Image-guided pain management injection therapy is now available at Washington Imaging Services on an outpatient basis. Key WIS radiologists, who have advanced training in neuroradiology and musculoskeletal imaging, perform the diagnostic injections and pain management procedures. This special focus, combined with our image-guided approach, ensures that your diagnostic and/or therapeutic injection is accurate and safe. These radiologists have been specially trained to perform therapeutic spine and joint injections. They work with your referring physician to help identify the cause of your pain and also treat the cause. Steroids and pain reducing agents are used to minimize inflammation and stop the cycle of pain and decreased mobility.

Image-guided Pain Management Injections
Chronic pain is a difficult condition to treat because often the source of pain is unknown. Patients suffering from back, neck, arm, leg and hip pain spend years trying various treatments to get relief from the pain with minimal or no success. At Washington Imaging Services, our fluoroscopy and CT-guided pain management injections provide a treatment approach that can benefit these patients.

Injections have been typically placed using fluoroscopic guidance in the past, but numerous studies have shown that CT-guided spinal injections are an accurate and effective methodology for the treatment of back pain. CT scans now provide detailed images of the nerves, muscles and bones. This allows WIS interventional radiologists and neuroradiologists to evaluate these areas as potential sources of a patient's pain. It also provides guidance so the radiologists can precisely place needles at the affected nerves. This reduces the risk of additional pain and discomfort while increasing patient safety by avoiding arteries and veins.

Frequently, pain relief can be provided for weeks to months or even longer. In some cases, injections completely resolve pain, allowing patients to avoid surgery and regain a normal lifestyle. CT-guided spinal injections may also be used to alleviate a patient's pain before they begin physical therapy or while they are waiting for surgery. How a patient responds to a pain injection is often a good indication about how they will respond to surgery, providing valuable pre-operative information for both the patient and the referring physician.

Ordering a CT-guided Pain Management Injection at WIS
Patients will need a referral from a physician for pain management therapy. If part of a regular treatment regimen, it will typically be covered by insurance. Please check with the patient’s insurance provider or contact the WIS Billing Department for an estimation of charges. Referral forms can be faxed to 425-454-8911 or orders called to 425-699-0100. In most cases, a procedure can be performed in 2-3 days from the initial request, depending upon the length of the insurance provider’s approval process.