Services
For patients with chronic pain, the Pain and Spine Center of the Desert’s approach is multidisciplinary. We work closely with many other specialists (including physiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, orthopedic and spine surgeons, oncologists, and psychiatrists) to optimally coordinate the care of our patients. Our comprehensive treatments include everything from basic selective epidural steroid injections and facet joint care, to more advanced interventional procedures such as radiofrequency nerve ablation and spinal cord stimulation.
The Pain and Spine Center of the Desert coordinates pain treatment plans that are individually designed for each of our patients. We offer a full range of treatments for chronic pain management, including diagnostic and therapeutic spinal injections and advanced pain therapies. Our commitment to excellence is reflected by the skills of our physician who is fellowship trained and board certified in both Pain Management and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Our goals are to: Treat, if possible, the source of pain, Promote healthy activities and preventative care, Return patients to the most functional and productive lifestyle possible, Coordinate multidisciplinary approaches as needed, and Provide cost effective care and minimize reliance on health care resources. We strive to provide our patients with an accurate diagnosis to relieve pain utilizing the least invasive treatment methods. Our patient-centered philosophy involves educating patients about their treatment options; whether it is conservative, interventional, or surgical.
A caudal injection is actually an injection into the lowest portion of the epidural space. A caudal steroid injection can help reduce lower back and leg pain caused by sciatica, herniated discs, bone spurs or other back problems. You have nerves that run from your spinal cord out to your back and legs.
Celiac plexus blocks are injections of pain medication that help relieve abdominal pain, commonly due to cancer or chronic pancreatitis. The celiac plexus is a bundle of nerves that surrounds the aorta, the main artery into your abdomen.
Cervical epidural steroid injection procedures are injections administered to relieve pain in the neck, shoulders and arms caused by a pinched nerve or inflamed nerve(s) in the cervical spine. Conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis or arthritis can compress and pinch nerves, causing inflammation and pain.
This minimally invasive procedure, also known as a Radio Frequency (RF), reduces or eliminates the pain of damaged facet joints by disrupting the medial branch nerves that carry the pain signals.
A costovertebral block is a procedure that is used both to diagnose and treat the source of pain and inflammation. A “block” uses a medication mixture that contains a local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medication, such as a steroid medication
Discography (also called a discogram) is a diagnostic procedure used to determine if one or more discs are the cause of back pain. The procedure involves pressurizing discs by injecting them with a sterile liquid to induce pain in the affected discs
Facet joints are small joints at each segment of the spine that provide stability and help guide motion. The facet joints can become painful due to arthritis of the spine, a back injury, or mechanical stress to the back. A facet joint injection may be done to help diagnose the facet joints as the source of the patient’s pain, as well as to provide pain relief.
An epidural steroid injection is performed to help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with nerve root compression. Nerve roots can be compressed by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and bone spurs. When the nerve is compressed it becomes inflamed.
Radiofrequency (RF) medial branch neurotomy is an effective management of lumbar facet syndrome. A radiofrequency neurotomy is a type of injection procedure used to treat facet joint pain. Facet joints are pairs of small joints between the vertebrae in the back of the spine.
A lumbar sympathetic block is an injection of local anesthetic into or around the sympathetic nerves. These sympathetic nerves are a part of the sympathetic nervous system. The nerves are located on the either side of spine, in the lower back. Normally these nerves control basic functions like regulating blood flow.
A transforaminal injection is an injection of long acting steroid into the opening at the side of the spine where a nerve roots exits. This opening is known as a foramen. There is a small sleeve of the epidural space that extends out over the nerve root for a short distance.
A medial branch block is an injection of a strong local anesthetic on the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints. The facet joints, also known as the zygapophysial joints, are part of the bony framework of the spine.
A sacroiliac (SI) joint injection—also called a sacroiliac joint block—is primarily used either to diagnose or treat low back pain and/or sciatica symptoms associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction
The spinal cord stimulator (SCS) system consists of a pulse generator implanted under the skin of your buttock or abdomen. Your pain is reduced because the electrical current interrupts the pain signal from reaching your brain.
A stellate ganglion block is an injection of local anesthetic in the sympathetic nerve tissue of the neck. These nerves are a part of the sympathetic nervous system. The nerves are located on either side of the voice box, in the neck.
Thoracic epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a thoracic pain treatment administered to relieve pain in the mid-back and shoulder blade area caused by pinched or inflamed nerve(s) in the thoracic spine. Conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis or arthritis can compress nerves causing inflammation and pain.