Interventional Spine Medicine

After meticulous care and obtaining an accurate diagnostic impression, a wide range of spine and musculoskeletal medicine treatments are considered, including medications, exercise and therapy. As part of the multi-disciplinary approach to spine care, sometimes the use of pain-relieving or diagnosis-seeking image-guided interventional procedures is necessary to reduce pain and restore function. Our methods are designed to minimize complications and avoid overusing these injections. We also use many of the injections as part of the work-up to aid in obtaining proper diagnosis.

These image-guided injections include:

• Lumbar transforaminal epidural injections (selective epidural injections)
• Lumbar selective nerve blocks
• Lumbar facet injections
• Coccyx Injections
• Sacroiliac joint injections
• Thoracic facet injections
• Thoracic epidural injections
• Cervical facet injections
• Cervical transforaminal epidural injections (selective epidural injections)
• Cervical selective nerve blocks
• Diagnostic Spinal Discograms
• Spinal Cord Stimulation (Neuromodulation)
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (Neuromodulation)
• Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar/ Sacral Radiofrequency Ablations
• Intrathecal Drug-Delivery Systems
• Interlaminar (Central) epidural injections
• Caudal epidural injections

Many research studies have shown good results for these procedures in the correct patient population. Excellent outcomes include avoiding surgery in many cases involving even large disc herniations and controlling pain in conditions such as spinal stenosis. By using our multimodal and multi-disciplinary treatment plans, we can work to alleviate our patient’s pain, maximize our patients’ function, and help to prevent its return.

Robert W. Irwin, M.D.
Professor and Vice Chair of Operations
Board Certified in Pain Management
Fellowship Trained in Spinal Injections Techniques

Andrew L. Sherman, M.D.
Professor and Vice Chair of Education