What is pain management?

MIC offers image-guided pain management procedures to help alleviate the pain caused by inflammatory joint, soft tissue or other chronic conditions.

At MIC, all pain management procedures are performed by our expert musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologists—doctors who specialize in providing treatment guided by diagnostic imaging such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound.

During these procedures, our MSK radiologists use image guidance to accurately inject a fine needle into the affected area. The needle is used to deliver an anesthetic, a very small quantity of dye and an anti-inflammatory medication, the most common being a corticosteroid to decrease inflammation and reduce pain.

Pain management procedures can be helpful for a variety of conditions, including arthritis and inflammation around a tendon (tenosynovitis). These procedures are very low risk and often provide pain relief right away. Some patients experience prolonged pain relief which may last over 6 months.

Common treatment areas include:

Hips
Knees
Shoulders
Elbows
Lumbar spine
Ankles, wrists and thumbs

What to expect

Please take a few minutes to review the exam information specific to the procedure your practitioner has ordered.
Depending on the type of procedure you are having, a technologist will position you on the exam bed.
One of MIC’s radiologists will use fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance to inject a fine needle and administer the local anesthetic and pain medication. You will find more specific information under the procedure you are having.

*Diabetic patients who use a glucose monitoring device should check with their manufacturer to see if they recommend removing their device before low-dose radiation exposure.