Nerve root blocks use medications such as local anesthetics or
steroids to disable a specific nerve root that is causing pain.
Nerve root injury can often be localized by electrodiagnostic testing,
and can be caused by herniated discs, stenosis, facet cysts, whiplash,
or hyperextension injuries.
Sympathetic Blocks
These blocks are used to disrupt an abnormal pain cycle that can be
caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system. This condition is
commonly referred to as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). It is
also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), causalgia, shoulder
hand syndrome, or sympathetic pain syndrome.
Intrathecal Pain Pump (Morphine Pump)
Intrathecal drug delivery systems are indicated for chronic intractable
pain, cancer pain, and for chronic spasticity. Intrathecal drug delivery
has been shown to increase pain relief and comfort for people with severe
pain. It may also cause fewer side effects than oral medications. These
benefits may help people with chronic pain improve their quality of
life and participate more fully in daily activities.
Delivery makes the difference with intrathecal drug delivery. This
therapy uses a small pump that is surgically placed under the skin of
the abdomen to deliver medication directly in to the intrathecal space
(the area surrounding the spinal cord). The medication is delivered
through a small, soft tube called a catheter that is also surgically
placed.
The spinal cord is like a highway for pain signals on their way to
the brain, where your body experiences the feeling of pain. Because
the drug is delivered directly to where pain signals travel, intrathecal
drug delivery offers significant pain control, with a small fraction
of the dose that would be required with pills. This helps minimize side
effects. Clinical studies show that of people who did not experience
enough pain relief with high doses of oral medication, most achieved
significant pain control with intrathecal drug delivery and were able
to improve their activities of daily living.
