can be placed. These two injections are long-lasting steroids and differ only in the specific location in which they are applied; a facet injection places the steroid in the facet joint whereas a medial branch injection places the steroid outside the joint and closer to the associated nerve bundle. These injections can often last several months.

The pain specialists at PriMMed will take the utmost care in diagnosing and treating your pain disorder.

Contact us today to ask about facet or medial branch block.

A radiofrequency ablation, or neurotomy, is a non-surgical and minimally invasive procedure used to treat pain in the back and neck. This pain is commonly caused by:

• Facet joint syndrome
• Bone spurs
• Osteoarthritis
• Compression fractures

In this procedure, radio waves are safely directed through small needles to the specific nerves in the spine which are experiencing pain and inflammation. These radio waves actually eliminate the nerves and thus also eliminate the pain sensation.

While this procedure is non-invasive, it does require precision. The medical experts at PriMMed have the commensurate experience necessary to alleviate patient discomfort during treatments and help them develop their comprehensive future care plan.

Contact us today to ask about radiofrequency ablation.

The ganglion impar is a cluster of nerves located in front of where the sacrum and coccyx come together at the lowest part of the spine. This cluster is made up of nerves from the surrounding tissues such as the pelvis, groin, genitals and anus. These nerves can become damaged or frayed from associated diagnoses, causing pain. This type of block is often done in a series with great results.

Any of our PriMMed pain specialists cna perform a ganglion impar block as part of a diagnostic or treatment care plan.

Contact us today to ask about groin pain and ganglion impar blocks.

The hypogastric plexus is a cluster of nerves located in front of where the lumbar vertebrae and sacral vertebrae meet, in the lower abdominal cavity. When these nerves become inflamed, pain is felt in the pelvis, bladder, kidneys, lower intestine and reproductive organs. This type of block is typically done in a series with great success.

At PriMMed the pain management team provides excellent care and sensitivity to any diagnosis or treatment.

Contact us today to talk about lower abdominal pain and a hypogastric plexus block.

Joint injections are used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. For diagnosing a condition, numbing medication is injected to the affected joint and pain levels are re-assessed. Steroid based injections may then be employed for longer lasting effects.

Hips, shoulders and other joints are commonly treated in this way with great results. Any injection therapy can be administered by the specialists at PriMMed after careful examination to the cause of the pain.

Contact us today to ask about joint pain and receiving therapeutic joint injections.

The ilioinguinal nerve begins in the lumbar portion of the spine and travels to the upper ridge of the pelvis. This nerve provides sensation to the upper thigh and groin area. If this nerve becomes damaged or inflamed, severe pain can develop. For this condition a neuropathic pain medication is typically prescribed as a first line of treatment, but if this fails then a nerve block may be placed. Additional treatments may be combined with the nerve block depending on the severity of the case.

Ilioinguinal nerve pain can present as several other diagnoses and is difficult to treat. At PriMMed our pain specialists will help you determine the best course of treatments for your particular diagnosis, and provide the most advanced treatments at our state of the art facilities.

Contact us today to ask about pelvic pain and receiving and ilioinguinal nerve block.

A lumbar sympathetic block is a steroid based nerve block used to treat central pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and complex regional pain syndrome in the lower extremities. These conditions vary greatly in location and severity, and describe any amount of damage to the central nervous system which results in pain sensation.
These disorders can be caused by:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Tumors
• Strokes
• Brain or spinal cord injury

When the pain sensations are felt in the lower body and legs, a lumbar sympathetic block may be placed to mitigate the transmission of painful nerve signals. This block targets the sympathetic nerves in the affected region.

This block may be recommended by the specialists at PriMMed as a diagnostic or treatment procedure. We emphasize using a combination of treatments so that our patients receive total quality care.

Contact us today to ask about central pain, RSD/CRPS, lower extremity pain and receiving a lumbar sympathetic block.

The occipital nerves are located at the back of the neck and run from top of the spine to the base of the skull. Occipital nerve damage most commonly results in headaches and migraines, but a steroid nerve block can also be used to treat occipital neuralgia, associated ear pain, osteoarthritis.

The pain management experts at PriMMed may recommend a nerve block as a diagnostic procedure or as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. These are done in our latest, most advanced facilities to ensure the best standard of care.

Contact us today to ask about head pain and receiving an occipital nerve block.

Piriformis syndrome is a condition where the piriformis muscle, located deep under the gluteal muscles, spasms and causes intense pain in the buttocks and hips. This can be due to general overuse and wear, or traumatic injury. In this case, a piriformis muscle injection may be placed. This steroid injection helps to alleviate pain felt by the piriformis muscle and the sciatica nerve.

Using our approach to multiple avenues of care, our pain specialists at PriMMed may recommend a combination of injections and physical therapy to treat piriformis syndrome.

Contact us today to ask about piriformis syndrome and receiving a piriformis muscle injection.

The sacroiliac joint is located in the upper part of the pelvis on either side of the spine, and connects the sacrum and ilium. This joint provides stability and movement to the lower trunk of the body. Damage to the sacroiliac joint can cause joint dysfunction, sciatic pain, general lower back pain.

Steroid injections can be used as diagnostic procedures or as treatments. PriMMed uses an innovative combination and collaborative approach with the patient and the entire care team to deliver a swift diagnosis and treatment plan.

Contact us today to ask about sacroiliac pain and receiving a sacroiliac nerve block.

In cases where pain is referred to a specific area by a single nerve, a selective nerve block may be used. When a nerve is isolated as the cause of pain, a steroid injection is placed at the site of that nerve in the spinal column.

Nerve blocks are routine and reliable procedures, but isolating the cause of pain can be more difficult and often is done with the help of x-rays. The expert medical team at PriMMed uses only the latest technologies and methods to diagnose and treat your pain.

Contact us today to ask about pain disorders and receiving a selective nerve block.

Spinal cord stimulation is an advanced therapy for those who suffer painful nerve disorders such as complex regional pain syndrome, or severe chronic pain conditions which other conventional pain therapies have been unsuccessful at treating. During spinal cord stimulation, low levels of electricity are sent directly to the spinal cord to interrupt pain as it travels along the nerveways. Severe and debilitating pain can then be reduced or transformed.

Our PriMMed medical team uses their combined experience and expertise to treat pain disorders. Patients often report meaningful change in their diagnosis after following their comprehensive and integrated care.

Contact us today to ask about severe pain management and spinal cord stimulation.

The stellate ganglion is a cluster of nerves located on either side of the voice box in the neck. Inflammation of these nerves may cause painful sensations in the upper extremities such as the head, neck, chest, or arm. This is often caused by serious conditions such as

• Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
• Post-herpetic neuralgia
• Causalgia
• Intractable angina

Associated symptoms may be swelling in the area, color changes, and sweating. A stellate ganglion block may reduce these symptoms and assist in diagnosing. The pain medical experts at PriMMed deliver results using comprehensive care plans and state-of-art facilities.

Contact us to ask about upper extremity pain and receiving a stellate ganglion block.

The suprascapular nerve is a motor and sensory nerve that is located at the top of the scapula where it meets the clavicle and humerus. This nerve supplies 70% of the sensation in the shoulder joint and surrounding tissue. Chronic shoulder pain caused by arthritis or bursitis can be relieved by applying a suprascapular steroid nerve block.

PriMMed’s leading pain experts may recommend the block in combination with other treatments and therapies. Using this holistic approach, we deliver uncompromised results in patient forward care.

Contact us today to ask about shoulder pain and receiving a suprascapular nerve block.

When a muscle fails to relax normally, a trigger point forms and creates a tight, ropy area or “knot.” A trigger point can irritate and inflame surrounding nerves, which can then cause referred pain to another part of the body. If not treated, a trigger point can develop scar tissue and cause loss of range of motion and general muscle weakness. A saline or steroid injection may be used to treat a trigger point and thus reduce or eliminate pain.

A trigger point injection can be administered by any of our pain management experts at PriMMed. These injections have been proven safe and effective, providing nearly instant relief.

Contact us today to ask about pain management and receiving trigger point injection therapy.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty both describe minimally invasive procedures used to treat spinal compression fractures. With a compression fracture the vertebrae has collapsed, causing debilitating pain, loss of function and potentially permanent posture change. Vertebroplasty uses a small needle to inject biologically safe cement onto the affected area of the spine, thus adding stability to prevent further complications. Kyphoplasty uses a small balloon to restore the height of the vertebrae and then the bio-cement is applied.

Both of these procedures must be combined with additional treatments for effective pain management. At PriMMed we do exactly that, providing you with the latest technologies and innovations in total care.

Contact us today to ask about spinal compression fractures and about receiving vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.