When severe pain controls patients' lives, sometimes surgery can provide relief. The Pain Management Program anesthesiologist uses several surgical techniques to reduce severe and chronic pain.

• Spinal cord stimulation can block the sensation of pain. An electrical device that generates a mild current is implanted to interrupt pain signals between brain and nerve. The perception of pain is replaced by a sensation similar to the feel of running water. Spinal cord stimulation is used for failed back surgery, peripheral neuropathy (severe pain in the arms, legs, hands or feet), and when severe 'phantom limb' pain follows amputations.
• Morphine and Baclofen pumps are used to relieve both severe pain and muscle spasms. A pain specialist implants a small pump and medicine-filled reservoir in the body. A thin tube, or catheter, goes from the pain pump to the spine where the medication is released into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord.
• Nucleoplasty is used to lessen a bulging spinal disc, the cushion between two vertebrae, and can relieve pain for certain types of herniated discs. Southside's Pain Management Program has extensive experience with this type of pain treatment. Southside has significant experience with this new pain treatment.
• Annuloplasty (IDTA) For some types of back pain, IDTA uses a needle threaded around a spinal disc and then heated to relieve the pain from tears.
• Spinal endoscopy/myeloscopy uses a special, small endoscope to enter the spinal canal to remove scar tissue, take the pressure off nerves, and relieve pain.