Diagnostic Mapping Clinic in Houston, TX

To help determine what type of therapy the patient might need to help relieve their back pain, a pain specialist needs to determine the source of the pain. Diagnostic mapping also called spinal facet mapping, or lumbar mapping is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure in which injections are used to pinpoint the source of pain, with the assistance of the patient. One major source of back pain comes from the facet joints. There are 24 paired structures of facet joints of the spine that run from the base of the spine to the waist area. These facet joints, over time, can degenerate and be a cause of back pain. After injecting an anesthetic into the facet joint, or the area the patient feels the pain, the patient is asked if the pain is temporarily relieved, which will occur instantaneously, allowing the spine specialist to accurately establish the cause of the patient’s pain. 

Before the procedure of diagnostic mapping begins, the back pain specialist will ask the patient about their medical history, as well as their pain symptoms. They will also want to know if the pain is worse at certain times of the day, like when waking up in the morning, or at the end of the day after work. Other questions asked might include: How far does the pain spread? Are there other symptoms experienced at the same time as their back pain? Do feelings of weakness or numbness accompany the pain? What does the pain feel like? Is it sharp, achy, dull, throbbing, stinging, or hot? The pain specialist will also ask about the patients’ sleep habits, activity level or any history of injuries. Then, using sterile needles, a fluoroscopic-directed injection of local anesthetic and steroid medication is injected into the pain area. If the anesthetic relieves the patient’s pain, the pain generator has been located. 

When a back pain specialist (rheumatologist) is working to determine the reason for a patient’s back pain, in addition to taking a medical history and a physical examination, the doctor may also order diagnostic testing. However, diagnostic testing generally does not definitively diagnose the location of spine pain. In fact, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, a division of the National Institute of Health (NIH), an MRI for example can reveal abnormalities in the spine, without pinpointing the location of the pain. When a patient visits their doctor complaining of pain in the left side of their back, for example, their doctor may send the patient for x-rays or an MRI. The image may reveal a herniated disk on the right side, but that is not the source of the pain. There are several spinal issues that an MRI, x-ray, or CAT Scan is unable to pick up on. One condition, in particular, is sciatica. Diagnostic mapping uses fluoroscopic-directed injections of local anesthetic and steroid medication into specific locations and structures, capable of confirming the exact source of the pain. This type of diagnostic mapping is used for diagnosis, as well as rehabilitation. Diagnostic testing allows a doctor to determine what is causing back pain, but is unable to pinpoint the exact location of the pain, unlike diagnostic mapping. 

At InovoSpine in Houston, our highly trained team of physicians specializes in diagnostic mapping, minimally-invasive procedures to provide rapid pain relief, and much more. We take great pride in providing our community with a comfortable and compassionate experience while receiving the highest level of professional care, and the much-needed relief from back pain they deserve. To arrange a consultation, contact our care center, or visit our website for more information and directions. We serve patients from Houston TX, Hedwig Village TX, Meadows Place TX, Missouri City TX, Hunters Creek Village TX, Spring Valley Village TX and surrounding areas.