Scoliosis is a condition characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. Most cases of scoliosis in adults do not cause any symptoms, but there are those that cause chronic back pain, abdominal pain, and muscle spasms.
If you’re one of those suffering from chronic back pain due to scoliosis, you will greatly benefit from the expertise of an interventional pain specialist, who will work with you to formulate a treatment plan that best addresses your needs.
An interventional pain specialist typically offers the following pain management modalities for back pain caused by scoliosis and many other conditions. Let’s check them out:
Image-Guided Injections
As their name implies, image-guided injections are administered using an imaging technique, such as fluoroscopy (which uses X-ray technology to allow real-time visualization of body structures) or ultrasound. This allows your interventional pain specialist to see the needle in real-time—as it enters your body and traverses to the exact treatment location—and accurately inject the medication into the intended site.
The most common type of medication administered using imaging-guided injection is a corticosteroid. Your interventional pain specialist will inject corticosteroids into the area around your spinal cord known as the epidural space. The anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving effect of corticosteroids can last up to several months.
Nerve blocks are another type of image-guided injections. This interventional pain management method involves the delivery of anesthetic around problematic nerves to suppress them from sending pain signals to the brain.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are administered directly into the trigger point (the palpable nodule located in a taut band of muscles) to relieve localized muscle pain. Lidocaine, a combination of anesthetics, and cortisone are the medications commonly used in trigger point injections.
Scoliosis, as mentioned, causes muscle spasms, which can be alleviated by trigger point injections.
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
SCS is a type of neuromodulation therapy: it uses technology that directly acts on the nerves. SCS involves implanting a small device into the body. The device sends low levels of electricity directly into specific nerves in the spinal cord to subdue the pain signals they send to the brain, thereby bringing pain relief.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency ablation, also referred to as rhizotomy, is one of the newest pain management techniques. RFA uses radio waves to heat and destroy spinal nerve roots, essentially reducing or eliminating the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
Back Pain Relief in Melbourne, FL
If you have persistent back pain caused by scoliosis or another spine condition, visit us at Central Florida Spine and Pain for a consultation with our board-certified interventional pain specialist Dr. Nicholas Giordano. He offers an extensive range of effective interventional pain management therapies, helping countless men and women in Melbourne and neighboring areas live an excellent quality of life.
To find out more about our services or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Giordano, call us today at (321) 802-5021. Alternatively, you can schedule a consultation with us online.
