BajaMed Group is a medical practice that has one central goal: safe and professional medical care at a fraction of the cost.
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Pain Management

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Non-surgical options

At Bajamed Group, we understand that not all patients are ready for surgery.  In addition, we also know that some patients are not candidates for certain surgeries.  Luckily, new innovations in healthcare have presented us with novel treatments that can help you live a pain-free life!

Facet joint and Sacroiliac (SI) infiltration

What does this consist of?

This is a non-invasive procedure that is comfortably performed in our office, through which we access the facet joint with a needle.  The facet is located with a specialized ultrasound device.  The latter will also help guide the needle access the facet joint.

Once the facet joint is accessed, we can deposit a steroid and/or an anesthetic to help ease the pain in the area.

Patients that have SI pain, can also benefit from this procedure.  Using the same device, we will locate the SI joint, and also apply the medication to the area.

About the procedure

Procedure Time: 10-15 minutes
Stay in hospital: No
Recovery Time: Immediate
How invasive: Minimally Invasive

Potential candidates

Neck pain (Cervical)

Lower back pain (Lumbar)

Osteoarthritis of facets

Sacro-Iliac Joint degeneration

Other joints with degeneration (osteoarthritis)

Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation (RFNA, also called Rhizotomy)

What is RFNA?

This is a minimally invasive procedure, in which we eliminate the pain transmission of terminal nerves.  With the help of a radiofrequency probe, we heat the terminal nerve ending, which innervates the facet joint, to the point that it will no longer send pain signals to the brain.

This procedure is done with the patient under a light sedation, and with the help of a fluoroscopy imaging device.  The latter helps us pinpoint the precise location of these nerves, so that we can eliminate the transmission of pain signals.

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About the procedure

Procedure Time: 30-45 minutes
Stay in hospital: No
Recovery Time: 1-2 days
How invasive: Minimally Invasive

Potential candidates

Upper back pain

Lower back pain

Osteoarthritis of facets

Joint degeneration

Neuroplasty

What is a neuroplasty?

This type of intervention has also been called epidural adhesiolysis. The main purpose of this procedure is the breakdown of the epidural adhesions, produced by disc herniations, spinal stenosis and other mechanical factors. This fibrosis produces radicular pain, not only because of mechanical effects that are directly related to the repeated trauma produced each time the roots are stretched and compressed against these scars, but also because these adhesions produce a dysfunction in the venous and lymphatic drainage. The latter favors the edema of the nerve roots, giving rise to radiculopathy, which is perceived as pain.  In addition, this technique will allow the epidural space to become permeable, and permit the application of medication to the area.

About the procedure

Procedure Time: 60-90 minutes
Stay in hospital: No
Recovery Time: 1-2 days
How invasive: Minimally Invasive

Potential candidates

Upper back pain

Lower back pain

Osteoarthritis of facets

Post-operative pain

Joint degeneration

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Discoplasty

What is PRD?

PRD is a non-surgical procedure in which the goal is to reduce the size of a disc herniation. This is performed by introducing a cannula guided by live fluoroscopy imaging. With the help of this technology, we can guide this cannula into the inner portion of an intervertebral disc, called the nucleus pulposus. Once we are in the appropriate site, we apply radiofrequency pulses that will shrink the size of the herniation. The area will be heated up to 90°C. Once this temperature is reached, we will maintain it for 4-5 minutes, until the desired effect is reached. Radiofrequency is an energy source that will allow the herniated area to shrink, and it will also strengthen the wall of the disc (annulus fibrosus), through which the herniation occurred.

About the procedure

Procedure Time: 30-45 minutes
Stay in hospital: No
Recovery Time: 1-2 days
How invasive: Minimally Invasive

Potential candidates

Upper back pain (cervical)

Lower back pain (lumbar)

Radiating pain

Radicular pain