Traditional Chronic Pain Treatments
Medial branch blocks – Epidural Steroid Injections – Facet Injections – Radio Frequency Ablation
Effective, common treatments to alleviate your pain
Epidural Steroid Injection
How does it work?
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed to help relieve neck, arm, back, and leg pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. Inflamed spinal nerves can be caused by a number of underlying conditions such as spinal stenosis or disc herniation. The procedure works by injecting medicines into epidural space. Pain relief may last for several days or even years. The goal is to reduce pain so that you may resume normal activities.
Epidural Steroid Injection Diagram
Medial Branch Block
How does it work?
Pain information from facet joints travels to the brain along nerve endings called medial branches. In order to determine whether or not facet joints are causing pain, medial branch nerves can be diagnostically blocked so the patient can determine whether or not there were changes in their pain as a result of the procedure. Medial branch block (MBB) is performed to confirm the correct diagnoses and the correct number of facets contributing to pain.
Anatomy of the Spine
Radiofrequency Ablation
How does it work?
This procedure is performed after the initial medial branch diagnostic injection has determined that facet joints are the source of your back pain symptoms. A radiofrequency ablation procedure uses radio-magnetic waves to stop the lumbar medial branch nerve from transmitting pain signals from the facet joints to the brain. The doctor uses an x-ray to direct specialized needles to the specific medial branches that are transmitting your pain signals. Once the location of each needle is finalized, anesthetic is used and radiofrequency procedure is performed.
Treatment benefits
- Reduced lower back pain
- Improved flexibility
- Enhanced function
Radiofrequency Ablation Procedure Overview
Meet Our Medical Director: Dr. Lucy Hostetter
Dr. Hostetter is a nationally-recognized board certified, fellowship-trained anesthesiologist who built her career specializing in orthopedic and spine surgery with an expertise in regional anesthesia. She brings her expert needling techniques, along with her passion for innovative pain treatment strategies to the field of regenerative medicine, providing stem cell therapy in Seattle.
After earning her MD from the UCLA School of Medicine, Dr. Hostetter completed her anesthesiology residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center. After residency, she was awarded the Moore-Bridenbaugh Regional Anesthesia Research Fellowship, where she honed her interest and skill in pain management through training anesthesia residents and researching alternate ways to treat acute pain.
Regenerative Medicine and Joint Preservation
Dr. Hostetter settled in Seattle and has diligently worked to establish herself as an expert in regenerative cell therapy and joint preservation. Dr. Hosteter is committed to regenerative medicines ability to restore orthopedic function, rejuvenate mental and emotional vitality, and relieve pain without relying on opioid drugs.
“While I have a deep love for the practices of surgery and anesthesiology, I am excited to offer patients an alternative to surgery … a means to repair and restore themselves back to the life they want, doing what they love to do, without the pain and trauma of surgery. This is the direction all of medicine should be going … to help the body heal itself”