Minimally Invasive Procedures
The pain specialists at MK Spine & Joint Rehab offer modern, minimally invasive procedures designed to reduce pain, shorten recovery time and help patients return to their daily activities.
Minimally Invasive Procedures for Pain Relief in Garden City and Hauppauge, NY
Pain relief may be achieved through a number of minimally invasive procedures, but there is no single treatment that works for every type of pain. A treatment that helps headaches, osteoarthritis or chronic back pain may not be appropriate for fibromyalgia, neuropathy or another condition. It may take a careful evaluation and more than one strategy to identify the most effective treatment plan for each patient.
Minimally invasive procedures use modern techniques that are generally less invasive than open surgery. By limiting the size of an incision or using image-guided needles and specialized devices, these treatments may involve less discomfort, shorter recovery times and fewer complications than traditional surgery.
If you are living with chronic pain, the specialists at MK Spine & Joint Rehab may be able to help with one of our minimally invasive treatment options. Many procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return to normal activities more quickly.
Evaluations are available at our Garden City office, serving Nassau County, and our Hauppauge office, serving Suffolk County.
Common Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Chronic Pain
There are many treatment options for chronic pain. Depending on the condition, a minimally invasive procedure may reduce the need for oral medication or help when medications and conservative care have not provided enough relief. Treatments offered or evaluated at MK Spine & Joint Rehab include:
Chronic Pain Injections
Injection therapies may treat several types of pain and are often performed as outpatient procedures using X-ray guidance. Options may include trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, facet joint blocks and sacroiliac joint injections. Learn more about our spinal injections and joint injections.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation uses small electrodes placed near the spinal cord to modify certain pain signals before they reach the brain. A trial period is typically used before permanent implantation.
Pain Pumps
An implanted pain pump stores medication and delivers it through a catheter to a targeted area near the spinal cord. It may be considered for patients who have not improved with other treatments or cannot tolerate oral medication.
Nerve Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation and related techniques use controlled energy to interrupt selected pain signals. Relief is not necessarily permanent because treated nerves may regenerate over time.
Nerve Blocks
A nerve block places medication near a specific nerve or group of nerves to temporarily reduce pain signals. Nerve blocks may also help a physician identify the source of pain and plan additional treatment.
VIA Disc for Degenerated Discs
VIA Disc is an injectable, non-surgical allograft treatment intended to supplement damaged intervertebral disc tissue. It may be considered for selected patients with disc-related lower back pain after a complete evaluation.
Percutaneous Decompression for Disc Herniations
Percutaneous disc decompression, sometimes called nucleoplasty, is an image-guided procedure that removes a small amount of disc tissue to reduce pressure associated with certain contained disc herniations. It may help selected patients with back or leg pain.
MILD Procedure for Spinal Stenosis
The MILD procedure, or minimally invasive lumbar decompression, removes small amounts of excess tissue through a tiny opening to create more space in the spinal canal. It may be used for selected patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication.
Intracept Procedure for Vertebrogenic Pain
The Intracept procedure uses radiofrequency energy to target the basivertebral nerve inside selected vertebral bodies. It may be considered for chronic vertebrogenic lower back pain associated with specific degenerative changes seen on imaging.
Looking for Pain Relief?
One of our minimally invasive treatment options may be appropriate for your condition. Our pain specialists will review your symptoms, imaging, medical history and previous treatments before recommending a personalized pain management plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Minimally Invasive Pain Procedures
What is a minimally invasive pain procedure?
A minimally invasive pain procedure uses small incisions, needles, catheters, imaging guidance or specialized devices to diagnose or treat pain without traditional open surgery. The exact technique depends on the condition and treatment goals.
What conditions may be treated with minimally invasive procedures?
These procedures may be considered for certain cases of chronic back or neck pain, arthritis, disc degeneration, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, nerve-related pain and other musculoskeletal conditions. A medical evaluation is required to determine whether a procedure is appropriate.
Are minimally invasive procedures the same as surgery?
Some minimally invasive treatments are procedural alternatives to open surgery, while others are injections or implant-based pain treatments. They generally use smaller openings and cause less disruption to surrounding tissue than traditional surgery.
What are the possible benefits of minimally invasive treatment?
Potential benefits may include smaller incisions, less tissue disruption, shorter recovery, reduced postoperative discomfort and a lower complication risk compared with open surgery. Benefits vary according to the procedure and patient.
How does a doctor choose the right procedure?
The physician reviews the patient’s symptoms, physical examination, medical history, imaging results and response to previous treatments. Diagnostic injections or other testing may be used to identify the pain source before a procedure is recommended.
Are minimally invasive pain procedures performed in an office?
Some procedures can be performed in an office or outpatient setting, while others require an ambulatory surgery center or hospital. The setting depends on the treatment, anesthesia requirements, imaging equipment and the patient’s medical needs.
How long is the recovery after a minimally invasive procedure?
Recovery varies widely. Some injection procedures require little downtime, while implant or decompression procedures may involve activity restrictions and a longer recovery period. Your physician will provide procedure-specific instructions.
Do minimally invasive procedures provide permanent pain relief?
Not always. Some patients experience long-lasting relief, while other treatments are temporary or may need to be repeated. Results depend on the diagnosis, the procedure, the patient’s health and how the condition progresses.
Does insurance cover minimally invasive pain procedures?
Many insurance plans cover medically necessary procedures, but coverage and authorization requirements vary. The insurer may require documentation of imaging, conservative treatment or diagnostic testing before approving a procedure.
Where can I be evaluated for minimally invasive pain treatment on Long Island?
MK Spine & Joint Rehab evaluates patients through our Garden City office, serving Nassau County, and our Hauppauge office, serving Suffolk County. Both offices welcome patients from throughout Long Island.