The human spine is made up of vertebrae (bones) that are stacked on top of each other. Each segment is connected in the front by an intervertebral disc and in the back by small facet joints. The discs act like shock absorbers in the spine and allow the vertebrae to bend and twist relative to …

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a painful condition that often occurs after a limb amputation. Patients report experiencing pain in a limb that is no longer there. The pain usually begins soon after surgery and may be experienced by up to 80% of the amputee population. Even though the limb is no longer present to …

Sacroiliac (SI) joint pain and dysfunction is primarily caused by trauma or degeneration. Like other joints in the body, the SI joint can suffer wear and tear or get injured when there is trauma to the joint or the ligament that supports it. This may cause pain in the lower spine or back, buttocks, pelvis, …

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a severe and chronic pain disorder often associated with intense pain, throbbing, burning, hypersensitivity, and swelling in the affected body area following an injury. The Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is diagnosed with validated and specific criteria referred to as the “Budapest Criteria.” Budapest Criteria These four criteria must be …

Some rare pain conditions include Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (CRPS/RSD), Phantom Limb Pain, Postherpetic Neuralgia and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. For some doctors, these rare complex chronic pain disorders are difficult to diagnose and treat due to changing symptoms, the difficulty in visualization, and the lack of a general understanding in the medical community. However, Dr. Ghatan …

As people age, the facet joints and discs wear out and degenerate, causing changes that interfere with the normal structure and function of the spine. Spine degeneration is a common aging process, and spinal arthritis may not cause major problems. That being said, some people experience severe neck pain from arthritic facet joints. This painful …

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a type of neuropathic pain caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (herpes zoster, also known as shingles), which damages peripheral nerves. As this is a form of neuropathic pain, the pain is usually confined to an area of skin innervated by a single sensory nerve called a dermatome. When …

To identify a trigger point, the doctor performs a thorough history and physical exam. If trigger points are found, the doctor will localize and diagnose them using manual techniques. This step does not require any imaging since they do not show up on X-rays or MRIs. If there is an underlying dysfunction, the doctor will …

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive non-surgical procedure that utilizes radio waves to stop the transmission of pain. It is a procedure that will get radiofrequency waves to turn off the nerves that transmit pain signals to the brain.  What are the benefits of RFA/Rhizotomy?  Radiofrequency ablation has several benefits, including the following: Who needs …

The human spine is built up with bones that come on top of one another. Each segment is linked to the back by small facet joints and connected in the front via the intervertebral disc. The role of the discs is to absorb shock in the spine, thereby allowing vertebrae to twist and bend relative …