Legacy Pain Management Center
Pumps & Procedures
Some procedures serve to diagnose (they help us figure out what's causing your pain). Other procedures can be therapeutic and can ease your pain for a while. Procedures help with pain are best paired with movement and physical therapy. Your medical provider will talk with you about what benefits you can expect from any procedures they suggest for you.
Select an item below to learn more
What is an epidural steroid injection (ESI)?
Epidural steroid injections help painful spinal tissues by putting anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) into the space around the spinal cord, called the epidural space. The steroid acts on the irritated nerve(s) and reduces swelling and pressure. The injections are done carefully with the help of a special X-ray machine. Sometimes, the injections only help with pain for a short while. Other times, they can help for a longer period.
What is a medial branch block?
Facet joints are the small joints between each of the vertebrae in your spine. Medial branches are small nerves that deliver signals from the facet joints to the brain, which may cause you to feel pain in the joints. If the facet joints are a source of your pain, stopping the signals from the joints will temporarily relieve your pain. A medial branch block is an injection to quiet the nerves so they can no longer transmit these signals from the joint. This is similar to the dentist numbing a nerve in your mouth before working on a painful tooth. Medial branch blocks are for diagnosis and are not for permanent pain relief. The procedure will help your doctor determine if the facet joints are causing your pain and if a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may help.
What is radiofrequency ablation (RFA)?
RFA is an option for some kinds of lower back and neck pain. It uses an electrical current created by radio waves. The radio waves make heat that interrupt nerves along the spine that are causing pain. RFA’s can reduce pain caused by arthritis or injuries. It’s used when other treatment hasn’t worked, such as medicine and physical therapy.
What is a nerve block?
A nerve block is a injection of medicine near a specific nerve or group of nerves to help ease pain for a while. Sometimes, the relief can last a long time. When doctors give a shot with anti-inflammatory medicine along with a numbing drug, it can help damaged nerves heal by reducing inflammation. The effects of the injection usually start fairly quickly, but nerve blocks are often just a temporary fix. Some folks get relief from one shot, but others need a few. And for some, the shot doesn't help at all, so they might have to try different treatments to feel better.
What is spinal cord stimulation (SCS)?
Spinal cord stimulation is used to treat chronic pain that has not responded to other treatments like physical therapy, medications, injections or surgery. SCS may be an option for you if you have long-term (chronic) foot or leg pain, arm or hand pain, or pain in the back that has not responded to traditional treatments. A small battery-powered generator implanted in the body transmits an electrical current to your spinal cord. By interrupting signals traveling from your spinal cord to your brain, SCS helps many people to return to a more active lifestyle.
What is an intrathecal pump?
An intrathecal pump is small device that is implanted under the skin to deliver medication directly into your spinal canal. Intrathecal pumps can provide more effective pain relief with fewer side effects than medications you take by mouth. Pumps are also sometimes used to help manage severe spasticity from some brain and spinal cord conditions. The pump itself is about the size of a hockey puck and is often implanted in the abdomen or flank. A catheter is inserted into the spinal cord and connected to the pump. Medication is stored in the pump and delivered through the catheter to the spinal cord. The dosage and timing of medication delivery is adjusted by our medical team at the pain clinic.
What is a joint injection?
Joint injections are shots with a needle into a joint (such as your knee) or a soft tissue space (such as the space between a muscle and a bone). The needle delivers anti-inflammatory medicines (such as steroids) and pain relievers (such as lidocaine) to the joint.
What is a trigger point injection?
A trigger point is a painful knot in a tight band of muscle. A trigger point often causes pain to be felt in other areas, too. For example, a trigger point in the neck or upper back can cause pain in the head. Trigger Point Injections are shots of medicine into these knots to help relieve the pain. The medicines are usually pain relievers like lidocaine. Your provider locates a trigger point by pressing around a painful area, which may cause your muscle to hurt or twitch. This tells the doctor where to put the injection. Trigger point injections are often part of plan that includes other treatments, such as muscle stretching and strengthening.
What is a botox injection?
Botox is a treatment that blocks nerve signals controlling muscle movements, which helps muscles relax and reduces pain. It's made from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which produces the neurotoxins used in Botox. Healthcare providers use a certain type of this bacteria, known as type A, for medical injections. The effects usually last around three to four months. Botox injections are given at the clinic during an office visit.
