Interventional Pain Treatments
Advanced, minimally invasive procedures performed by Dr. Bhakta, fellowship-trained at Vanderbilt, board-certified for decades.
Overview
What Is Interventional Pain Management?
Interventional pain management is a medical subspecialty focused on procedures — rather than medication — as the primary tool for managing pain. Using image guidance (fluoroscopy or ultrasound), Dr. Bhakta places medication, heat, or stimulation directly at the anatomical structure responsible for your pain: the affected nerve, joint, disc, or soft tissue. For many patients, this approach delivers more durable relief with fewer side effects than long-term oral pain medication, and often reduces or delays the need for surgery.
At PDTC, every procedure is planned around your imaging, physical exam, and medical history. Many treatments take less than 30 minutes, most require no sedation, and most patients return to normal activity the same day. Common goals include reducing chronic back pain, neck pain, sciatica, joint arthritis, and nerve-related pain.
All procedures below are performed in-office at our South Tulsa clinic by Dr. Bhakta himself, a board-certified pain specialist serving patients across the greater Tulsa metro.
Epidural Steroid Injections
Relieve inflammation and spinal pain with precision-guided injections. Often used for sciatica, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis.
Restoring Natural MotionFacet Joint Injections
Direct relief for arthritis of the neck and back. Targets the small joints between the vertebrae to reduce swelling and improve mobility.
Minimal DowntimePlatelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Harness the body's innate healing potential. Concentrates your own platelets to accelerate tissue repair in damaged joints and tendons.
Long-Lasting ReliefRadio Frequency Ablation
A sophisticated thermal energy technique that disrupts nerve signals, providing long-lasting relief for chronic spinal arthritis.
Minimally Invasive & TargetedPeripheral Nerve Stimulation
Targeted pain relief without invasive surgery using tiny electrodes placed near specific nerves to modulate pain signals.
Comprehensive Joint SupportTrigger Point Injections
Specialized care for major joints, bursa, sacroiliac, and intercostal joints. Targets knots in muscle tissue.
Migraine & Spasm SpecialistBotox for Pain Management
A powerful tool for treating chronic migraines, muscle spasms, and certain neuropathic pain conditions.
Extended Pain ReliefChemical Neurolysis
Long-term interruption of pain pathways using neurolytic agents for persistent localized pain.
Restoring Joint FluidityJoint Lubrication (Viscosupplementation)
Viscosupplementation therapy to restore natural lubrication in arthritic joints.
Clinical Approach
How Dr. Bhakta Chooses Your Treatment
Picking the right procedure starts with a careful diagnosis and a preference for the least-invasive effective option.
Evaluation
During your first visit, Dr. Bhakta conducts a comprehensive workup: a detailed medical history, a physical exam, a focused neurological exam (testing reflexes, strength, and sensation), and a review of any existing imaging such as MRI, CT, or X-ray. If additional imaging is required for diagnostic clarity, he will coordinate it before recommending a treatment pathway.
Conservative Options First
When appropriate, Dr. Bhakta prefers the least-invasive effective treatment. That may mean starting with physical therapy, an oral medication adjustment, or a diagnostic injection before committing to a longer-term procedure.
Targeted Procedure
When an interventional treatment is the right fit, it's performed in-office — not at an outside surgery center. Dr. Bhakta performs every injection, ablation, and stimulator placement himself, using fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance for precision.
Follow-Up and Adjustment
Pain rarely resolves from a single intervention in isolation, and managing it well takes time. After any procedure, Dr. Bhakta tracks how your body responded and refines the plan accordingly — repeating a successful treatment on a longer interval, combining it with physical therapy, trying a different approach, or referring you to a spine surgeon when the clinical picture points that way. Your feedback at each visit is the most important data point we have.
Find the Right Fit
Treatments by Condition Category
Different pain conditions respond to different procedures. Here's how our treatments map to what we see most often.
Back & Spine Pain
For lumbar pain caused by disc disease, sciatica, or spinal stenosis, common options include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, and radiofrequency ablation. See our back pain conditions page for a full list of what we treat.
Neck & Cervical Spine Pain
For cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve in the neck), cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis), and whiplash, cervical epidural and facet injections are first-line, with radiofrequency ablation available for chronic facet-driven pain. See our neck pain conditions page.
Joint & Arthritis Pain
For knee, hip, shoulder, and other joint pain — including osteoarthritis — PRP therapy, viscosupplementation (joint lubrication), and image-guided cortisone injections can help delay or avoid joint replacement surgery. See our limb and joint pain conditions page.
Nerve & Neuropathic Pain
Peripheral nerve stimulation, chemical neurolysis, and targeted nerve blocks address nerve pain that hasn't responded to medication, including post-surgical neuralgias and complex regional pain syndrome.
Muscle Spasm, Trigger Points & Migraines
Trigger point injections address myofascial knots in the neck, back, and shoulders, while Botox is FDA-approved for chronic migraines and used off-label for severe muscle spasm.
Before You Book
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from patients considering interventional pain treatment. For a broader list, see our full FAQ page.
When should I consider interventional pain treatment?
Interventional treatment is typically appropriate when pain has lasted more than a few weeks, hasn't responded adequately to rest, physical therapy, or oral medication, and is affecting your ability to work, sleep, or stay active. It's also considered when a patient prefers a procedural approach over long-term medication, or when imaging has identified a specific anatomical source — a herniated disc, arthritic joint, or compressed nerve — that a targeted procedure can reach.
What are the risks of interventional pain procedures?
When performed by an experienced, board-certified physician using image guidance, interventional pain procedures carry low overall risk. Possible risks include temporary soreness at the injection site, transient nerve irritation, bleeding, and — rarely — infection or allergic reaction. Specific procedure risks (for example, steroid-related effects, or risks associated with radiofrequency ablation) are reviewed with you in detail during consent. Dr. Bhakta will go over the specific risks and expected benefits for your individual treatment before proceeding.
How long does pain relief last after treatment?
Relief duration varies considerably by treatment type, underlying condition, and how each individual's body responds. As a general guideline, an epidural steroid injection may provide relief for several weeks to a few months; a successful radiofrequency ablation often lasts 6–12 months and can be repeated; PRP therapy tends to support healing gradually over multiple months. Every patient is different, and every body responds differently — these ranges are realistic starting points, not guarantees. Dr. Bhakta will set individualized expectations during your consultation based on your specific diagnosis, imaging, and prior treatment history.
Are interventional pain procedures typically covered by insurance?
Most major commercial insurance plans and Medicare cover medically-necessary interventional pain procedures. Coverage rules vary: some plans require prior authorization, documentation of prior failed conservative treatment, or a referral from another physician. Our team verifies coverage and any prior-authorization requirements before your procedure is scheduled. See our insurance page for the current list of accepted plans.
Do I need a referral to schedule a consultation?
A referral is not strictly required to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bhakta. That said, a referral from your primary care or specialist physician is strongly recommended — most insurance plans cover interventional pain procedures more reliably when a referral is on file, and some plans require one for approval. Our team can verify your specific plan's requirements before your first visit. Referring providers can find instructions on our physician referrals page.
Will Dr. Bhakta perform my procedure personally?
Yes. Every procedure at PDTC is performed by Dr. Bhakta himself. There are no rotating providers, no nurse practitioners performing injections, and no handoffs between clinicians. The physician who plans your treatment is the same physician who performs it and the same physician you'll see at every follow-up visit.