Understanding Interventional Pain Management Options

Understanding Interventional Pain Management Options

Interventional pain management uses targeted procedures to reduce or block pain signals. These treatments can provide relief when medications, physical therapy, or lifestyle changes are not enough. Use this guide to learn about common options and discuss them with your pain management team.

Common Interventional Procedures

Epidural Steroid Injections

• Reduce inflammation and relieve pain in the spine (neck, mid-back, or lower back). Often used for herniated discs, spinal stenosis, or sciatica. Steroid and numbing medicine injected around spinal nerves. Relief may last weeks to months.

Facet Joint Injections

• Target arthritic or inflamed facet joints in the spine. Local anesthetic and steroid injected into the joint. Relief can last weeks to several months.

Nerve Blocks

• Temporarily block pain signals from specific nerves. Includes peripheral and sympathetic blocks. Anesthetic (sometimes with steroid) injected near the nerve to interrupt pain signals.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

• Provides longer-term relief by disabling nerves that carry pain signals using heat from radiofrequency energy. Relief can last 6–12 months or longer.

Trigger Point Injections

• Relieve painful muscle knots that do not release with stretching. Local anesthetic, sometimes with steroid, injected directly into the muscle.

Joint Injections (Shoulder, Hip, Knee, etc.)

• Reduce pain and inflammation in specific joints with corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid. Commonly used for osteoarthritis and bursitis.

Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)

• A small device implanted under the skin sends mild electrical pulses to the spinal cord to change pain signals. Helpful for chronic back, leg, or arm pain not improved with other treatments.

What to Expect Before and After Procedures

• Before: Your provider will explain the procedure, review your medical history, and discuss risks and benefits.
  • During: Most procedures are done in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia and sometimes mild sedation.
  • After: You may need a short recovery period and someone to drive you home. Follow all post-procedure instructions carefully.

Questions to Discuss with Your Care Team

☐ Which procedure do you recommend for my pain and why?

☐ What results can I realistically expect and how long will they last?

☐ What are the possible side effects or risks?

☐ Will I need more than one procedure?

☐ How will we know if it is working?

☐ Are there any restrictions after the procedure?

☐ How will this fit with my current medications or other treatments?

Key Takeaways

• Interventional procedures can provide targeted pain relief and may reduce the need for oral medications.
  • Each procedure has benefits and risks—discuss them with your provider to find the best fit for you.
  • Continuing healthy habits—such as gentle movement, good sleep, and stress management—will help support long-term pain control.

This content was created with the assistance of AI. Any AI-generated content was reviewed by a Nurse Practitioner.