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Assuming you have tried medications, therapy, chiropractic and
acupuncture, there are still other
minimally invasive treatments that may
be of benefit.
Epidural steroid injections and selective
nerve root blocks are
procedures done with a needle. They may help to alleviate leg pain by
surrounding the nerve root with powerful anti-inflammatory medicines like
cortisone.
Facet blocks and median branch nerve blocks are also needle procedures.
A pain killer and a cortisone-like drug is placed around small joints in
the spine. These shots can decrease pain due to damaged or arthritic
joints. Sacroiliac joint injections treat similar problems in the joint
between the sacrum and the pelvis.
Radio frequency blocks are similar to steroid blocks but provide
longer-lasting relief for some problems. Instead of injecting a pain
medication near a nerve, the nerve is coagulated using an electric current
applied through a tiny needle.
Intrathecal pain-medicine pumps and spinal-cord stimulators are both
small machines placed inside the body. A pain pump delivers analgesic
medicine directly to the space around the spinal cord. A spinal cord
stimulator is a device that passes a tiny electrical current around parts
of the spinal cord. It stops the pain signal from reaching the brain.
There are many more options for pain. Ask your spine specialist.
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