Marrero, LA

1849 Barataria Blvd, Suite B
Phone (800) 277-1265
Fax (504) 889-1868

Metairie, LA

3348 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite A
Phone (504) 887-7207
Fax (504) 889-1868

Covington, LA

1200 Pinnacle Parkway, Suite 7
Phone (985) 643-4144
Fax (985) 643-3603


Diagnostic Nerve Blocks & Radiofrequency

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Patient having a diagnostic nerve block performed.Diagnostic nerve blocks numb specific nerves or groups of nerves suspected of causing pain. By injecting an anesthetic into the area of pain, doctors can then diagnose whether this area is indeed the source of pain, according to the patient's assessment of how successful the anesthetic is in relieving pain. If a patient reports little or no pain relief following the anesthetic injection, the doctor concludes that pain originates from another area of the body.

Benefits of a Diagnostic Nerve Block for Locating the Origin of Pain

Chronic pain can significantly overlap or share similarities with pain symptoms caused by different pain generators. For example, lumbar (low) back pain could potentially originate from multiple sources, like your sacroiliac joint, facet joints, paraspinal muscles or intervertebral discs. Treatment for each [...]

Cortisone/Steroid Injections for Joint Pain

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Getting cortisone or steroid injections for joint pain relief.Joint injections are both therapeutic and diagnostic. By initially injecting numbing medication into painful joints, patients can tell their doctor how much pain relief they experience. This diagnostic aspect of joint injections also helps rule out or confirm if the joint is indeed the source of pain. An injection of cortisone/steroid into joints causing pain then helps reduce inflammation so that patients may enjoy long-term pain relief and improved range of motion.

What are Cortisone/Steroid Injections?

Cortisone is a lab-made form of cortisol, a steroidal hormone produced by the adrenal gland. When the body is under physical or psychological stress, the adrenal gland releases large amounts of cortisol into your bloodstream to help the body cope with stress. Cortisol and cortisone are anti-inflammatory substances that suppress your immune system's [...]

How Do Implanted Nerve Stimulators Work to Relieve Pain?

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Implanted nerve stimulators can relieve pain when other methods fail.When chronic pain does not respond to traditional pain relief treatment, implanted nerve stimulators can help alleviate pain by delivering a low-level electrical signal to specific nerves within your spinal cord. An implanted nerve stimulator safely and effectively blocks pain signals from reaching your brain and "telling" sensitive nerve endings that something is causing pain.

What Causes Pain?

You feel pain when pain receptors located on nerve endings are irritated or damaged. When nerves are injured this pain is called neuropathic pain. Surface or deep tissue pain is referred to as nociceptive pain. Subtypes of nociceptive pain include somatic and visceral pain. Examples of somatic pain are [...]

Southern Pain & Neurological - Treating Your Pain on the Northshore

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Twenty percent of U.S. adults suffer from chronic pain, according to a recent study analyzing National Health Interview Survey data.

Chronic pain is often defined as pain lasting more than 12 weeks. However, it can last even longer. Chronic pain can stem from a variety of factors, including injury or illness. However, there is no clear cut cause of chronic pain.

Here at our Northshore chronic pain clinic in Covington, LA, we've seen how chronic pain can all but eliminate one's quality of life — physically and emotionally. Chronic pain can reduce flexibility, strength, and stamina. This makes it difficult for sufferers to carry out vital tasks like brushing their teeth or putting on their socks. And it limits them from partaking in enjoyable activities, like swimming and walking. As a result, many chronic pain patients suffer from signs of depression.

What is neurogenic claudication — and how is it treated?

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Neurogenic claudication — also known as pseudoclaudication — is best defined by breaking down the two parts of its name:

  • Neurogenic: Stemming from the nervous system
  • Claudication: Leg pain, or more specifically, difficulty or weakness with walking

Neurogenic claudication occurs due to a compression of the spinal nerves located in the lower (lumbar) spine. It is typically caused by spinal stenosis — the narrowing of the spinal canal — in the lumbar region. This narrowing generally occurs due to wear and tear of the lower spine, as well as arthritic changes such as:

  • Bulging discs
  • Thickening of ligaments
  • Overgrowth of bone spurs