PMA

Cervical Radiculopathy

This condition may cause pain, numbness, and weakness which may involve the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands. These symptoms result from irritation or compression of one or more spinal nerves.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Formerly know as RSD-Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. This is a complicated collection of symptoms usually involving an arm or leg. Symptoms may come on after a traumatic injury or surgery in that extremity.

Degenerative Disc Disease

The disc the spacer that separates the vertebral bones of the spine. As we age, these discs may breakdown, dry out and shrink. Although this process ¡s a normal part of aging, when it ¡s accompanied by arthritis, spinal stenosis, or disc herniation, it can place pressure on nerves and be painful.

Facet Joint Syndrome

The facet joints may become painful when injured or stressed with the degeneration of everyday wear and tear. These joints are present and may cause pain in the neck, low back, or rarely in the thoracic region. Treatment may include PT or injections.

Herniated cervical or lumbar disc

The spinal discs are made up of a inner gel-like substance surrounded by a tough outer wall call the annulus. When the gel-like center pushes through a weak area in the annulus it can irritate or compress a spinal nerve as it leaves the spine at that level. That process can cause pain, numbness/tingling, or weakness in the part of the arm or leg supplied by that nerve.

Treatment can include rest, medication, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injections. Occasionally surgery is needed to remove the herniated portion of the disc.

Chronic Knee Pain

Knee pain is usually effectively treated with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or injections into the joint itself. Sometimes arthroscopic surgery or even total joint replacement is required.

When these treatments give inadequate relief or if a person has other medical problems that prevent surgical treatment, it may be appropriate to consider blocking the pain from the knee joint by performing a genicular nerve block. While the nerve block will help determine the source of the pain, it may only provide short term relief. In that case, a genicular nerve ablation, using radiofrequency neurotomy, can be used to provide longer term relief.

Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)

This condition involves pain, numbness, and weakness in the low back, hip, buttocks, and leg into the foot. It is the result of irritation or compression of one or more spinal nerve roots in the lower back.

Sacroiliitis

The sacroiliac joint is formed where the lower spine and pelvic bones connect. Inflammation of one or both sacroiliac joints can cause pain in the low back and buttock area. It can be difficult to diagnose and is often mistaken for other causes of pain. Treatment may include physical therapy, medications, or an injection into the joint.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the bony spaces through which the spinal cord and spinal nerves pass. The stenosis can be in the central canal (central stenosis) or in the segmental openings which contain the spinal nerve roots. This can be caused by arthritis, or bone spurs. When these nerves become crowded or pinched they can become inflamed and cause pain, numbness, and weakness.

Treatment can include medications, physical therapy, and spinal injections to reduce inflammation and pain. Persistent symptoms may require surgery to give the nerves more room.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis can occur when a weakness in the moveable joints in the spinal segments (facet joints) allow one vertebrae to slip forward out of normal alignment. This can result in back pain from the weakened joints or arm or leg pain from the spinal nerve at that level which can be inflamed and crowded due to the malalignment of the vertebral bones.

Treatment can include physical therapy to strengthen the muscles and spinal injections to address the inflamed spinal nerves or the painful facet joints.

Spondylosis

Spondylosis, also called osteoarthritis, can affect any area of the spine. It is a degenerative process often the result of everyday wear and tear. It can cause pain and stiffness in the spine. Sometimes spondylosis can cause a narrowing of the spinal canal known as spinal stenosis.

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome is an uncommon muscular condition caused when the piriformis muscle stays chronically tight or in spasm. The piriformis is a flat, band-like muscle located in the buttocks. The sciatic nerve passes near or through the muscle so patients can experience hip, buttock, and/or leg pain. Treatment can include stretching, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and trigger point injections into the muscle.