Interventional pain management involves minimally invasive techniques specifically designed to relieve or reduce pain. The techniques utilise a multidisciplinary approach to help patients manage their pain and ultimately improve the overall quality of life of patients.

Common areas where Interventional pain management techniques can be employed:

• Knee pain (osteoarthritis)
• Lower back pain (spinal stenosis, slipped disc, vertebral fractures)
• Shoulder pain (osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff injuries)
• Neck pain
• Headaches

COMMON PAIN SYMPTOMS

• Joint pain
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Grating sensation during joint movement

COMMON CAUSES/RISK FACTORS FOR PAIN

• Age
• High body mass Index
• Inflammation
• Family history
• Pre-existing conditions
• Sports injury

OUR TREATMENTS

Interventional pain management consists of day-surgery and minimally invasive procedures that combine medical and physical therapy.

• Medical: Imaging guidance such as X-Ray guidance (fluoroscopy), ultrasound or CT guidance enables doctors to access the exact source of pain
• Physical: Our specialists work with allied health professionals and lifestyle fitness instructors to continue to aid the patient in managing their pain pre and post-surgery.

Summary of treatments offered:

KNEE PAIN

OVERVIEW

Knee osteoarthritis is a long-term degenerative condition characterised by the progressive degradation of articular cartilage, reduction in knee joint fluid and inflammation.

TREATMENTS

Traditional treatment for osteoarthritis involves medication, physical therapy, joint injections and eventually knee joint replacement surgery. Interventional pain management for knee pain involves minimally invasive techniques that are done under imaging guidance. These are done as day surgeries under light sedation and back to activity the following day. This is especially useful in patients who are not improving with medication and physical therapy and still have a long way to go before considering knee replacement operation.

Minimally invasive treatment options we offer include:

• Genicular nerve ablation: This involves selectively applying radiofrequency waves to the affected nerves in the knee.
• Genicular artery embolization: This minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to inject spherical particles to create a blockage to the flow of blood to certain parts of the knee that cause pain.

Knee joint injection of Autologous Protein Solution (APS): APS solution is derived from the patient’s blood. It contains high concentrations of anti-inflammatory and anabolic proteins that are injected directly into the affected area to relieve symptoms.

Click here to download our Knee Osteoarthritis brochure

BACK PAIN

OVERVIEW

Back pain is the leading cause of disability that prevents many people from engaging in daily activities worldwide. Common conditions associated with back pain include:

• Spinal stenosis – is the narrowing of the space around the spinal cord resulting in compression on a section of nerve tissue.
• Slipped disc – is dislocation of the spinal disc (cushion) and it presses on nerves.
• Vertebral fractures –  is a break to one of the bones in your spine.

TREATMENTS

Treatments we offer include:

• Non-surgical nerve blocks via medical injections either outside the spinal cord or site of pain :
  • Epidural injections
  • Facet joint injections
  • Nerve root injections
  • Peripheral nerve block
  • Sympathetic nerve block
    
• Radiofrequency ablation: This involves selectively applying radiofrequency waves to the affected nerves in the spine.
• Chemical ablation (Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy): This involves non-invasive pain-free injections of medicine into blood vessels or lymph vessels that causes them to shrink.
• Percutaneous discectomy: This is a minimally invasive procedure to remove herniated disc material that is pressing on a nerve root or on the spinal cord.

SHOULDER PAIN

OVERVIEW

Shoulder pain is a common problem affecting our lifestyle and quality of life. Along with lifestyle issues, it can cause severe pain and discomfort that can be adversely affecting quality of life. Other conditions that causes shoulder pain  include:

• Shoulder osteoarthritis – wearing of the articular cartilage leading to bone remodelling, losing its sphericity and congruity. The joint capsule also becomes thickened, leading to further loss of shoulder rotation.
• Frozen shoulder (Adhesive capsulitis) – Frozen shoulder occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes thick, stiff, and inflamed.
• Rotator cuff injuries – Injury of the group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint.

Traditional treatment for shoulder pain involves medication, physical therapy, joint injections and eventually surgery.

TREATMENTS  

Interventional pain management for shoulder pain involves minimally invasive techniques that are done under imaging guidance. These are done as day surgery procedures under light sedation and the patient is back to activity within a couple of days. This is especially useful in patients who find their conditions not improving with medication and physical therapy and/or still have a long way to go before considering an open surgical operation.

Minimally invasive treatment options we offer include:

• Suprascapular nerve ablation: this is done under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance. It involves selectively applying radiofrequency waves to the nerves surrounding the shoulder to effectively relieve pain there.
• Shoulder artery embolization: this minimally invasive procedure uses a catheter to inject spherical particles to create a blockage to the flow of blood to certain parts of the shoulder that cause pain.
• Shoulder joint injection of steroids/ Autologous Protein Solution (APS): this uses steroids or APS (an anti-inflammatory-rich cellular solution from a patient’s own blood) that will be injected under ultrasound guidance.

HEADACHE, PERSISTENT FACIAL AND NECK PAIN

OVERVIEW

Headaches are a common health problem — most people experience them at some time. Frequent or severe headaches can affect a person’s quality of life.

Persistant idiopathic facial pain refers to severe ache, crushing sensation, or burning sensation along the territory of the trigeminal nerve. It is usually a continuous unilateral pain that last for long duration without autonomic signs or symptoms. It is described as a persistent headache and neck pain that affects the face up to the shoulder.

Neck pain is a common problem that can involve just the neck and shoulders, or it may radiate down an arm. The pain can cause muscle weakness, numbing sensation or feel like an electric shock into your arm.

TREATMENTS  

Treatments we offer inculdes:

Non-surgical nerve blocks via medical injections either outside the spinal cord or site of pain :

• Epidural injections
• Facet joint injections
• Nerve root injections
• Peripheral nerve block
• Sympathetic nerve block

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