Procedures - Valley Pain Consultants

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Valley Pain Consultants is dedicated to providing patient education information to our patients, their families and their referring physicians throughout the community. In the procedure descriptions below, you will find printable information and instructions on what to expect when you, a member of your family or a friend are considering or are scheduled for one of the procedures performed by our providers. Valley encourages you to print the relevant procedure description in advance of your appointment, or feel free to request a copy from your provider, Medical Assistant or a member of the front office team.

Arcuplasty

Arcuplasty is a minimally invasive method of treating vertebral compression fractures.

Blood Patch

An epidural blood patch is a procedure that is performed when a spinal fluid leak is present and causing significant symptoms.

Botox for Chronic Migraines

Boxtox (Onabotulinumtoxi-A), although most commonly known for its cosmetic applications, is an effective injection therapy for chronic migraines.

Bursa Injection

A bursa injection is a diagnostic and therapeutic injection performed into a bursa, which is a cushion-like sac positioned between surfaces in the body, most commonly joints like the shoulder and hip.

Continuous Epidural Infusion

A continuous epidural infusion is the placement of a temporary catheter into your spine used as a short screening trial for the intrathecal pump (“spinal pain pump”).

Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation

COOLIEF, also known as cooled radiofrequency is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment that uses radiofrequency energy to heat the nerves and tissue to treat pain. Cooled radiofrequency can be used to treat the back, neck, sacroiliac joint in the spine as well as the hips and knees.

Discography/Discogram

Discography is a diagnostic procedure in which a needle is placed into a lumbar disc to identify whether there is an internal disc disruption.

Electromyography (EMG)

Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure used to assess the health of muscles and the nerves that control them.

Epidural Steroid Injection

An epidural steroid injection treats nerve irritation caused by nearby tissues pressing on the nerve. The inflamed nerve root is bathed in steroids, an anti-inflammation medicine, to decrease the irritation of the nerve root that is causing the pain.

Facet Joint Injections

A facet joint injection is an injection given to decrease pain and inflammation and to confirm a specific diagnosis.

Intra-articular Steroid Injection (Hip)

The injection of a steroidal medication into the hip joint space, usually to reduce inflammation, such as in bursitis or fibromyositis.

Intra-articular Steroid Injection (Shoulder and Knee)

The injection of a steroidal medication into the shoulder or knee joint space, usually to reduce inflammation, such as in bursitis or fibromyositis.

Kyphoplasty

Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used for compression fractures in the vertebrae (the small bones that make up the spinal column), usually caused by osteoporosis.

Lidocaine Infusion

A lidocaine infusion is an outpatient procedure in which lidocaine (a local anesthetic) is infused through an IV to treat certain types of neuropathic/nerve pain.

MILD Procedure (Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression)

The MILD procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that is effective for some causes of spinal stenosis or narrowing of the spinal canal.

Medial Branch Block

A medial branch block is a procedure used to determine the cause of neck or back pain.

Muscle Injection

A muscle injection is a procedure used to treat painful areas of muscle that contain knots of muscle that form when muscles do not relax.

Occipital Nerve Block

An occipital nerve block is done when there is inflammation of the occipital nerves (located in the back of the head) that is causing headaches.

Pain Stimulator Insertion (Spinal Cord Stimulation)

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) creates an electrical field over the spinal cord, which blocks pain that comes from damage to the nervous system.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, is used for musculoskeletal pain or injury which is either unresolved after eight weeks, or, if earlier, where enhanced healing is desired.

RACZ

RACZ procedure is used to dissolve some of the scar tissue from around entrapped nerves in the epidural space so that medications can reach the affected areas.

Radiofrequency Lesioning

Radiofrequency lesioning is a minimally invasive procedure where high frequency radio waves are passed through a needle into a small area of a patient’s nerve. When this happens, it creates heat and damages the nerve.

Sacroiliac Joint Injection

A sacroiliac (SI) joint injection is given when there is inflammation in one or both of the SI joints, which is located in the buttocks.

Selective Nerve Root Blocks (SNRB)

A selective nerve root block (SNRB) is the injection of a local anesthetic along a specific nerve root. This procedure is used primarily to diagnose nerve root compression.

Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial

Spinal cord stimulation is a therapy that uses a small device to interfere with pain signals before they reach the brain. This pacemaker-like device—the spinal cord simulator or SCS—is implanted in the body and sends electrical pulses to the spinal cord.

Sympathetic Nerve Blocks

A sympathetic nerve block is an injection of a local anesthetic into the area in which these nerves coalesce, called the Sympathetic Ganglion. This blocks these nerves so that the sympathetic nervous system can no longer mediate the pain.

Trigger Point Injections

A trigger point injection is an outpatient procedure used to relieve pain by treating areas of muscle that contain trigger points (contracted knots of muscle that form when the muscles do not relax). Often these knots can be felt under the skin.

Vertebroplasty

Vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used for compression fractures in the vertebrae (the small bones that make up the spinal column), usually caused by osteoporosis.

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation is a treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee.