Nerve and Pain Institute

Treatment Options for Lumbar Spine Pain This illustration outlines the locations and indications for several interventional procedures used to address lumbar spine pain: 1️⃣ Lumbar Medial Branch Block/Radiofrequency Ablation Indication: Pain originating from the facet joints, akin to arthritis in other joints such as the knee or shoulder. Presentation: Localized lower back pain that does not radiate to the legs or feet. 2️⃣ Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection Indication: Pain caused by nerve root impingement, such as spinal stenosis, disc herniation, or osteophyte overgrowth. Presentation: Pain radiating along the nerve’s distribution, often extending down the leg. 3️⃣ Caudal Epidural Steroid Injection Indication: Nerve root impingement in cases of laminectomy or lumbar fusion, where interlaminar or transforaminal access is limited. Additional Use: Effective for managing coccygeal pain. 4️⃣ Sacroiliac Joint Radiofrequency Ablation Indication: Sacroiliac joint pain. Technique: Multiple radiofrequency ablations lateral to the S1-S3 foramina, offering long-term pain relief. These minimally invasive procedures are tailored to target the underlying cause of pain, providing significant symptom relief and improving function. For detailed consultations and personalized care plans, visit Nerve and Pain Institute. #PainManagement #LumbarSpine #FacetJointPain #SacroiliacJointPain #InterventionalPain #Neurology #ChronicPain #PortlandPainSpecialist #SpinalHealth #NerveRootImpingement #pain #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology #lowbackpain #lowbackpainrelief #sciatica #sciaticarelief

Posterior SI Joint Stabilization with the PainTeq LinQ Procedure A patient with persistent left SI joint pain found only temporary relief from physical therapy, medication, and repeated SI joint steroid injections (80% pain relief for several hours to one day). After radiofrequency ablation failed to provide lasting relief, we opted for the LinQ® allograft procedure to stabilize the SI joint. ✨ Results: At the 2-week follow-up, the patient reported 100% pain relief in their SI joint pain—a life-changing outcome! Why Choose the LinQ® Procedure? • ✅ Short outpatient procedure • ✅ No metal implants • ✅ Faster recovery than traditional SI joint fusion • ✅ Posterior approach avoids nerves and large blood vessels Say goodbye to chronic SI joint pain with innovative and effective solutions! 💪 https://vimeo.com/734787432 #NerveAndPain #PainRelief #BackPainSolutions #SIJointPain #interventionalneurology #backpain #backpainrelief #sijointdysfunction #sijointpain

✨ Congratulations! ✨ We’re thrilled to share that Dr. Kwo Wei David Ho, MD, Ph.D. has been voted by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in both Neurology and Pain Medicine in the Portland area—for the second year in a row! This recognition reflects Dr. Ho’s dedication to providing compassionate, innovative, and expert care for patients in need. Thank you to all who trust us with your care and to the medical community for this incredible honor! Click to see more: https://www.pdxmonthly.com/doctors/nerve-and-pain-institute-top-docs-2024 #BestDoctor #PortlandDoctors #Neurology #PainMedicine #ExcellenceInCare #NerveAndPainInstitute #DrDavidHo #Pain #chronicpain #nerveandpain #portlandmonthly #interventionalneurology #backpain #backpainrelief

✨ Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD) ✨ A breakthrough in treating lumbar stenosis and neurogenic claudication! 💡 Unlike traditional laminectomy surgery, MILD is: ✔️ Low-risk ✔️ Minimal recovery time ✔️ Performed through a tiny incision, often with little to no sedation 🔎 Case Highlight: This patient suffered from lumbar stenosis, causing pain radiating from their low back to their right leg, worsening with standing and walking. Despite trying: ❌ Oral meds ❌ Physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, TENS ❌ Epidural steroid injections ...and being evaluated by a neurosurgeon (who ruled out surgery), nothing provided relief. 👉 Why MILD? MRI revealed ligamentum flavum thickening at L3-4 interlaminar space, making this patient an ideal candidate. 🌟 Results: At their 2-week follow-up, they reported 70-80% pain relief! 🎉 📞 Curious if MILD could help you? Contact us today! #MinimallyInvasive #PainRelief #LumbarStenosis #NeurogenicClaudication #interventionalpain #PortlandHealthcare #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology #backpain #sciatica #chronicpain #minimallyinvasivelumbardecompression

**Years of chronic back and leg pain, minimal relief from therapies, and even surgery couldn’t help this patient. Finally, a breakthrough: after trying a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) trial using a closed-loop system, they experienced *over 70% pain relief* 🙌.** Closed-loop systems have long been used in pacemakers, but it wasn’t until recently that this advanced technology was applied to SCS. Saluda Medical was the pioneer in this field, publishing a groundbreaking study in *The Lancet Neurology* showing its superior results compared to traditional tonic SCS. To read more, check out the article here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(19)30414-4/abstract 🔗 #ChronicPain #BackPainRelief #SpinalCordStimulation #SaludaMedical #PainManagement #Neuromodulation #InnovationInMedicine #BackSurgery #ClosedLoopSystem #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology #pain #painrelief

This patient was crying with tears of joy after the implant of sacral nerve stimulator. Her urinary incontinence was so severe that she could not sleep at night for many years. Surgeries/medications/pelvic floor exercise failed to provide any significant relief. Trial of the device gave her 90% of relief. Daily leak went down from 25 times to 0, a life changing experience. In terms of the surgical anatomy, her sacral foramen were difficult to visualize on AP view due to the unusual anatomy. It was overcome with a very steep cephalad tilt to clearly reveal the foramen. #urinaryincontinence #urinarysystem #incontinence #incontinenceawareness #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology #sacralnervestimulation #axonics #lifechanging #neuromodulation

Persistent post herpetic neuralgia: This patient has persistent debilitating left chest pain from post herptic neuralgia for a few years. Left T5 and T6 intercostal nerve block provided excellent relief, but very short-lived. We decided to go with SPRINT peripheral nervous stimulation, as the patient wanted to have a long trial to see if it works for her. Left T5 and T6 intercostal nerves were targeted, and they provided excellent coverage for the pain around their left chest. It provided >75% in pain relief. #chronicpain #painrelief #chestpain #postherpeticneuralgia #postherpeticneuralgiarelief #peripheralnervestimulation #intercostalnerve #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology

Speaking at a podiatry conference about interventional pain treatment options for persistent foot pain from peripheral neuropathy, trauma and surgeries. There is excellent data with spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG). Peripheral nerve stimulation can potentially be a good option if the above fail or if there is a patient preference. #footpain #footpainrelief #podiatry #chronicpain #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology #spinalcordstimulator #peripheralneuropathy #peripheralnervestimulation #polyneuropathy #footsurgery

Chronic shoulder pain: peripheral nerve stimulation of the suprascapular nerve can be a great alternative to repetitive injections or surgery. This patient has chronic shoulder pain, and despite rotator cuff surgeries/steroid injections in the past, he continues to experience debilitating pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation of the suprascapular nerve at the suprascapular notch provided 70% pain relief for him and he was very excited for the tremendous pain relief. #chronicpain #pain #painrelief #shoulderpain #shoulderpainrelief #nerveandpain #peripheralnervestimulation #rotatorcuff #interventionalneurology

We are proud to announce that Dr. Ho has been selected as a 2024 Top Doctor in the Portland Monthly magazine, in both Neurology and Pain Medicine. This is a high honor as a doctor can only be nominated by other practicing doctors in the Portland metro area. Congratulations! #neurology #chronicpain #painrelief #topdoctor #portland #portlandmonthly #interventionalneurology

Peripheral nerve stimulation for post laminectomy syndrome and sacroiliac joint pain. This patient has a history of spinal fusion and persistent chronic low back pain/SI joint pain. Multiple procedures including repeated nerve blocks/SI joint injection/radio frequency ablation/epidural steroid injection have failed to produce sustained relief. A dorsal column spinal cord stimulator trial also failed in producing relief. Superior cluneal nerve block failed to produce relief but SI joint injection/ablation produced significant relief but short-lived. A decision was made to perform a peripheral nerve stimulator trial at the lateral branches of L5-S4 dorsal sacral rami. It produced 60% pain relief for the patient. #pain #chronicpain #painrelief #nerveandpain #lowbackpain #backpain #spinalcordstimulation #peripheralnervestimulation #sijoint #sijointdysfunction #interventionalneurology

Sacral nerve stimulation for urinary and fecal incontinence. For patients who have urinary or fecal incontinence refractory to medication and/or surgery, sacral nerve stimulation is a very effective treatment option. It is first trialed with a simple insertion of a tiny wire at the S3 nerve root in the office, without surgery. If the stimulation reduces the urinary/fecal incontinence by more than 50%, the small stimulator can be implanted permanently, with battery life up to 20yrs. Success rate in general is over 70%. At Nerve and Pain Institute, we work with urologists, Gyenocologist, Gastroenterologists, and colorectal surgeons to create a team approach for urinary/fecal incontinence. #urinaryincontinence #urinaryincontinencetreatment #incontinence #fecalincontinence #nerveandpain #interventionalneurology #pain #chronicpain #painrelief #incontinenceawareness #incontinenceproblems