What is Imaging Guided Pain Management?
Panorama Radiology Specialists provides a wide range of Ultrasound and CT Guided Musculoskeletal Pain Management Injections, including –
- Joint injections for arthritis
- Bursal injections for bursitis
- Tendon and tendon sheath injections for tendonitis
- Shoulder hydrodilatation for frozen shoulder
- Plantar fascia injection for plantar fasciitis
- Aspiration of cysts and ganglions
- Nerve blocks for conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Ulnar Neuropathy
- Foot injections for Morton’s Neuroma, bursitis, arthritis
- Hamstrings origin and sciatic nerve injections
- Greater Occipital Nerve blocks
- Suprascapular Nerve blocks
Achieving optimal outcomes from imaging-guided pain management injection procedures such as cortisone injections requires an accurate diagnosis combined with careful target planning, sub-specialist experience, premium technology, and a high degree of precision with needle placement using Ultrasound or CT guidance. Many sources of pain, such as bursitis and tendinitis, present tiny targets which cannot be accurately and reliably targeted without imaging guidance. For example, a subacromial bursa in shoulder bursitis is typically just 2-3mm thick, as is the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome – hence to achieve safe, comfortable and optimal results requires precise targeting using high-resolution equipment by an experienced interventional radiologist.
Panorama Radiology Specialists’ high-resolution Ultrasound machines and state-of-the-art low-dose CT scanner allow precise targeting of the site of maximal inflammation by our experienced interventional radiologist, to achieve optimal pain management outcomes.
What Happens During My Procedure?
You will typically be required to fast for 4 hours before your Imaging Guided Pain Management Injection. Please take your usual medications on the day unless advised otherwise by your doctor or our team.
Please advise our staff if you take any blood thinning or anticoagulation medications (eg – Aspirin, Pradaxa, Warfarin) as in some cases these may need to be temporarily withheld.
You will need to have a driver with you as we often advise that driving is not permitted for the remainder of the day. You may be asked to change into a gown, and our staff will discuss the procedure with you beforehand and answer any questions you may have. Most imaging guided procedures in our Gold Coast clinic take around 10 minutes in the hands of our experienced team.
You may be given a pain scoring chart to monitor the results of your procedure. You may be advised to return to see your referring doctor for a follow-up.
Safety
Pregnancy
CT guided procedures involve a small dose of radiation, so these are typically avoided in pregnancy except in special circumstances.
Please advise our staff if you are pregnant or think you might be.
Blood Thinning Medication
Please let our staff know if you take any regular blood thinning medication including Aspirin, Cartia, Warfarin, Pradaxa, Xarelto and Eliquis. In some cases anti-coagulant medication may be required to be withheld to minimise the risk of bleeding.
Musculoskeletal Pain Management Results
Your results and images from your imaging-guided pain management injection will be promptly electronically delivered to your referrer.
You will need to return to see your referrer to discuss your results and any further management.
Our Gold Coast radiologist is always happy to discuss your scan findings with your referring doctor and if relevant, suggest any additional scans or procedures that may be of benefit in your individual clinical situation.