Pain treatments
After an initial consultation, our consultants will be able to advise if a pain treatment may be helpful for you.
Select a treatment to find out more:
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A facet medial branch block is a diagnostic procedure used to identify the source of pain in your spine. Your spine is made up of bones with small joints in between called facet joints. These joints help your back move, but they can become inflamed or irritated and cause pain.
During this procedure, the doctor injects a numbing medicine near the nerves that send pain signals from these joints to your brain. If the pain goes away after the shot, it tells the doctor that the facet joint was likely the source of your pain. This information helps them determine the best treatment plan for you.
This procedure is not a treatment for pain, but rather a tool to help diagnose the cause of your pain.
Click here for information leaflet.
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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic lower back pain originating from the facet joints. Guided by imaging, a needle is inserted near the affected joint, and radiofrequency energy is applied to burn the nerves transmitting pain signals. This can provide long-term pain relief for some patients.
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Imagine the nerves exiting your spinal cord like branches of a tree. Sometimes, these "branches" (nerves) get pinched or inflamed where they leave the spine through small openings called foramina. An epidural/nerve root injection uses a needle guided by x-ray to precisely place steroid medication around the affected nerve in that opening. The steroid reduces inflammation, which can relieve pain, numbness, or tingling radiating down your arm or leg. This procedure is a common treatment for conditions like sciatica or spinal stenosis.
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A sacroiliac (SI) joint injection is a procedure used to diagnose and treat pain coming from the SI joints in your lower back. These joints connect your spine to your pelvis.
Here's how it works:
Targeted injection: Guided by x-ray, a needle is carefully inserted into the SI joint.
Medication delivery: A mixture of numbing medicine and steroid is injected into the joint.
Pain relief: The numbing medicine provides immediate relief, while the steroid reduces inflammation for longer-lasting relief.
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Coccyx injections, also known as tailbone injections, are a common procedure used to alleviate pain in the coccyx, the small triangular bone at the base of your spine. This pain, often called coccydynia, can be caused by various factors including injury (like a fall), prolonged sitting, or even childbirth.
Coccyx injections target tailbone pain (coccydynia). Using X-ray guidance, a needle is inserted near the coccyx, and a numbing agent and corticosteroid (anti-inflammatory) are injected. This reduces inflammation and pain.
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Genicular nerve ablation is a procedure that can help relieve chronic knee pain. The genicular nerves are the nerves that transmit pain signals from the knee to the brain. During the procedure, a needle is inserted next to the knee joint and guided to the genicular nerves using X-ray guidance. A numbing medication is injected to numb the area, and then a radiofrequency current is applied to the nerves to disrupt the pain signals.
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An occipital nerve block is a procedure where numbing medication and steroid is injected near the occipital nerves, located at the back of your head. These nerves can cause headaches or neck pain if irritated or inflamed.
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Trigger point injections are a treatment used to help relieve muscle pain. Sometimes, muscles develop tight knots called trigger points that can be painful to the touch and can even cause pain in other areas of the body. In this procedure, a healthcare professional injects a numbing medication, sometimes along with a steroid, directly into these trigger points. This can help relax the muscle, reduce pain, and improve flexibility. It's a relatively quick procedure and can be repeated as needed.
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Injections are made over or into joints, around specific nerves or sometimes around soft tissues. Often, several injections are given at the same time. Injections can help your pain by reducing some of the pain signals. Sometimes injections are used to help to identify the area from where your pain is starting, which helps with diagnosing the problem. Injections usually contain local anaesthetic often with a small amount of steroid.
Click here for information leaflet.
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Pain management often involves a multifaceted approach, and medications play a crucial role in alleviating discomfort and improving quality of life. A variety of medications are available, each with unique mechanisms of action and tailored to specific types of pain. These range from over-the-counter options for mild pain to prescription medications for more severe or chronic pain conditions. We can help guide you through the different classes of pain medications and help you use them appropriately for effective pain management.
Click on each medication for an information leaflet:
Amitriptyline -
A ganglion impar block targets chronic pelvic pain. The ganglion impar is a nerve cluster located in front of the tailbone. If this area is inflamed or irritated, it can cause pain in the perineum, rectum, or tailbone. During the procedure, guided by X-ray, a needle is carefully inserted near the ganglion impar. A numbing medication and often a steroid (anti-inflammatory) are injected. This aims to reduce nerve activity and thus decrease pain signals
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A suprascapular nerve block targets shoulder pain. During the procedure, a needle is guided, often using ultrasound, to the area near the suprascapular nerve in the shoulder. A numbing medication (local anesthetic) is injected around the nerve. Sometimes, a corticosteroid (an anti-inflammatory) is also injected to further reduce inflammation. This aims to block pain signals traveling through the nerve, thereby reducing shoulder pain.