Anatomy of the Knee – The knee is the body’s largest joint. It’s the place where three bones meet: the tibia, the femur and the patella. The knee is a “hinge” joint. It allows the leg to bend in one direction only. Let’s take a closer look at the main parts of the knee’s anatomy.
Coccydynia – This condition is an inflammation of the tip of the tailbone, called the coccyx. It causes pain and tenderness between the buttocks.
Arthritis of the Hip – This condition is a wearing away of cartilage in the hip joint caused by arthritis, which can develop because of trauma, infection, age or autoimmune disorders.
Hip Bursitis – This condition is an inflammation of the trochanteric bursa, a fluid-filled sac that lies between the femur and the iliotibial band, a thick, wide tendon on the outside of the hip joint. This condition can cause pain and swelling on the outer side of the hip.
Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica) – This condition is an irritation or compression of one or more nerve roots in the lumbar spine. Because these nerves travel to the hips, buttocks, legs and feet, an injury in the lumbar spine can cause symptoms in these areas. Sciatica may result from a variety of problems with the bones and tissues of the lumbar spinal column.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee – Osteoarthritis, also called degenerative arthritis, is a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is a tough, flexible connective tissue that protects the ends of bones in the joints. Osteoarthritis is common in the knees because the knees bear the weight of the body. Osteoarthritis of the knee can severely impact a person’s lifestyle.
Peripheral Neuralgia – This painful condition results from damage to the peripheral nervous system – the nerves that travel from the spinal cord to the limbs and organs.
Phantom Limb Pain – This condition, common among amputees, is a painful sensation that seems to originate in a missing limb. It is different from stump pain, which is pain in the stump of an amputated limb generally caused by overuse or a poorly-fitting prosthesis.
Procedures & Treatments
These procedures are performed under imaging guidance, either in our clinic or at a nearby surgery center. Ask us which option is right for you.
Epidural Steroid Injections
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection — this injection procedure is performed to relieve low back and radiating leg pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by spinal conditions.
- Lumbar Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection — an injection of a steroid-anesthetic medication delivered through the foramen beside the nerve root. It relieves pain in the lower back and pain that radiates from the back to the legs, and takes only a few minutes to complete.
- Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection — this outpatient procedure is an injection of a steroid-anesthetic medication through an opening in the sacrum. The medication can reduce swelling and inflammation of irritated spinal nerves.
- Spinal Epidural for Hip and Lower Extremity — an injection of anesthesia used to numb the hips and lower extremities in preparation for a medical procedure. The patient remains awake and alert.
Hip Injections
- Fluoroscopic Guided Hip Injection — this non-operative, outpatient procedure is designed to provide relief for patients with arthritis of the hip joint. The technique allows the physician to inject numbing and anti-inflammatory medications with maximum accuracy.
- Joint Injection: Hip — this outpatient injection procedure relieves hip, leg or buttock pain caused by arthritis or other damage to the hip joint.
Knee Injection
- Fluoroscopic Guided Steroid Injection for Knee Pain — this non-operative, outpatient procedure is designed to provide relief for patients with arthritis of the knee. The technique allows the physician to inject an inflammation-reducing steroid with maximum accuracy.
Leg Nerve Blocks
- Femoral Nerve Block — this outpatient procedure numbs the leg with an injection of local anesthetic. Typically, it is used before or after surgery on the thigh or knee.
- Fascia Iliaca Block — this procedure blocks pain signals from traveling along the femoral nerve from the thigh or knee to the brain. It is commonly used to alleviate pain that can appear after certain leg surgeries such as total knee replacement.
Lumbar Facet Procedures
- Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy — this minimally-invasive procedure, also called radiofrequency (RF) rhizotomy, reduces or eliminates the pain of damaged facet joints by disrupting the medial branch nerves that carry the pain signals. This procedure is performed with local anesthetic.
- Medial Branch Block — this diagnostic procedure is performed to identify a painful facet joint. The facet joints are the joints between the vertebrae in the spine. They allow the spine to bend, flex and twist.
Lumbar Sympathetic Block
- Lumbar Sympathetic Block — this procedure is performed to relieve leg pain caused by complex regional pain syndromes, which may develop after an injury to a joint or limb. Usually a series of injections are needed to treat the problem.
Sacroiliac Joint Injection
- Sacroiliac Joint Steroid Injection — this injection procedure is performed to relieve pain caused by arthritis in the sacroiliac joint where the spine and hip bone meet. The steroid medication can reduce swelling and inflammation in the joint.
Learn more in our Education center, or explore other pain conditions.