Minimally Invasive Surgery

If severe or ongoing pain is crippling and you need relief, visit the Interventional Pain Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Anesthesiologist and fellowship-trained interventional pain medicine physician James Stephens, DO, offers minimally invasive surgery to restore musculoskeletal functioning so you can live life to its fullest. To learn more about how minimally invasive surgery can improve your life, call Interventional Pain Center or request an appointment online today.

What is minimally invasive surgery for pain management?

Minimally invasive surgery at Interventional Pain Center includes minor pain management procedures designed to eliminate bothersome or ongoing discomfort. 

This type of surgery offers a low risk of complications, minimal bleeding and scarring, and a faster recovery than traditional open surgery. Dr. Stephens always uses the latest advances in cutting-edge technologies and treatments.

Who benefits from minimally invasive surgery?

If you have one or more of the following pain-causing conditions, Dr. Stephens may suggest minimally invasive surgery:

• Car accident injury
• Sports injury
• Work-related injury
• Arthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Bulging or herniated discs
• Skeletal irregularities
• Spinal stenosis

• Vertebral compression fractures
• Degenerative disc disease
• Cancer of the spine
• Inflammation
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis 

He often suggests conservative, nonsurgical treatments first and saves surgery for severe or ongoing cases that haven’t responded to less invasive solutions. 

Which minimally invasive procedures are available?

Interventional Pain Center offers an array of minimally invasive procedures, including:

• Intrathecal pain pump for cancer pain
• Spinal fusion
• Vertebral augmentation
• Kyphoplasty
• Spinal cord stimulator
• The Vertiflex™ Superion®
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion

In addition to minimally invasive surgery, Interventional Pain Center provides:

• Medications 
• Epidural steroid injections
• Pain-relieving injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Nerve blocks
• Joint injections
• Physical therapy referrals 

Dr. Stephens tailors each treatment plan to your specific needs and may suggest multiple pain-reduction solutions. He follows up with you to ensure exceptional, long-lasting results and a better quality of life.

What should I expect during minimally invasive surgery?

Before the procedure, Dr. Stephens reviews your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and treatment preferences. He completes a physical exam and often orders blood tests and imaging procedures. After developing a customized treatment plan, he lets you know what to expect.

Follow your pre-surgery instructions — they may include stopping certain medications, avoiding food and drink the morning of surgery, and arranging for a ride home after surgery.

You receive general anesthesia to help you fall asleep or local or regional anesthesia to eliminate pain, along with a sedative to relax you. Dr. Stephens makes tiny incisions, uses specialized tools to repair, remove, reconstruct, add, or replace tissues, and closes the incisions afterward.

After a period of recovery and often physical therapy, you can expect improved strength and flexibility, less pain, and enhanced musculoskeletal functioning. 

Schedule a consultation at Interventional Pain Center by phone or request one online today to determine if you’re a candidate for minimally invasive surgery.