| BMH
Radiologist Offers New Relief for Some Back Pain Issues
 Christopher
J Ladner, MD PhD, who joined the BMH radiology department
in July, is providing a new image-guided treatment for
low back pain. The procedure, called CT-Guided epidural
steroid injection, uses a CT scanner to assist Dr. Ladner
in precisely positioning a tiny needle tip with millimeter
accurarcy in the spine so that medication injected into
the epidural space can be targeted to the specific nerve
root or level of narrowing where the back pain is thought
to originate.
Dr. Ladner is also proficient at the standard fluoroscopic-guided
epidural steroid injection. This procedure uses conventional
x-rays to guide placement of the needle tip into the
epidural space. Epidural steroid injections have been
used for more than 50 years for the treatment of low
back pain due to spinal stenosis and disc herniation
as well as causes of back pain from uncertain origin.
Pain radiating down the leg from the spine (sciatica)
can also be treated with an epidural steroid injection.
Before the procedure, the patient receives local anesthetic
to reduce/eliminate any pain associated with the needle
placement although some patients report a sensation
of pressure during the procedure. The entire treatment
takes place while the patient lies on his/her stomach
in a CT scanner. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes
to complete.
After the procedure, the patient remains under observation
for 20-30 minutes to assess their response to the treatment.
Most often it takes three days for maximal effects to
begin. While this treatment does not correct the underlying
problem causing the back pain, in many patients a single
injection can provide many weeks or even months of pain
relief. For more information, to receive a referral
form, or to schedule a procedure, call 802-257-8895.
CLICK HERE
for information on other procedures for back pain
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