Cervical, Thoracic & Lumbar Spondylosis

Spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the joints in your spine. This condition is better known as osteoarthritis. Usually it appears in men and women older than 40 and progresses with age. Symptoms include spinal pain and stiffness. Click on this link for more information about spondylosis, About Facet Joint Syndrome (Arthritis)

Certain medical conditions can accelerate the age-related changes of the spine. One very common condition is scoliosis. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Click on this link for more information about scoliosis, About Scoliosi

A traumatic event can also accelerate the age-related changes of the spine. One of the most common traumatic events is a whiplash injury. This type of injury occurs when a segment of the spine is forced backward and then forward. These extreme motions push your spinal muscles, ligaments, and spinal bones beyond their normal range of motion and can cause a traumatic collision of your spinal facet joints. Click on this link for more information about whiplash injuries, About Whiplash (CAD Syndrome)

Typically, a whiplash injury affects the neck and occurs during rear-end automobile collisions. When this happens, patients will complain of upper neck pain and headaches. Click on this link for more information about whiplash or cervicogenic headaches, About Whiplash Headache

Treatment for any of the above spondylitic conditions consists of medications, physical therapy, and injections. Injections that can minimize or cure the underlying pain are facet joint injections or facet joint nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation.

A facet joint injection is an injection where a needle is placed in the facet joint and cortisone (steroid) is injected. Click on this link for more information about facet joint injections, Facet Joint Injections

Alternatively, instead of injecting the facet joint, an anesthetic can be used to block the nerve that innervates the facet joint. This is a diagnostic procedure only and will not give a patient long term relief. Typically, this type of injection is done twice to confirm the diagnosis. Click on this link for more information about diagnostic injections, Medial Branch Block If the facet joint nerve injections are diagnostic (a patient gets relief with both injections), then a therapeutic procedure can be done which is called a radiofrequency ablation. To learn more about radiofrequency ablation, Click on the appropriate spinal segment for an informational video.

Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Medical Brach Block
Thoracic Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Cervical Facet Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists is recognized as an industry leader in pain management. We have a state-of-the-art facility in Reno, Nevada, that allows for us to offer the highest possible level of quality care of our patients.

We are committed to providing a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach for each individual’s pain complaints to provide the most appropriate care. Our approach includes analysis of biomechanics, joint motion, as well as skeletal, nerve and muscle tissues. Every individual is evaluated for the root cause of their pain – not just a “quick fix” approach to only provide symptomatic relief.

Your pain will be evaluated with latest diagnostic tools and technologies used by the professionals at Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists to make accurate assessments including: EMG/Nerve testing, MRIs, x-rays, bone scans, and diagnostic pain injections.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY PATIENTS' PRAISE

Over 90% of our facet joint injection patients report improvement in their condition. Over 75% said their condition improved by more than 50%

Over 83% of our epidural patients report improvement in their condition. Over 75% said their condition improved by more than 50%

Overall, 83% of our patients report a better quality of life, 60% report less pain, and 62% report improvement in their function

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