Living with ongoing pain can affect nearly every part of daily life—from working and exercising to sleeping, spending time with family, and enjoying the activities you love. When pain becomes persistent, finding the right treatment approach is important.
At Highland District Hospital, the Pain Management Center provides a balanced approach to treating acute and chronic pain. For some patients, interventional pain management procedures may be an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
These minimally invasive procedures are designed to help identify or address sources of pain and, in some cases, provide longer-lasting relief when other treatments have not provided enough improvement.
What Is Interventional Pain Management?
Interventional pain management uses targeted, minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat certain sources of pain. Depending on the condition, a procedure may involve medication delivered near a painful nerve or joint, disrupting pain signals, or using an implanted device to help manage persistent pain.
Interventional procedures are typically considered as part of an individualized treatment plan. Your physician will consider your symptoms, medical history, diagnosis, previous treatments, and overall health when determining which options may be appropriate.
The goal is not simply to treat a symptom. Pain management focuses on helping patients manage pain so they can work toward improved function and quality of life.
What Conditions Can Pain Management Treat?
Pain can have many causes, which is why an evaluation is an important first step. The Highland District Hospital Pain Management Center treats a variety of conditions, including:
- Spine pain
- Neck pain
- Back pain and sciatica
- Nerve pain and nerve damage
- Spine and joint arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated discs
- Sacroiliac joint arthritis
- Persistent pain following back or neck surgery
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Muscle spasm-related pain
- Shingles-related pain
- Cancer pain
- Certain headaches
- Arthritis pain in the neck or lower back
Some of these conditions may respond to conservative treatments such as medication, physical therapy, activity modification, or other nonsurgical approaches. When additional treatment is appropriate, an interventional procedure may be considered.
Common Interventional Pain Management Procedures
There are many types of interventional procedures. The appropriate option depends on the source and location of pain.
Epidural Steroid Injections
An epidural steroid injection delivers medication into the epidural space around the spinal nerves. These injections may be used for certain types of back, neck, or radiating nerve pain associated with conditions such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.
Facet Joint Blocks and Radiofrequency Ablation
Facet joints are small joints in the spine that can become painful due to arthritis or other conditions. A facet joint block can help determine whether a facet joint is contributing to a patient's pain and may also provide temporary relief.
For certain patients who experience pain originating from the facet joints, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be an option. RFA uses controlled radiofrequency energy to interrupt specific pain signals from nerves supplying the painful joint.
Medial Branch Blocks
Medial branch blocks involve injecting medication near small nerves that carry pain signals from the facet joints. They may be used as part of the evaluation and treatment of certain types of neck or back pain.
Selective Nerve Root Blocks
When a specific spinal nerve root is suspected of contributing to pain, a selective nerve root block may be considered. This targeted injection can help physicians evaluate and manage certain types of radiating pain.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
For some patients with persistent, difficult-to-treat pain, spinal cord stimulation may be considered. This treatment uses an implanted device to deliver electrical signals that can modify pain signaling.
Spinal cord stimulation may be an option for certain patients with chronic pain, including some individuals who continue to experience significant pain after spine surgery.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Peripheral nerve stimulation uses an implanted or temporarily placed device to deliver electrical stimulation near a peripheral nerve associated with pain. It may be considered for certain types of chronic nerve-related pain.
Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems
An intrathecal drug delivery system delivers medication directly into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord through an implanted pump and catheter. Because this approach delivers medication directly to the area surrounding the spinal cord, it may be considered for selected patients with severe, persistent pain when other treatments have not provided adequate relief.
Genicular Nerve Blocks and Joint Procedures
Pain from arthritis, particularly in the knee and other joints, can make everyday activities difficult. Genicular nerve blocks target nerves associated with knee pain and may be used to evaluate or manage certain types of chronic knee pain.
Other interventional treatments may include joint injections and ablation procedures for arthritis pain.
Sacroiliac Joint Procedures
The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the lower spine to the pelvis and can sometimes be a source of persistent lower back or buttock pain. Depending on the diagnosis and individual circumstances, treatment may include SI joint injections or sacroiliac joint fusion.
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Spine Conditions
Some patients with specific spinal conditions may benefit from minimally invasive surgical procedures.
For example, minimally invasive lumbar decompression may be considered for selected patients with spinal stenosis.
Another procedure, kyphoplasty, can be used to treat certain vertebral body compression fractures. During kyphoplasty, a physician works through a small access point in the vertebra and uses bone cement to stabilize the fractured vertebra.
Whether a minimally invasive procedure is appropriate depends on the underlying diagnosis and the patient's individual circumstances.
Is Interventional Pain Management Right for You?
Not every pain condition requires an interventional procedure, and no single treatment works for everyone. The first step is understanding what is causing your pain.
Your healthcare provider may evaluate your symptoms, perform a physical examination, review imaging or other diagnostic information, and consider treatments you have already tried. From there, your care team can discuss appropriate options.
Pain management may involve a combination of approaches rather than one procedure. Depending on your needs, your treatment plan may include medication, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, injections, minimally invasive procedures, or other therapies.
Take the Next Step Toward Managing Your Pain
If acute or chronic pain is interfering with your everyday activities, you don't have to ignore it or simply learn to live with it.
The Highland District Hospital Pain Management Center is located in the HDH Clinic area and provides care for patients experiencing a variety of pain conditions.
Talk with your primary care physician about a referral to the Highland District Hospital Pain Management Center. Once referred, please register for your appointment at the Pain Management department window.
Finding the right approach to pain can take time, but understanding your options is an important first step.
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