Spinal Pain Management Specialist

Spinal Pain Management Q & A What is spinal pain management?

 

Spinal pain management is an approach to

reducing and relieving back or neck pain using a

combination of treatments.

 

Back pain and neck pain are some of the most

common musculoskeletal conditions, affecting

millions of people across the United States.

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While many have mild symptoms and recover

quickly, chronic spinal pain is a major problem.

Woodbury Spine uses spinal pain management

techniques to address your symptoms and relieve

them where possible, without the need for surgery.

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What conditions might require spinal pain management?

Dr. O'Brien treats a wide variety of conditions using spinal pain management techniques. Some of the problems that benefit from spinal pain management include:

• Spinal stenosis

• Degenerative disc disease

• Herniated discs

• Facet joint arthritis

• Sciatica

• Spondylosis

• Spondylolisthesis

• Scoliosis

• Vertebral compression fractures

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Dr. O'Brien creates an individualized treatment program for patients with conditions like these that contain the most appropriate, effective therapies.

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What treatments does spinal pain management use?

Treatments that might feature in your spinal pain management program include:

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Physical therapy

Physical therapy is vital in successful pain management. A skilled physical therapist uses a variety of techniques to keep you mobile and strengthen your musculoskeletal system without causing further damage.

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Medication

Anti-inflammatory and pain-killing medications can help manage back and neck pain and enable you to exercise. You might also benefit from other drugs that act on your nerves and pain receptors, such as antiseizure medications and low-dose tricyclic antidepressants.

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Steroid injections

Steroid injections into the epidural space around your spine and specific areas like the facet joints act as potent anti-inflammatories. Dr. O'Brien typically uses a combination of a steroid and a local anesthetic to provide both short and long-term relief.

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What other spinal pain management options might I need?

If your condition still isn't improving, there are other spinal pain management options to consider before surgery. These options are minimally invasive procedures such as:

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Radiofrequency ablation

Dr. O'Brien uses image guidance to insert a needle into the nerves that are generating spinal pain. He delivers radiofrequency energy that destroys the nerves, cutting off the pain signals to your brain.

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Spinal cord stimulation

A spinal cord stimulator is a neurostimulation device that Dr. O'Brien implants into the spinal canal adjacent to the spinal cord. Using a remote unit, you deliver electrical pulses from the stimulator that scramble the nerve activity in a specific area of your spine to control pain.

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Intrathecal pain pump

A pain pump is an implantable device that delivers prescription medication directly to the spinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord to relieve chronic back and leg pain.

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Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty, and SpineJack

If you have vertebral compression fractures, Dr. O'Brien can fill the bones with a special bone cement to stabilize the fractures and stop your pain. With Kyphoplasty or the SpineJack, he first inserts a small balloon or small scissor jack to restore height to a crushed vertebral bone.

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If you need help with chronic or severe neck or back pain, Dr. O'Brien's spinal pain management programs can help. Call Woodbury Spine today or book an appointment online.