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services is an investment in the quality of life for each patient. The mission of the clinic is to take an individual approach to the assessment and treatment of each patient's chronic pain and determine the most successful and benefi cial courses of therapy. Radiofrequency neurotomy is one of the advanced pain relief procedures offered by the Twin Cities Pain Clinic. Intended to identify and interrupt the nerves that contribute to chronic pain, the procedure has proven to be a valuable asset in the treatment of spinal pain that originates from the facet joints. The process of radio- f requenc y neurotomy begins by identifying which facet joint or joints are causing the pain. A series of two test injec- t ions a r e performed on separate days. Individual facet nerves are numbed to see if the pain can be temporar- ily stopped. If the two test injections are both successful at temporarily alleviating the pain, then the painful joint has likely been identified. Statistics show that a patient who has passed both test injections has about an 80% chance of getting pain relief with the fi nal step, which is called radiofrequency neurotomy. "The radiofrequency neurotomy procedure is performed using a needle that emits radiofrequency waves, which heat up the tiny amount of tissue around the end of the needle," explains Andrew Will, M.D., Medical Director of the Twin Cities Pain Clinic. "When this needle tip is placed next to the facet nerves, the heat produced by the needle disrupts the nerve, effectively stopping the pain signal that was coming from the facet joint." Once performed, patients can expect pain relief for an average of one year. Should nerve endings repair themselves and result in recurrent pain, the radio- frequency neurotomy procedure can be performed again. The procedure is per- formed in an outpatient fl uoroscopy suite and is typically completed in less than 30 minutes. The procedure is performed with mild intravenous sedation, and it is generally well tolerated. Most patients feel they are able to resume their usual activities within a few days. The Full Spectrum of Chronic Pain Care At the Twin Cities Pain Clinic, proce- dures such as radiofrequency neurotomy function as a piece of a broad spectrum of pain care. For each patient, treat- ment begins with individual assessment and progresses through conservative options, including physical therapy and injection treatment. If less-invasive care options have been exhausted, pain relief procedures and minor surgeries become realistic options for relief. Employing this approach, physicians and staff members at the clinic can identify which treatment may work best for each patient and avoid unnecessary procedures. "Our mission is to fi nd the best solution for a patient's pain," explains Dr. Will. "Many patients come to us thinking there is nothing else that can be done for their pain. However, as we discuss their situations, we often fi nd that they have not even heard about many of the pain therapies. We pride ourselves on being a resource for them to explore all the available options." For more information about the Twin Cities Pain Clinic, visit www.twincitiespain clinic.com. n PAIN MANAGEMENT GLOSSARY + Postural restoration: A physical therapy technique that restores a neutral posture to alleviate back and neck pain + MedX: State-of-the-art, computerized exercise equipment that isolates muscles of back and neck to increase strength and fl exibility + Craniosacral therapy: This alternative medicine approach involves gently working with the spine and skull — and its cranial sutures and fascia — to ease the restrictions of the nerve passages + Epidural steroid injections: Delivers local anesthetic and steroids to the surface of the spinal column closest to the problem area + Facet joint injections: Treats the source of irritation in the small joints of the spine by injecting steroids inside each of these joints + Medial branch blocks: An injection given to temporarily block pain coming from a facet joint — typically done as a trial to determine if a patient is a candidate for radiofrequency neurotomy + Radiofrequency neurotomy: Radiofrequency waves emitted through a needle ablates the nerves causing pain + Neurostimulation: An implanted device, which generates mild, electri- cal pulses through leads placed along the spinal cord to block pain messages + Intrathecal pain pump: An implant- able pump and catheter inserted in the intrathecal space of the spine to deliver medication at constant or variable fl ow rates Learn more about these treatments at twincitiespainclinic.com/pain_manage ment.php. MDNEWS.COM MD NEWS Twin Cities | 13

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