Examining Literature on Cervical Transforaminal Injections

An accomplished physician with more than 30 years of experience in pain management, Robert Windsor, MD, served as the chief executive officer and chief medical officer of National Pain Care, Inc., until 2016. Throughout his career, Robert Windsor, MD, has participated in clinical trials that examine topics such as cervical transforaminal injections. 

At the time of this study, there was a considerable lack of available literature in the realm of cervical transforaminal injections. The researchers found this gap in peer-reviewed research when they set out to find information about these injections and the safest techniques for performing them. 

The study team searched the MEDLINE and Embase medical registries for the purposes of this research. In their findings, they concluded that a universal standard of care for performing cervical transforaminal injections was lacking. As a result, they called for more research in this area to assess the risks of the procedure and determine a set of best practices for performing the injections.

Effective Pain Management Techniques for Chronic Pain

Georgia-based physician Robert Windsor, MD, specializes in pain management and chronic pain conditions. Robert Windsor, MD, is skilled in several interventional pain management procedures, ranging from minimally invasive to surgical techniques.

Interventional pain management relieves or eliminates chronic pain such as headaches and lower back pain. Some of the most common procedures include:

- Epidural steroid injections. This treatment is recommended for patients experiencing first-time neck or lower back pain due to a pinched nerve or damaged disc. A single injection can provide relief for a few weeks to a few years. 

- Radiofrequency rhizotomy. This minimally invasive procedure prevents pain signals from reaching the brain by ablating, or burning, impacted nerves with an electrode-tipped needle. While a patient may need assistance traveling home after the procedure, most patients recover within 72 hours. 

- Electrical stimulation. If less invasive procedures are ineffective, doctors may recommend this procedure to modulate pain signals with electrical pulses delivered to the nerve through an implanted device.

Causes and Treatments of Sciatica

Physician, author, and academic Robert Windsor, MD, has trained more than 100 interventional pain management physicians through his fellowship program at Emory University. Robert Windsor, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic pain conditions that involve the spine, including sciatica. 

The sciatic nerve runs from the base of the spinal cord through the leg and foot. If this nerve gets impacted by a herniated disk or overgrown vertebra, it can cause mild to severe discomfort. 

Sciatica pain generally originates in the back and radiates down the lower half of the body. Sciatica sufferers can feel a diverse set of sensations, including numbness and sharp pains that are aggravated by sitting, sneezing, or coughing. 

Frequent exercise and good posture can help prevent or alleviate sciatica pain, but severe cases may require a doctor’s visit. If over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers do not reduce the pain, sciatica patients may need several rounds of corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation. In rare cases in which sciatica impairs bladder control or causes other complications, surgery may be needed to remove pressure from the nerve.

Causes and Symptoms of Growth Hormone Deficiency

With a focus on age and pain management, award-winning physician Robert Windsor, MD, practices physical medicine in Georgia. Although he has experience in treating numerous conditions, Robert Windsor, MD, is specifically interested in the evaluation and treatment of adult-onset growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

GHD develops when the pituitary gland fails to produce the right amount of growth hormone to sustain the human body. When this condition occurs in children, it delays the rate at which their body grows and develops. In most cases, GHD in kids is caused because the hypothalamus fails to stimulate the pituitary gland so it releases growth hormone.

Adults can also experience GHD. In adults, the condition is typically the result of damage to the pituitary gland. This is caused by either a head injury or a pituitary tumor. In the event of a tumor, surgery may be recommended to have the tumor removed before the condition can be treated. Inactivity of the hypothalamus can also cause GHD in adults, though this reason is less common in adults than children.

With adult-onset GHD, patients typically experience significant changes in themselves. Most often, these individuals notice a decrease in their usual endurance and energy levels. They may also notice an increase in body fat around the waist, impaired concentration, osteoporosis, a decreased interest in sexual activity, and a desire to avoid social contact.

Sacroiliac Joint Injections - What to Expect

The founder of the Georgia Spine & Sports Physicians Spine & Sports Fellowship, Robert Windsor, MD, most recently served as the CEO and chief medical officer of National Pain Care, Inc. Having worked in the pain management industry for more than three decades, Robert Windsor, MD, has developed a familiarity with such procedures as sacroiliac joint injections.

A sacroiliac joint injection, or sacroiliac joint block, treats sciatica symptoms caused by sacroiliac joint dysfunction and low back pain. As evidenced by the name, these injections are made into the sacroiliac joints, which connect the hip with the spine on both sides of the body. When this area becomes inflamed, the pain it causes can radiate to the leg, groin, abdomen, or buttocks.

In most cases, a sacroiliac joint injection takes between 20 to 30 minutes. During the procedure, patients will receive an IV with medication that helps them relax if they are feeling nervous. While lying on an x-ray table, the skin over the sacroiliac joints is cleansed and numbed. Using a small needle, physicians inject contrast dye into the joint with the guidance of an x-ray. Once physicians know the joint is accepting medication by checking the location of the contrast dye, they slowly inject anti-inflammatory cortisone.

Although patients can usually move and return home shortly after the procedure, they may continue experiencing some numbness or weakness in the leg for several hours. Pain may also continue for a few days following the procedure.

The Relationship between Exercise and Inflammation

Pain management physician Robert Windsor, MD, has been practicing medicine for more than three decades. A lifelong athlete, Robert Windsor, MD, is a strong advocate for exercise as a treatment option for various health conditions.

Long-term, or chronic, inflammation contributes to numerous diseases, including cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and obesity. Exercise reduces the body’s inflammatory response by prompting the muscles to release interleukin 6 (IL-6). This small protein fights inflammation by reducing levels of TNF alpha, a protein that triggers inflammation. In addition, IL-6 inhibits the signaling effects of interleukin 1 beta, which causes inflammation that can damage the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin.

According to studies, at least 20 minutes of brisk walking is necessary to reduce inflammation in the body. However, other research notes that the longer and more intense the workout, the more the muscles produce IL-6.

Studies also note that IL-6 is likely not the only factor affecting inflammation in the body after exercise. Working out also increase the levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15), which regulates abdominal fat, another factor believed to promote inflammation in the body.

What Is Discogenic Pain?

Robert Windsor, MD, focuses much of his practice on interventional pain management. As testament to his knowledge in the field, Robert Windsor, MD, has trained more than 100 physicians in the subspecialty and has written, taught, and spoken about topics such as discogenic pain.

Discogenic pain may result from degenerative disc disease, a medical condition that develops as people grow older. Normally, spinal discs cushion the vertebrae of the spine. As people age, gain weight, or perform repetitive movements, these discs can become compressed and deteriorate.

Discogenic pain may also be caused by inflammation of the nerve receptors near the spine. Often, this inflammation results from injuries to the spine or discs. Genetics can also cause discogenic pain to develop by changing the chemical composition of the discs and making them dry out or wear down faster than normal.

Regardless of the cause, discogenic pain is often felt in the lower back, particularly when lying down, coughing, sitting, or bending. The pain also may be felt in the neck and down the arms.