Minimally Invasive Pain Relief in Escondido & North County
Acute & Chronic Pain Treatments
Interventional Pain Management
Pain affects millions every year and can disrupt sleep, work, mobility, and overall quality of life.
At North County Vascular & Interventional (NCVI), our board-certified interventional radiologists provide image-guided treatments that target the source of pain, with no large incisions, minimal downtime, and rapid relief.
Why Choose NCVI for Pain Relief?
Precision, Not Guesswork
Real-time imaging ensures accurate diagnosis and needle placement.
Minimally Invasive
Tiny punctures, local anesthesia, and outpatient recovery for most procedures.
Whole-Patient Approach
We coordinate with your PCP, spine, orthopedics, rheumatology, and physical therapy teams.
Personalized Plans
We tailor treatment to your condition, goals, and daily activities.
Conditions We Treat
- Radicular pain & sciatica (pinched nerve)
- Herniated or bulging discs; spinal stenosis; degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint pain and sacroiliitis
- Osteoporotic or cancer-related vertebral compression fractures
- Arthritis pain in hips,
- knees, shoulders, and other joints
Bursitis and inflammatory arthropathies
Treatment Options
Epidural Steroid Injections (ESIs)
A targeted steroid and/or local anesthetic is delivered to inflamed nerve roots to calm inflammation and relieve leg, arm, or back pain.
Performed in the lumbar (lower back), cervical (neck), and occasionally thoracic (mid-back) regions.
Ideal for sciatica, disc herniation, stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. Relief may last weeks to months and can be extended with a series.
Facet & Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections
For pain arising from the small stabilizing joints of the spine (facet joints) or the joint between the spine and pelvis (SI joint).
We inject anesthetic and/or steroids into the joint or surrounding tissues to reduce inflammation and pain.
Facet blocks can also be diagnostic — confirming whether a joint is the primary pain source and whether you may benefit from ablation.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
When diagnostic blocks confirm the pain source, RFA uses controlled heat to create a tiny lesion on the pain-transmitting nerve, interrupting pain signals for months to up to 2 years until the nerve regenerates. Commonly used for facet or SI joint-related pain.
Joint Injections
Risks are low but can include temporary soreness, bruising, bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction. Spine injections carry a very small risk of nerve irritation. We review individual risks before treatment.
Vertebroplasty & Kyphoplasty
For painful vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis or cancer, we stabilize the fractured vertebra by injecting specialized bone cement.
Kyphoplasty adds a balloon step to gently restore height before cement placement. These procedures often provide rapid pain relief and reduce reliance on opioids.
What to Expect
- Consult & Imaging: We review your history and prior imaging (MRI/CT/X-ray). Additional imaging may be ordered if needed.
- Personalized Plan: We discuss risks, benefits, and alternatives, and coordinate with your other providers.
- Outpatient Procedure: Most treatments take 15–60 minutes with local anesthesia and light sedation (as needed).
- Recovery: You’ll rest briefly and typically go home the same day. Light activity is usually fine within 24–48 hours.
- Follow-Up: We assess relief, adjust your plan, and coordinate ongoing rehab or repeat therapy if beneficial.
Expect Benefits
Targeted Relief
Procedures focus on the pain generator, not the whole body.
Faster Recovery
Small punctures, minimal downtime, and lower complication rates.
Better Function
Improved mobility and daily activity tolerance, often with reduced medication needs.
FAQs About Treatment
Am I a candidate for interventional pain procedures?
You may be a candidate if pain persists despite rest, medications, or physical therapy, or if side effects limit your medication use. Your consultation will clarify the best options for your diagnosis and goals.
Are these treatments covered by insurance?
Most medically necessary procedures, including ESIs, facet/SI injections, RFA, and vertebral augmentation, are covered by Medicare and major insurers. Our team verifies benefits and assists with any prior authorization.
How long does relief last?
Relief varies by condition and procedure. ESIs and joint injections often provide weeks to months of relief; RFA can last several months to two years. Vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty can offer rapid and durable pain reduction for compression fractures.
What are the risks?
Risks are low but can include temporary soreness, bruising, bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction. Spine injections carry a very small risk of nerve irritation. We review individual risks before treatment.
Do I need to stop medications beforehand?
Some blood thinners and diabetes medications may require adjustment. We’ll provide specific pre-procedure instructions in coordination with your prescribing clinicians.
Will I still need physical therapy?
Often, yes. Interventional procedures can reduce pain so you can participate more effectively in physical therapy, which supports longer-lasting results.
Take the First Step Toward Relief
At North County Vascular & Interventional Specialists, we believe no patient should have to choose between their health and their quality of life.
