Understanding Interventional Spine and Pain Management with Dr Brian Blick, MD
Introduction Interventional spine and pain management is an innovative approach to treating back and neck pain, particularly for individuals who have previously undergone spinal surgery. This method involves using advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scans, to assess the patient’s anatomy, identify the root cause of their pain, and guide them through various treatment options by Dr Brian Blick, MD.
Dealing with Chronic Back Pain When it comes to back pain, knowing where to seek help can be challenging. Back pain is a common condition with multiple potential causes, and the most appropriate treatment depends on the specific type of back pain experienced.
Different Types of Back Pain
- Acute back pain: Lasts for less than six weeks.
- Subacute back pain: Persists for a duration of six weeks to three months.
- Chronic back pain: Endures for more than three months.
Understanding Interventional Spine Treatment Interventional spine treatment offers a unique approach to addressing painful back conditions. By utilizing minimally invasive techniques, this treatment option focuses on managing and healing injuries and painful conditions associated with the back.
To better comprehend the concept of interventional spine treatment, let’s break it down:
- Interventional: Refers to any procedure that involves intervention through the use of small instruments and small incisions. The objective is to alleviate pain, correct abnormal motion or alignment, and enhance the patient’s quality of life without resorting to surgery or medications.
- Spine: Encompasses the spinal column, which consists of the spinal cord, vertebrae, and associated nerves, muscles, and bones. Interventional spine therapy primarily targets issues related to the nerves, bones, and muscles surrounding the spinal column, rather than solely relying on pain medications that merely mask symptoms without providing long-term relief.
The Treatment Process
- Explanation and Consent: The physician will provide a detailed explanation of the procedure and seek the patient’s consent.
- Local Anesthesia: The patient receives local anesthesia to numb the area around the spine, ensuring minimal discomfort during the procedure.
- Medication Injection: Utilizing a needle, the physician injects medication into the region surrounding the spinal cord. This intervention helps alleviate inflammation and pain, contributing to improved mobility and reduced discomfort.
The Role of Medication Injections During an interventional spine procedure, a physician like Dr Brian Blick MD, administers medication by injecting it into the area surrounding the spinal cord. The needle is inserted into the epidural space, which lies between the dura mater (the outer layer of the spinal canal) and the spinal cord itself. The medications used can include anesthetics, steroids, or local anesthetics, depending on the specific condition being treated.
Reducing Inflammation and Alleviating Back Pain A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery demonstrated significant improvements in pain and mobility among patients who underwent interventional spine procedures. This finding is significant, as it indicates that these treatments can effectively reduce inflammation, enhance mobility, and alleviate pain, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals suffering from back pain.
Conclusion Interventional spine treatment offers a non-surgical alternative to traditional approaches, focusing on improving mobility by alleviating pressure on nerve roots in the back. This method presents a viable option for individuals experiencing severe pain or mobility issues caused by degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis. By utilizing minimally invasive techniques, such as injections or catheters, interventional spine physicians can effectively treat these conditions without resorting to surgery, providing patients with a safer and more cost-effective solution for their back pain management needs.
