Epidural and nerve root blocks

Therapeutic procedures that can alleviate neck and back pain by injecting local anesthetic and/or steroid into the area between the bones and outermost membrane protecting the spinal cord. This procedure can also alleviate arm and leg pain, and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Facet joint injections

These are diagnostic procedures that help detect whether the source of your pain is coming from facet joints, which are small pairs of joints on the back of the spine. After this procedure, a pain diary will help determine which treatment options will be best for you.

Facet or medial branch rhizotomy

If a facet joint injection has provided short-term relief and it is determined that the spinal facet joint is indeed the cause of your pain, a rhizotomy can help provide relief for an extended period of time. This procedure is similar to the facet joint injections, but with a specialized needle tip that passes a radio frequency heat through the needle and into the nerve.

Genicular nerve ablation

This procedure uses radiofrequency to block chronic knee pain through the genicular nerves.

mild® Procedure

mild is a short, outpatient treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) that restores space in the spinal canal to help improve back and leg pain.* Using specialized tools and imaging, mild addresses a major root cause of LSS by removing thickened ligament through an incision smaller than the size of baby aspirin, leaving no implants behind, only a Band-Aid.

The minimally invasive mild procedure has a safety profile similar to epidural steroid injections but with lasting results, and patients typically return to normal activity within 24 hours with no restrictions.* mild is covered nationwide by Medicare (all ages, all plan types, including Medicare Advantage), the VA, U.S. Military and IHS. Commercial coverage varies.

Visit www.mildprocedure.com for more info.

*Clinical data available: https://www.vertosmed.com/patients/

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is an injection that treats chronic, musculoskeletal pain, utilizing the body’s own healing process to repair tissues and create new fibrous tissues to strengthen the injured area. An injection substance such as a dextrose solution and anesthetic is injected, causing tissue irritation and slight inflammation. The body then begins to repair this area to restore strength to the weakened area. Prolotherapy typically requires 4-6 treatments to encourage a gradual tissue buildup.

Sacroiliac joint injections

Therapeutic procedures that can alleviate neck and back pain by injecting local anesthetic and/or steroid into the area between the bones and outermost membrane protecting the spinal cord. This procedure can also alleviate arm and leg pain, and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Viscosupplementation

In this procedure, an injection of gel-like synthetic joint fluid is used to lubricate joints and decrease inflammation. This injection is usually applied to the knee, but may possibly be applied to other joints as well.

Spine Surgery

For patients requiring spine surgery, minimally invasive state-of-the-art spinal robotic technology is also offered at Island Health. Learn more.