Living with persistent spine pain affects every aspect of life. While medications and physical therapy can help, some patients require advanced, targeted solutions. Interventional pain management offers minimally invasive options that focus on the source of discomfort. Let’s explore some of the most effective procedures available for spine conditions today.
Understanding Interventional Pain Management
Interventional pain management uses image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat pain directly at its source. For spine conditions, this often means targeting nerves, joints, or damaged tissues in the back or neck. By addressing the root cause, patients may reduce their reliance on long-term medications while improving overall function and quality of life.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), also called neuromodulation, delivers mild electrical impulses to the spinal cord to interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. This treatment is often used for chronic low back pain or nerve-related pain that hasn’t responded to other therapies. Many patients experience significant, sustained relief and an improved ability to stay active.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
For patients with chronic neck pain or chronic low back pain caused by facet joint arthritis, radiofrequency ablation can be a game-changer. Using heat generated by radio waves, RFA disables small pain-conducting nerves, often providing relief that lasts six months or more. This procedure can be repeated if pain returns, making it a dependable option for long-term management.
Peripheral Joint Procedures
Beyond the spine, interventional techniques can also address pain in surrounding joints, such as the sacroiliac joint, hips, knees or shoulders.. Common treatments include joint steroid injections and nerve blocks which aim to reduce inflammation and improve mobility.
Epidural Steroid Injections
For patients dealing with pain traveling down their arms, legs, have degenerated discs either in their neck or back, or are dealing with a “pinched nerve" an epidural steroid injection can be a very helpful injection to reduce pain and discomfort. When inflammation develops with the spine or with a nerve, a targeted steroid injection can greatly diminish the inflammation and help to restore some degree of functionality to a patinet’s life
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
For patients dealing with a number of injuries or chronic areas of pain, whether it be a musculoskeletal problem or a degenerated disc, a PRP injection can be a very helpful injection with minimal side effects to help improve a patient’s quality of life. PRP injections consist of a centrifuged sample of a patient’s own blood, which is then injected into the problem area. The goal of the injection is to induce the body’s own healing response to see if this can alleviate and fix a patient’s pain.
When to Consider These Treatments
If chronic low back pain or chronic neck pain persists despite conservative measures, it may be time to explore interventional options. A pain management specialist can determine the most appropriate treatment based on the source of pain, medical history, and activity goals.
Modern interventional pain management gives patients multiple ways to reclaim their comfort and independence. Whether through spinal cord stimulation, radiofrequency ablation, or other image-guided techniques, these options aim to reduce pain at its source and improve overall well-being. To discuss which treatments may work for your condition, schedule a consultation with our office today.
About the Author
Riju Dasgupta, MD, is a fellowship-trained interventional pain medicine specialist at Town Center Orthopaedics in Ashburn and Reston. He provides advanced spine and joint procedures to relieve chronic pain. Dr. Dasgupta emphasizes education, collaboration, and personalized care to help patients regain mobility and quality of life.
