Medications

There are many over the counter and prescription medications that can help relieve pain. Two types of over the counter medications, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are commonly recommended to alleviate pain. At times it may be necessary to take prescription medications such as muscle relaxants and/or narcotic pain medications. Other medications such as anti-seizure or anti-depressants may also be helpful.


Physical Therapy

For many of our patients, physical therapy is a vital component of successful treatment and rehabilitation. Florida Spine Institute offers its own modern physical therapy facility with highly-trained and experienced staff. Our team is trained in the most up-to-date manual and exercise therapies for treatment of neck and back problems. Each therapy candidate is thoroughly evaluated by our therapists to enable them to individually tailor the treatment program to their needs, within the framework of the treatment plan prescribed by their physician.


Injections

Trigger Point Injection
Trigger point injection (TPI) is used to treat painful areas of a muscle. A trigger point is a knot of muscle that forms when the muscle fails to relax. The knot often can be felt under the skin and may twitch involuntarily when touched.

Trigger Point Injection

Epidural Steroid Injection
Epidural steroid injection (ESI) is an injection that can help relieve pain by providing a long lasting steroid and anesthetic agent to the inflamed area. The medications are delivered through the epidural space and the pain relief effects vary from patient to patient. The duration of the relief may be enough to help you significantly improve your function with less daily pain.

	Caudal Steroid Injection		Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
	Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection		Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection
	Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection		Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections
	Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection

Facet Joint Injection
Commonly, facet joint injections are used to determine what may be causing back pain. If the injection eliminates pain temporarily, then it is very likely that that particular joint is causing your pain.

Facet Joint Injection

Nerve Blocks

Nerve blocks relieve your pain by interrupting sensory pathways and preventing them from reaching the brain. A local anesthetic is used to temporarily block the transmission of pain along these pathways. Two types of sensory pathways are sympathetic nerve plexus and somatosensory nerve.

	Ankle Nerve Block		Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block
	Axillary Brachial Plexus Block		Lumbar Sympathetic Block
	Cervical Selective Nerve Root Block		Radial Nerve Block
	Costovertebral Block		Stellate Ganglion Block
	Fascia Iliaca Block		Medial Branch Block
	Femoral Nerve Block

Sacroiliac Joint Injection

Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections are performed with fluoroscopic guidance. Injection of a local anesthetic confirms the specific joint as the source of the pain, while the steroid fuels the pain relief.

Sacroiliac Joint Injection

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy involves the injection of a solution into an area where connective tissue has been weakened or damaged. A solution is injected into the joints in which causes the tissue to heal itself and strengthen.



Radiofrequency Ablation

Radiofrequency ablation is used to destroy nerves of the facet joints. Radiowaves generated produce heat which then destroys the nerves ability to transmit pain.

	Cervical Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy		Thoracic Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy
	Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Hyaluronic Acid Injection

Hyaluronic acid injections are performed to help relieve knee pain. The Hyaluronic acid bonds with the fluid in the knee to cushion and lubricate the joint.

Hyaluronic Acid Injection

Joint Injection

Joint injections are used to help relieve pain caused by arthritis or other damage to the joint.

Joint Injection: Hip

Joint Injection: Shoulder

Botox Injections

Botox injections may be recommended for some patients to help reduce certain conditions such as torticolis, myofascial pain syndrome and chronic muscle spasms. Typically a gradual relaxation of the muscle develops one to two weeks following the injection.

See Also:

Prevention Information
Anatomy
Conditions
Diagnostic Tests
Surgical Treatments