Patient Education

Conditions We Treat

Long COVID / Parosmia / Anosmia / Dysgeusia Treatment

Long COVID / Parosmia / Anosmia / Dysgeusia

After recovering from COVID-19, a significant proportion of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals develop Long COVID. Fatigue, orthostatic intolerance, brain fog, anosmia, and ageusia/dysgeusia in Long COVID resemble “sickness behavior,” the autonomic nervous system response to pro-inflammatory cytokines. Aberrant network adaptation to sympathetic/parasympathetic imbalance is expected to produce long-standing dysautonomia. Cervical sympathetic chain activity can be blocked with local anesthetic, allowing the regional autonomic nervous system to “reboot.”

Long COVID patients have been successfully treated using a stellate ganglion block, implicating dysautonomia in the pathophysiology of Long COVID.

Treatments: Stelate Ganglion Blocks

Keywords: Long COVID/PASC, Myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Dysautonomia, Stellate ganglion block, Cerebral blood flow

Back Pain

Back pain effects more than 85% of all Americans during their lifetime.  It can have many causes such disc, joint, ligament/bone or muscular pathology.  Acute pain (less than six weeks onset) is usually self-limited.  Immediate medical attention should be sought when weakness, loss sensation, or bladder/bowel changes accompany the pain.  Tumors and malignant causes of pain are rare, occurring in less than 1% of those people suffering from back pain.  However, this should be further looked at if neurologic changes occur and the pain doesn’t resolve with treatments.   While acute pain is usually recognized as only lasting approximately 6 weeks, chronic pain is generally termed after 12 weeks.   Bed rest is not advised, nor is the use of a lumbar support belt for more than two weeks.   Most sources of pain respond to conservative treatments, which may include physical therapy,  anti-inflammatory medications, topical pain relievers and cortisone injections.  Unfortunately, there is a subset  of people whose pain is so severe that activities or work are extremely limited during the first six weeks. Or, the pain extends beyond six weeks and approaches the chronic stages of a condition. For these groups of patients, many will respond to interventional pain procedures.

There is no blood test for pain.  The diagnosis and treatment require  the performance of a careful history and physical exam, along with the use of radiographs (xray, MRI, CT).  EMG and nerve conduction studies may also be indicated.

Common causes of back pain include: lumbar disc bulge, lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, joint inflammation (both facet and sacroiliac), sciatica (pinched nerve), fractures of vertebrae, lumbar spinal stenosis, and prior back surgery (also known as post laminectomy syndrome.

Treatments: Many patients will not respond to the conservative treatments as described above. For those non-responders, interventional pain procedures may be indicated.  These interventional treatments, determined by the condition,  may include: epidurals, facet blocks, sacroiliac joint injectionsMILD procedure, radiofrequency lesioning, neuroplasty/lysis of adhesions, kyphoplasty, and spinal cord stimulator.

Neck Pain

Neck pain may not just be limited to the neck but can extend to the head, shoulder and arms. The neck, like the lower back, is composed of many parts, including joints, discs, muscles and nerves.  Any of these components can lead to inflammation and pain.  For acute pain (less than six weeks onset),  most sources of pain respond to conservative treatments, which may include physical therapy,  anti-inflammatory medications, topical pain relievers and cortisone injections.  Unfortunately, there is a subset  of people whose pain is so severe that activities or work are extremely limited during those first six weeks.  Or, the pain extends beyond six weeks and approaches the chronic stages of a condition. For these groups of patients, many will respond to interventional pain procedures.

Common causes of neck pain include: spinal stenosis, herniated, disc, degenerative disc, muscle spasms, facet joint disease, whiplash type pain, occipital neuralgia, atlantoaxial joint disease, cervicogenic headaches, and prior neck surgery (also known as post laminectomy syndrome.)

Treatments:  Many patients will not respond to the conservative treatments as described above. For those non-responders, interventional pain procedures may be indicated.  These interventional treatments, determined by the condition,  may include: epidurals, facet blocks, radiofrequency lesioning, atlantoaxial joint injections, and occipital nerve blocks.

Sciatica

Sciatica can be referred to as a pinched nerve.  It can be experienced as a radiating leg pain with electric shocks, walking pain, standing pain, or bending over pain.

Common causes of sciatica include disc bulge, disc herniation, ruptured disc, slipped disc, and pinched nerve.

Treatments: For those patients that do not respond to conservative measures, interventional treatments may provide considerable relief. These treatments include transforaminal epidural steroid injections and neuroplasty (lysis of adhesions).

Degenerative Spine

Degenerative spine changes occur in most people as they age.  For many, the changes do not  cause pain.   However for some, this can lead to considerable discomfort.

Common causes of degenerative spine pain can be related to spinal bone spurs, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, facet arthritis, arthritic spine. Many people refer to this as walking or standing pain, and discomfort when getting out of bed.

Treatments:   Many patients will not respond to the conservative treatments as described above. For those non-responders, interventional pain procedures may be indicated.  These interventional treatments, determined by the condition,  may include: epidurals, facet blocks, sacroiliac joint injectionsMILD procedure, radiofrequency lesioning, neuroplasty/lysis of adhesions and spinal cord stimulator.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis generally occurs over time and leads to narrowing of bone around the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots. The pain that results from lumbar spinal stenosis may include lower back and leg pain.  For the cervical region, the pain may involve both the neck and arm.

A subcategory of spinal stenosis includes neurogenic claudication. This condition leads to pain with walking or standing for no more than 10 minutes.  Frequently, patients must sit for a period of time before the pain will resolve. Characteristically, the act of walking in a shopping mall requires frequent breaks of sitting. The act of cooking a meal requires sitting breaks during the food preparation.

Treatments:  With the combination of conservative treatments and epidural steroid injections, many patients will have the pain well controlled. For those people that continue to have considerable limitations to walking and standing, options may include spinal surgery or the nonsurgical route of the MILD procedure (minimally invasive lumbar decompression).

RSD/CRPS

This condition is also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or sympathetic pain.  The discomfort usually involves the arms, hands, legs or feet.

Telltale signs frequently include: sensitivity to touch, swelling, color changes, temperature changes of the painful area.

Successful treatment of this condition is dependent on early recognition and early intervention.  Workup is essential and may include but is not limited to radiologic studies and nerve studies.

Treatments: May include therapy and medications. If ongoing pain continues, therapy is not tolerated, or progressively decreasing function of the effected body part is noted, the patient would then be considered for therapeutic sympathetic nerve blocks. Such examples include a stellate ganglion block or lumbar sympathetic block, performed under fluoroscopic guidance.  These injections provide treatment for the pain, increased tolerance to physical therapy, and increased function.  The use of IV sedation or monitored anesthesia care is frequently provided during these procedures to avoid any discomfort from the procedure itself.

Facet Pain

Facet pain originates at the facet joint.  In the cervical spine, one experiences neck pain that can possibly extend to the shoulder, upper arm, head and side of the face.  This type of discomfort can be brought on with changes of neck position and may disrupt one’s sleep.

In the lower back, one experiences lower back pain that can possibly extend to the buttock and upper legs. This type of pain is frequently brought on with getting out of bed, get up from a chair, or leaning over.  This diagnosis is more dependent upon  history and physical exam. Radiologic  findings may or may not show any obvious changes at the facet joint.

Treatments:  When conservative treatments such as therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs fail to provide relief, fluoroscopic directed injections may provide considerable and long term relief.  These injections include diagnostic facet medial branch nerve blocks and more long term approaches via a rhizotomy (also known as radiofrequency lesioning).

Sacral Pain / Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation

Sacral pain can be experienced in the buttock region and can extend to the tailbone, lower back and possibly the upper legs

Common causes of sacral pain include: sacroiliac joint inflammation, and less commonly coccydynia, and sacral fracture.  This location of pain can be associated with sitting pain, lying down pain, or pain experienced with crossing the legs.

Treatments:  When conservative treatments such as therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs fail to provide relief, fluoroscopic directed injections may provide considerable and long term relief.  Such treatments, based upon the cause, may include sacroiliac joint injections, COOLIEF procedures, rhizotomies, or coccyx injections.

Occipital Neuralgia

The occipital pain is routinely experienced at the base of the skull, It can radiate to the top of the head. In fact, occipital neuralgia can mimic other types of headaches. This problem, may be associated with cervicogenic headaches, and degenerative cervical spine.

Treatments: Coanalgesic medications may help, such as antiseizure medications, antidepressants, muscle relaxants as well as physical therapy.
When this condition persists, the patient may then respond to focus directed injections such as occipital nerve blocks or C2 nerve blocks.

Thoracic Spine Pain

Also referred to as midback pain, upper back pain. This condition may or may not be accompanied by pain spreading to the sides or chest.

Common causes may include: degenerative disc disease , thoracic disc herniation, facet joint or vertebral fracture, spinal lesion and spinal stenosis. A comprehensive work up should be included for this type of pain and may include radiologic studies.

Treatments: Based upon the specific cause, treatments may include conservative approaches, spinal injections, kyphoplasty, and possible surgery.

Knee Pain

For those patients already diagnosed with arthritis of the knee or with ongoing knee pain despite having knee surgery, multiple treatment options have likely already been considered. These treatments may have included therapy, anti-inflammatory agents, cortisone injections, viscosupplementation injections and consideration of a knee replacement.

Treatments: For patients that have failed conservative treatment, are reluctant to undergo surgery, are at high risk for surgery or already failed surgery, they may be a candidate for genicular nerve block and subsequent neurotomy/COOLIEF nerve lesioning.

hip pain

Hip Pain

Conditions: For those patients already diagnosed with arthritis of the hip, multiple treatments options have already been considered. These treatments may have included therapy, anti-inflammatory agents, cortisone injections, viscosupplementation injections and consideration of a hip replacement.

Treatments:  This category of treatments apply to those patients who have failed conservative treatment,  are reluctant to undergo hip surgery, failed to obtain improvement from hip surgery or are too high of a risk medically to undergo surgery. These patients may be a candidate for a femoral and obturator articular branch nerve block and subsequent neurotomy/COOLIEF nerve lesioning.

Whiplash

With this condition, one can experience neck pain with or without shoulder pain, upper arm pain, headaches or facial pain. This type of discomfort can be brought on with changes of neck position and may disrupt one’s sleep.
Radiologic findings may or may not show obvious changes at the facet joint

Treatments: When conservative treatments, such as therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs fail to provide relief, fluoroscopic directed injections may provide considerable and long term relief. Such injections may include facet medial branch nerve blocks and more long term treatments via a rhizotomy.

Groin Pain

Groin pain can include discomfort that extends to the lower belly or hips.  By the time a patient has made an appointment to see a pain physician, more significant causes such as kidney stones, hernias, or gastrointestinal issues have already been ruled out.

Conditions for groin pain may include hip arthropathy, and  post surgical inguinal hernia repair.

Treatments: Based upon the specific cause, treatment options may include selective nerve blocks, nerve ablation procedures and COOLIEF.

Back Pain Even After Having Back Surgery

This condition may or may not include buttock or leg pain
Sources of this pain may include, spinal stenosis at other levels, facet arthritis, sacroiliac joint inflammation or even scar tissue. Conservative treatments may frequently be dictated by your spine surgeon. If pain persists beyond reasonable expectations, an MRI post surgery will likely be required.

Treatments: Specialized treatments are available for this condition including selective nerve blocks, epidural neuroplasty and even consideration of a spinal cord stimulator trial.

Facial Pain

Ongoing pain in the face can be due to numerous conditions. Some of these causes include trigeminal neuralgia, supraorbital neuralgia, infraorbital neuralgia, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). For most people suffering from chronic facial pain, multiple medical specialists have already been consulted.

Treatments: For those people that continue to suffer from considerable pain despite proper treatment, specialized nerve blocks under fluoroscopic guidance may be considered, based upon the diagnosis made.

Shingles / Post Herpetic Neuralgia

This condition occurs following a painful Shingles outbreak. This type of exquisite pain can be constant, sensitive to touch and travels along the site of the healing rash.

Common locations of this type of pain include the thoracic spine, chest wall, and near the eye and scalp. Initial treatments should include an antiviral medication. Other agents may include topical agents, oral neuropathic medications and possibly analgesics. With the persistence of severe pain, this condition then moves into the chronic stage, known as Post Herpetic Neuralgia.

Treatments: Interventional pain treatments, when performed in these early stages, may break the pain cycle and assist with resolution of the pain syndrome. These include specialized injections called sympathetic blocks, and possibly epidural placed injections.

Other Conditions

  • Hip pain, wrist pain, trigeminal neuralgia

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