Selective Nerve Injections (SNI) – A Diagnostic Tool
Posted Monday, May 12, 2008 by Indiana Spine Group

One of the tools that we use to diagnose back pain is selective nerve injections (SNI).  Imaging studies, such as MRI’s, do not always show which nerve is causing the back pain, and selective nerve injections are effective in helping us to isolate the source of the patient’s pain. 

 

With diagnostic selective nerve injection, just enough medication is used to numb one or two spinal nerves.  This medication is then injected, and this helps us to determine if the nerve root is causing the pain. 

 

Additionally, a study that I co-investigated concluded that selective nerve injections were also a valuable tool for patients requiring surgery for radiculopathy; a lumbar cervical decompression.  This study determined that selective nerve injections can accurately determine the presence of a specific painful nerve root in cases where physical exam and/or MRI findings are equivocal.  This helps spine surgeons determine their surgical treatment and oftentimes limiting its scope.  Here is a link to the research study. 

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What is Spinal Diagnostics?
Posted Wednesday, April 16, 2008 by Indiana Spine Group
 

One of the most common reasons patients see their physician is because of back pain.  It is estimated that 80% of all adults will suffer from back pain. Many times – this back pain resolves itself in a few weeks.

 

When back pain does not go away – and conservative treatment is not effective – patients are generally referred to a spine specialist.  At Indiana Spine Group – a patient would then see one of our minimally invasive spine specialists.  At this point – it is important for the specific cause of pain to be determined.  This then helps to plan which treatment would be most effective. 

 

With spinal diagnostics, minimally invasive spine specialists use the latest technology to accurately diagnose the location and cause of the back pain. 


To diagnose the cause, in addition to a detailed patient history and  examination; other diagnostic imaging tests may be required.  Here is a link, which provides an overview of some of the diagnostic imaging tests considered. 
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Leg and Back Pain
Posted Thursday, February 28, 2008 by Indiana Spine Group

People with back problems – may have more than just back pain.  Sometimes, if you suffer from leg pain – this can be related to your spine.  If a person has ongoing leg pain that is persistent and increases as you lift your knee to your chest or bend over – it could be related to your back.  One back problem – that causes a shooting pain down your leg referred to as “sciatica” is lumbar radiculopathy. 

 

Lumbar radiculopathy is most often the result of nerve compression due to a lumbar disc herniation.  The pain is caused by the compression of the roots of the spinal nerves. This damage or herniated disc is often the result of wear and tear – or degeneration (degenerative disc disease).  To learn more about the diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy and diagnosing back pain – click here.
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