Vance Z. Johnson, MD is Board Certified in Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with Subspecialty Certification in Pain Medicine.

After completing a year of Internal Medicine training he did specialty training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) at LLU Medical Center.  As Chief Resident he went on to do subspecialty training in Interventional Pain Medicine. 

As a Physiatrist (fizz-eye-a-trist) pain doctor, Dr. Johnsons background is different from anesthesiologist pain doctors in that his training is strong in musculoskeletal medicine and the application of medicine to daily function.  He may see a person who lifts a heavy object at work and experiences back pain, a wrestler with a neck strain and needs rehabilitation to play again, or a knitter who has carpal tunnel syndrome.  His patients include people with any kind of back or neck pain, arthritis, tendonitis, and work- or sports-related injuries.  He offers a broad spectrum of non-surgical medical services.

With over 8000 procedures performed, Dr. Johnson, experience runs deep. He is board-certified in both Pain Medicine and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.  He has been certified by the AmericanCollege of Sports Medicine as a Health and Fitness Instructor.

"By coming to my subspecialty of pain medicine through physical medicine training, Ive learned to focus on body dynamics and the power of lifestyle improvement" says Dr. Johnson.  "I respect medications and their appropriate use but also make the most of my patients functional potential."

Dr. Johnsons Pain Medicine service offers state-of-the-art spine salvaging interventions.   Spine injured patients who once had very limited options of open surgery vs. "live with it," can now have fluoroscopic outpatient procedures to reduce pain and even salvage the natural disc.

"Its amazing what can be done without cutting these days!" says Dr. Johnson.  "We can decompress or sometimes repair herniated discs or even stabilize a vertebral compression fracture from osteoporosis."  

Marianne Knoles felt dramatic pain relief recently after Dr. Johnson implanted a spinal cord stimulator. She had suffered for five years with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (now called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), which caused intense knee pain that traveled down her leg and into her hip and back.  Despite seeing numerous doctors who tried many therapies, she was unable to work or climb the stairs in her house. Now, she says, "I can climb the stairs without even thinking about it, and I can play with my new grandson!" This focus on return to motion is what makes Dr. Johnsons approach to pain management exceptional.

"Matching the best treatment for the individual patient requires us to stay abreast of marvelous advances in pain management," says Dr. Johnson, "along with careful creation of the patient-doctor team."

To accomplish this, Dr. Johnson first conducts a thorough interview and physical examination.  This may include static X-rays and MRI scans but also "more functional tests, such as nerve conduction studies and electromyography" to determine how individual nerves are functioning, and pinpoint where the problem is.  Another dynamic study he performs is to look inside a patients disk with a fluoroscope and pinpoint structural problems not shown on MRI.

Here are some of the outpatient procedures Dr. Johnson uses to treat back pain:

Spinal injections

By reducing inflammation, an epidural injection often opens a window of inflammation-free time to heal.  It also helps patients to better participate in physical therapy and get back to motion sooner.

Lumbar Stenosis Decompression

The Percutaneous (through a needle) Laminotomy is an advance that has allowed us to open narrowed (stenotic) canals and relieved squeezed nerves without cutting the patient open.  It is faster than the traditional open surgery or microscope versions with less trauma and pain.

Spinal cord stimulators

Sometimes called "a pacemaker for the spine", a surgically placed electrode delivers tiny electrical signals to the spinal cord. The patient controlled devise   blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. "These are commonly used for tough complex pains that burn, buzz, or shoot down the legs," says Dr. Johnson.

Vertebroplasty

Until recently, treatment for osteoporosis-related spine fractures was limited. Today, Dr. Johnson says compression fractures can be treated with Vertebroplasty.  Bone cement is injected through a needle into the fractured bone. The doctor uses image-guided X-rays to position the needle precisely. The cement stabilizes the fracture and provides pain relief.  The procedure is minimally invasive, and most patients quickly return to their normal activities.

Radio Frequency Ablation

After a pain generator, such as a spine joint, has been identified and confirmed, the nerve to that joint can be "put to sleep" for up to 2 years.  The procedure is done most commonly for facet joints and involves a tiny probe placed next to the nerve for about 1.5 minutes.  Most patients go home an hour later and obtain relief quickly.

Disc Decompression

A bulging disc can cause inflammation of a nerve both by compressing it and leaking acids from its nucleus onto it.  With a fluoroscope, Dr. Johnson can place a probe into the disc and eliminate some of the nucleus, thereby decompressing the disc from the inside and causing the bulge to collapse inward.

Vance Z. Johnson, M.D., can be reached at 951-894-5000.