Ultrasound injections deliver concentrated doses of pain medication or steroids directly to the exact location of the area causing pain, reducing inflammation.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic pain by disrupting nerve signals. A small probe is inserted near the affected nerves, and radiofrequency energy is used to heat and destroy the nerve tissue.

Over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can help manage mild to moderate pain and inflammation. Although these medications can be effective in the short term, they should be used cautiously to avoid potential side effects.

If your condition is mild, we may recommend physical therapy as a suitable treatment option. Physical therapy involves exercises and stretches designed to improve flexibility, mobility, strength, and posture.

Many people underestimate the power of a few simple changes. Lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a healthy weight, practicing good posture, staying active, and avoiding foods or activities that increase inflammation can help you manage your disorder.

Holistic therapies can be combined with traditional approaches to care. These approaches may include acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, and chiropractic care. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles into specific points to relieve pain and promote healing. Chiropractic care focuses on spinal adjustments to improve your alignment and functionality. Massage therapy can reduce muscle tension and enhance your circulation. Yoga combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to improve your flexibility, strength, and mental well-being. These therapies can be effective in managing chronic pain.

When non-surgical options fail to provide relief, you might consider undergoing surgery. 

With complex disorders of the neck and back, patients often require a spinal fusion to help stabilize their spines. A spinal fusion is an operation that corrects problems within the vertebrae (small bones) that make up your spine. It’s kind of like a welding process. It is used to join two or more vertebrae to help stabilize your spine, which helps alleviate neck and back pain.

Most surgical options for spinal fusion involve placing a spacer or cage between the vertebrae. These spacers are often supplemented with bone grafted from another area on the same patient, like the hip bone. In cases where that is not possible, a bone bank may be used to find a donor bone. Sometimes, bone graft extenders or bone morphogenetic proteins (hormones to help bones grow) may be used to reduce the need for bone grafts.

Fusion can also involve the use of supplemental hardware like screws, plates, or cages to help the bones fuse together. Once the fusion is complete, the hardware can be removed, but it is often kept in place to avoid the need for another surgery to remove it.

At Dickinson Neurological, we can perform spinal fusions as necessary for a patient’s condition through minimally invasive surgical techniques. CT-guided navigation, advanced fluoroscopy (continuous X-ray during the procedure), and endoscopy have improved the accuracy of fusion procedures. We specialize in each of these minimally invasive techniques.