Pain Management
Rhizotomy
Are you plagued by debilitating back pain and can't seem to find relief? As leaders in comprehensive pain care, The Spine Center of Louisiana delivers relief to many sufferers of back pain with a minimally invasive procedure called rhizotomy.
What Is Rhizotomy?
Rhizotomy is a new, innovative procedure to treat lower back pain caused by your facet joints.
Lining the back of your spine, facet joints protect your spine and help to keep your back in an upright position. Facet joints can get inflamed by arthritis or injury. When that happens, it can trigger chronic pain in your neck or lower back. As much as 40% of lower back pain may be blamed on inflammation in these facet joints.
Facet joint pain often feels like shooting pain. In some cases, you may feel a constant burning sensation. When you move a certain way or bend, the pain can grow even worse.
How Is Facet Joint Pain Diagnosed?
As a first step, Dr. McCarthy and Dr. Harrod at The Spine Center of Louisiana will want to rule out other causes for your chronic pain.
Exam and Imaging
A complete physical examination, plus imaging tests such as an X-ray or MRI scan to assess the condition of your joints and spine.
Medial Branch Block
The medial nerve in your facet joint is injected with a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine.
Confirmation
If the injection relieves at least half of your typical back pain, this confirms that your facet joint is the source of the problem.
What Happens During Rhizotomy?
The medical team at The Spine Center of Louisiana performs this treatment as you're laying on your stomach. They'll begin by applying an anesthetic to numb the treatment area.
Then, through a small incision, your doctor inserts a small high-definition camera device called an endoscope. This allows them to see inside your back and view your medial branch nerve. They'll thread a tiny laser or radiofrequency probe through the endoscope and zap the nerve to treat your pain.
This technique gives you much more reliable and lasting results than traditional rhizotomy where doctors can't view the medial nerve. Learn more about endoscopic spine surgery at The Spine Center.
Are you ready to get some form of relief from constant back pain? To find out whether rhizotomy or another kind of back treatment might help you, request an appointment today with the team of back care experts at The Spine Center of Louisiana.
How It Works
The Rhizotomy Procedure, Step by Step
Precise treatment of the nerve carrying your facet joint pain.
Positioning
You lie on your stomach, and an anesthetic numbs the treatment area.
Endoscope
Through a small incision, a small high-definition camera goes in to view your medial branch nerve.
Precise Ablation
A tiny laser or radiofrequency probe threads through the endoscope and treats the nerve.
Lasting Relief
Direct visualization gives more reliable and lasting results than the traditional blind technique.
Your Doctors
Leaders in Comprehensive Pain Care
Dr. Kevin P. McCarthy and Dr. C. Chambliss Harrod perform rhizotomy at The Spine Center of Louisiana.
Constant Back Pain from Your Facet Joints?
Find out whether rhizotomy or another kind of back treatment might help you get back to enjoying a full, active life. Urgent, same-day appointments are often available.