Radiofrequency Treatment
The use of electric current for pain management has a long history. As early as the second half of the 19th century, brain lesions were made in animals with the…
Peripheral and Visceral Sympathetic Blocks
Cervical Sympathetic (Stellate Ganglion) Block Stellate ganglion block (SGB) was originally introduced by René Leriche for the treatment of angina pectoris. Findley and Patzer eventually modified the technique, which has…
Chemical Neurolytic Blocks
Neurolytic therapy remains a therapy of last resort. However, for the appropriate patient, it can result in significant improvement of quality of life and possibly improved function. Few other interventional…
Interlaminar and Transforaminal Therapeutic Epidural Injections
The Institute of Medicine’s report on chronic pain in America estimated that more than 100 million citizens are living with chronic pain. Of this group, chronic low back and often…
Nerve Blocks of the Head and Neck
The primary indication for nerve blocks of the head and neck is for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in cases of head and neck pain. Some of the more common indications…
Intraarticular Analgesia
Introduction An ideal analgesic should provide pain relief locally at the site of trauma without any systemic or local side effects, preferably as long as the pain persists. Scientists have…
Neurolysis of the Sympathetic Axis for Cancer Pain Management
Introduction Neurolytic blocks of the sympathetic axis were procedures that were widely used in the past for control of chronic upper abdominal pain or pelvic pain in patients with cancer….
Upper Extremity Blocks
Regional anesthetic approaches to the brachial plexus are a mainstay of surgical anesthesia practice and play an increasingly important role in postoperative analgesia. Well-designed outcome studies have confirmed the benefits…
Pain and Addictive Disorders: Challenge and Opportunity
It is essential that pain specialists have an understanding of addiction since patients with both conditions are increasingly being encountered in pain clinics and are among the most challenging that…
Integrative Approaches to Pain Management
Integrative Medicine: Overview Integrative medicine is a philosophy of care that integrates conventional allopathic medical therapies with modalities not typically included in conventional care and addresses the physical, emotional, and…
