Treatments

Your spine is a complex system of bones, ligaments, blood vessels, discs, fluid, and nerves, and all those moving parts have to work in perfect harmony to keep you bending, twisting, and reaching with ease. If any one part becomes damaged or impinges on another’s ability to do its job, you’ll experience pain and immobility. The best treatment plan depends on exactly what’s causing the problem, but very often, whatever the core cause is, it’s accompanied by inflammation. Our team of physicians at the Pain Institute of Southern Arizona specializes in identifying your neck and back pain and helping you overcome it. But often, the best treatment for your underlying condition is hindered by your pain. That’s when our team may recommend an epidural steroid injection (ESI).  Understanding your spine Your spine is a long column of bones called vertebrae that stack upon one another. To keep them from rubbing and wearing each other down, your vertebrae are separated by donut-shaped, gel-filled discs that serve as cushions.  Within that column of vertebrae and discs is a superhighway of nerves. The place where they begin is called the nerve root. Because

Persistent or chronic back pain is a common problem affecting millions of Americans. In many cases, it can become so severe that it interferes with your ability to perform daily

Diabetes can cause a number of health complications, with one of the most common being nerve damage. This condition, known as diabetic neuropathy, affects up to half of men and women with diabetes.  Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include: Burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your extremitiesMuscle spasmsIncreased or decreased sensitivity to temperature, touch, and injuryBalance problemsLoss of muscle tone, especially in your hands and feet Without treatment, diabetic neuropathy can grow worse, which can lead to debilitating pain and a lower quality of life. If you have diabetic neuropathy, the health specialist at Pain Institute of Southern Arizona may be able to help you with nerve stimulation therapy.  Understanding nerve stimulation therapy  When you experience pain or discomfort, nerves in the affected area send messages to your brain. Once those messages arrive, your brain processes them and registers the sensations you feel.  Unlike medications that only mask these responses, nerve stimulation therapy disrupts the communication to your brain to change how you feel. This technique is known as neuromodulation. It works by delivering low-voltage waves of electricity to the nerves signaling pain. These gentle pulses of current