Treatment for Pain

Patients receive comprehensive assessments for painful conditions, including consideration of direct surgical intervention for their disorder (spine or nerve surgery). We also consider the use of non-invasive, pain-reducing procedures such as physical therapy or exercises. Medical management is provided by the UCSF Pain Management Center and members of the Department of Neurology. 

Surgical procedures include:

·       Placement of spinal-cord stimulators

·       Implantation of pumps to deliver morphine directly into the spine

·       Percutaneous rhizotomy

·       Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesions

·       Percutaneous cordotomy for cancer pain

Neuroradiologists may use interventional techniques, such as CT-guided injections, to diagnose and treat pain caused by compression syndromes, such as thoracic outlet and piriformis syndrome (extraspinal sciatica), previous trauma, tumor, infection, or inflammation.

Patients with trigeminal neuralgia are given high priority in scheduling their evaluation. Surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia includes:

·       Microvascular decompression (Janetta procedure)

·       Percutaneous rhizotomy

·       Gamma Knife® radiosurgery

FAQ for patients: Treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia