Sometimes a small fix can mean big relief. Minimally invasive surgery is when a small incision or injection is made into the skin so that the proper medications may be applied directly to the affected area.
There are many different types of minimally invasive surgery, several of which may be performed by the professionals at Carolinas Center for Surgery. Learn more about our pain management treatments now.
Minimally Invasive Surgical Options
Read about some of the types of minimally invasive surgical procedures that are available to identify the one that may bring relief for your pain.
Trigger point injections
The source of the pain can sometimes be located at a “trigger point,” or a knot in a muscle. The knot disrupts the surrounding nerves, which causes the pain. A trigger point injection is a small shot that is made into the knot to deactivate it and free up the affected nerves, thereby relieving the pain.
Lumbar epidural steroid injections
Lower back pain, and specifically sciatica, can often be traced to proteins that have invaded the area and are causing inflammation. A lumbar epidural steroid injection is a shot that’s given into the spine to flush out those proteins and the associated pain.
Facet joint injections
The facet joints of the spine are what enable you to bend and twist. When they become inflamed, it can be painful to move about. A facet joint injection utilizes a live X-ray machine to guide a needle into an inflamed facet joint and deliver medication to ease the pain and restore mobility.
Sacroiliac joint injections
Sacroiliac joints are located in between the pelvic bones and work similarly to facet joints. A sacroiliac injection involves a shot of pain-relieving medication delivered to the inflamed area.
After the Procedure
Most types of minimally invasive surgeries take only minutes to complete, and pain relief can often be felt by the time you walk out the door. Normal activities can even be resumed that same day because minimally invasive surgery does not typically require a recovery period.
Once pain is eradicated and some range of motion is restored, patients may then benefit by participating in physical therapy to further treat the affected area.
Other Types of Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery can be thought of as situated in between more traditional surgery and non-surgical procedures. In other words, a minimally invasive procedure is more invasive than using a TENS Unit for pain but less invasive than orthopedic surgery.
Depending on the type of pain you’re experiencing, you may need to consider any and all types of surgery to find the relief you deserve.
Request an appointment for, to see how minimally invasive surgery at Carolinas Center for Surgery can mean maximum relief. Meet our pain management doctors.