If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain or a debilitating musculoskeletal injury, surgery may be the only viable and effective solution, especially after unsuccessfully trying other non-invasive forms of treatment. Traditionally, surgery has been associated with large-sized incisions, trauma to the surrounding areas, a long recovery period, and potentially severe complications.
Fortunately, recent advancements in medical technology and surgical techniques have made it possible for surgeons to operate on the human body more safely and less injuriously through minimally invasive procedures. Minimally invasive procedures in Greenville have found their way into many surgical areas, including orthopedic surgery.
At Injury Medicine, we have a team of highly trained and board-certified orthopedic surgeons in Greenville, SC. We use the safest and most effective surgical techniques to ensure your health. Call our Greenville offices today at 864-866-PAIN to schedule an evaluation and determine whether minimally invasive procedures in Greenville could be a viable option for you.
What Is a Minimally Invasive Procedure?
Minimally invasive surgery is a relatively new surgical method that involves the use of advanced medical instruments and surgical techniques to limit the size and number of cuts or incisions needed during an operation.
In traditional or open surgeries, surgeons typically make large-sized incisions to the skin and then work through the muscles and surrounding tissues to access the area being operated on, potentially causing trauma to the body.
In minimally invasive procedures, the surgeon only makes tiny incisions. There are many different types of minimally invasive surgery, several of which are pain relief injections performed by the professionals at Injury Medicine. Most types of minimally invasive surgeries take just a few minutes to complete and pain relief can often be felt rapidly, usually by the time you leave the physician’s office. Normal activities can oftentimes be resumed the same day because minimally invasive surgery does not typically require a recovery period.
If you are interested in learning more about minimally invasive procedures in Greenville, call our office today. We have years of experience and knowledge.
What Are the Benefits of a Minimally Invasive Procedure?
Compared to traditional or open surgeries, a minimally invasive surgical approach offers our patients a wide range of benefits:
- Smaller incisions: In minimally invasive procedures, the surgeon only needs to make tiny incisions (just large enough to fit cameras and small-sized surgical tools). This ensures less trauma to the body as well as less scarring.
- Less post-op pain: Pain is common after a surgical procedure. And the bigger the operation, the more intense the pain might be.
However, when it comes to minimally invasive procedures, since only small incisions are made, the pain is usually less serious. - Faster recovery time: Most minimally invasive procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients tend to heal much faster and some even return to their normal duties within a very short time.
- Reduced risk of infection: Since the wounds caused during these procedures are quite small and heal quickly, there is a reduced risk of infection.
- Fewer complications: In minimally invasive procedures, the patient experiences less damage or trauma to the body. Secondly, smaller incisions mean less bleeding and swelling. Thirdly, less anesthesia is needed during the operation and the patients don’t have to rely on heavy pain medications thus avoiding the associated adverse effects.
Are There Risks With a Minimally Invasive Procedure, and if So, What Are They?
While considered much safer than traditional surgery, minimally invasive surgery carries some degree of risk as with any medical procedure. Here are some of the issues that can arise from minimally invasive procedures in Greenville:
- Complications with anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Infections
What Are the Different Types of Minimally Invasive Procedures in Greenville that Are Performed at Injury Medicine?
At Injury Medicine, we offer several types of minimally invasive procedures in Greenville. Some of the procedures that our offices offer are listed below:
Brachial Plexus Block Injection
A brachial plexus block injection is a quick minimally invasive procedure aimed at providing relief from pain in the shoulders, arms, or hands. It involves the administration of local anesthesia to the appropriate area using a small needle under fluoroscopy.
Caudal Steroid Injection
This treatment is used to provide relief from pain and inflammation among patients suffering from chronic limb and back pain. It involves the administration of a combination of anesthesia and a steroid to the area.
Celiac Plexus Block
This is a type of injection treatment used to provide relief to patients suffering from chronic abdominal pain.
Chiropractic
Chiropractors use a wide range of techniques to help treat chronic back and neck pain.
Discography
This is a diagnostic procedure used to identify the root cause of a patient’s lower back, hip, or groin pain. It is often required when determining whether a patient requires a minimally invasive procedure or interventional pain therapies.
Epidural Steroid Injection
Epidural steroid injections are commonly used to treat inflammatory symptoms related to back pain, neck pain, leg pain, and arm pain.
Facet Blocks
This is a minimally invasive procedure that involves the injection of medication and local anesthetic to numb a facet joint and provide relief from pain.
Facet Joint Injection
A facet joint injection is administered to provide relief from neck or back pain caused by the inflammation of the spinal facet joints.
Injections for Back Pain
Injections for back pain are used to provide relief from pain in the back by treating inflammation as well as damage to the nerves in the back. They offer short-term and long-term relief from pain.
Joint Injections
These types of injections are meant to provide from pain in the major joints including the hips, shoulders, and knees. They provide pain relief and prevent pain from occurring by reducing the amount of inflammation in the joints.
Kyphoplasty
This is a minimally invasive spinal procedure aimed at relieving pain caused by a compression fracture. Kyphoplasty is also used to restore damaged vertebrae in the process.
Medial Branch Block
This is a type of injection used to provide relief from pain caused by facet joint syndrome or other conditions affecting the facet joints. It involves the administration of a combination of a local anesthetic and steroid medication into the appropriate area.
Medication Management
Medication management involves a pain management and injury recovery plan that is based on the patient’s medical needs and medication experiences.
Nerve Blocks
Also known as sympathetic nerve blocks, nerve blocks are used to diagnose as well as treat the source of the pain, tingling, or burning arms and hands or feet and legs.
Occipital Nerve Block
This is a minimally invasive procedure used to provide relief from pain caused by the occipital nerves, which are located at the back of the head, above the neck.
Pain Management
Pain management involves identifying the source of the pain and developing a treatment plan for the pain.
Peripheral Nerve Block
These can be used to both diagnose as well as treat neuropathy, headaches, pelvic pain, and other ailments
Radiofrequency Ablation
This form of treatment is used to provide relief from pain by using electrical currents in the form of radio waves to disrupt the transmission of pain signals.
Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection
This procedure is used to diagnose the triggers as well as the location of the pain, and also provide pain relief. It is often used to identify which sacroiliac joint is causing the pain.
Sciatic Nerve Block
This is used to provide relief from pain arising from the sciatic nerve through the injection of a combination of a steroid and a local anesthetic.
Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block
This minimally invasive procedure is aimed at alleviating headaches and facial pain arising from damaged sphenopalatine ganglion nerves.
Spinal Cord Stimulators
A spinal cord stimulator is a small device that is usually inserted under the skin and inserted into the spinal cord or connected to nerves. It is meant to provide pain relief by transmitting electrical pulses to disrupt the transmission of pain signals.
Stellate Ganglion Block
This is a minimally invasive injection procedure used to treat nerve-related pain and issues. It temporarily desensitizes branches of nerves found in your neck.
Sympathetic Nerve Blocks
This is a group of injections used to treat lower back and leg pain caused by complex regional pain syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, shingles, and sciatica.
Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection
This is a minimally invasive procedure used to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation by injecting a combination of local anesthesia and steroid medication to the appropriate area in the spine.
Trigger Point Injection
This is a minimally invasive injection procedure used to provide relief from pain and inflammation by administering a local anesthetic, sometimes combined with a corticosteroid, to a specific trigger point.
Vertebroplasty
Also known as vertebral augmentation, vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure meant for patients suffering from painful spinal compression fractures.
Get the Medical Help You Need with Minimally Invasive Procedures in Greenville Today!
Our highly-trained and qualified surgeons at Injury Medicine have extensive experience with minimally invasive procedures in Greenville. We use the safest and most effective surgical techniques to ensure the best results. Don’t let chronic pain and debilitating musculoskeletal injuries disrupt your life for longer than necessary, get the help you need today.
The doctors at Injury Medicine can help you. Call us today at 864-866-PAIN to schedule an evaluation.
