How do Sacroiliac Joint Injections Work? – Anil Kesani MD

Dr. Anil Kesani explains that sacroiliac joint injections work by reducing the inflammation within the sacroiliac or SI joint.  An orthopedic spine surgeon in Texas, Anil Kumar Kesani, MD, practices at SpineMD in North Richland Hills. Because he is dedicated to promoting the overall wellness of his patients, spine surgery is always a last resort when it comes to treatment of people with spine problems.

To that end, Dr. Anil Kesani employs a variety of nonsurgical treatment options based on patient needs, including sacroiliac joint injections. Unlike many other joints in the body, the SI joints moves very little as the sacrum is attached to the ilium by ligaments. There are 2 SI joints, one on the right and another on the left.  It serves to connect the lower section of the spine or sacrum to the pelvis.  Thereby, allowing forces to be transmitted between the legs and the spine.  As a result large forces are transmitted through the sacroiliac joints and frequently can result in inflammation.

When the SI joint becomes dysfunctional or inflamed, it can cause lower back pain that can be treated with sacroiliac joint injections or a sacroiliac joint blocks. SI joint injections consist of a mixture of steroid medication and local anesthetic placed directly into the SI joint. The intention of this mix is to reduce swelling and inflammation in the joint and its nerves, thereby reducing lower back pain.

Once injected, the local anesthetic provides more immediate pain relief. However, this reduction in pain is often temporary, as the numbing medicine wears off after about 6 hours. Many patients experience a return of their pain until the steroid begins taking effect within 24 to 72 hours after the initial injection. This provides more sustained pain relief for up to several months.

When receiving sacroiliac joint injections, patients usually lie on their stomachs, with or without pillows under their hips. The skin over the injection site is cleaned with either an antiseptic or iodine solution, and then the injection is administered.

Cervical Myelopathy – Anil Kesani MD

Dr. Anil Kesani explains that cervical myelopathy results from a pinched spinal cord or compression of the spinal cord within the spine in the neck region or cervical spine.  The compression can be a result of a number of causes including arthritic or degenerative changes, disc herniation or slipped discs, infections, tumors as well as fractures.  Cervical myelopathy is often caused by progressive narrowing of the vertebral spinal canal in the neck region. People born with a narrow spinal canal are likely to develop cervical myelopathy quickly if the narrowing continues.

A fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Anil Kumar Kesani, MD, is an orthopedic and spine surgeon at SpineMD.  Dr. Anil Kesani is experienced in treating a wide variety of disorders, including degenerative disc disease, disc herniation or slipped disc, spinal fractures, spinal tumors, myelopathy, radiculopathy or pinced nerve pain and cauda equina syndrome.

Why is cervical myelopathy a problem?  To put it simply, the compression of the cervical spinal cord leads to impaired transmission of electrical signals from the brain to both the arms and legs. This in turn leads to the concerning symptoms associated with cervical myelopathy.

Symptoms of Cervical Myelopathy

There are a number of symptoms that occur in patients with cervical myelopathy.  Broadly speaking the symptoms can be divided into early symptoms versus late or advanced symptoms.  Early symptoms are a result of coordination problems such as balance problems or upper extremity fine motor function and coordination problems with difficulty writing, buttoning dropping objects.  While later symptoms include inability to walk, bowel and bladder incontinence, weakness or even paralysis.

Patients also experience symptoms resulting from the cause or reason for the spinal cord compression i.e degenerative or arthritic cervical spine symptoms, fracture symptoms, tumor symptoms etc.  Therefore patients can experience neck pain, neck stiffness, reduced flexibility, radiating pain in the arms, burning pain, numbness, tingling or symptoms resulting from tumor.

Treatment

Why is it important to treat cervical myelopathy?  Once a patient is found to have cervical myelopathy, referral to a spine surgeon like Dr. Anil Kesani is essential.  Spine surgeons treat cervical myelopathy as an urgent condition because it is a progressive disease that in most patients if left untreated will likely result in disability and even paralysis. 

The concept of treatment is simple.  It is essential to remove the pressure off the pinched on compressed spinal cord.  The specific surgery that is utilized depends on the site of the compression, cause of the compression and the number of sites within the spinal cord that gets compressed.  

Various surgical options are available including anterior discectomy and fusion (ACDF), disc replacement, posterior decompression and fusion or combined anterior and posterior decompression and fusion.

If you believe either you or a loved one is experiencing cervical myelopathy please call SpineMD at (817) 893 6001 to make an appointment with our spine specialist Anil Kesani, M.D.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery by Anil Kesani MD.

Fellowship Trained and Board Certified

Dr. Anil Kesani specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS surgery). It is a faster and safer approach compared to open spine surgery, MIS surgery makes use of tiny surgical instruments passed through a small incision, usually less than 2cm in length, to access the spine and perform the necessary surgery.

Minimally invasive spine surgery stabilizes spinal joints and vertebral bones and relieves pressure on the spinal nerve. MIS surgery is useful in treating a variety of spinal conditions and correcting spinal deformities such as scoliosis, as well as spinal instability and vertebral compression fractures. Spinal conditions such as degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, pinched nerves and spinal tumors also can be treated by a minimally invasive surgical approach.