Ultra-low Dose, High Definition
Pain Management at Life Medical Imaging
A Specialist Service Led by Dr Vikram, Clinical Director
Pain Management at Life Medical Imaging is a dedicated clinical service operating within our broader radiology practice. Led by Clinical Director Dr Vikram, the service brings together the diagnostic strength of advanced medical imaging with the therapeutic expertise of an experienced interventional pain team — all under one roof.
Our focus is straightforward: identify the true source of your pain, treat it precisely, and work alongside your referring doctor to deliver lasting relief.
Referrals are welcomed from GPs, specialists, and surgeons
Why Pain Management Within a Radiology Practice?
The vast majority of effective pain procedures depend on precise needle placement — and precise needle placement depends on imaging. By delivering pain management as a specialist offering within Life Medical Imaging, our patients benefit from:
This integrated model is what sets the service apart — and it’s the model Dr Vikram has built the team around.
What Is Image-Guided Pain Management?
Image-guided pain management refers to a group of minimally invasive procedures used to diagnose and treat pain arising from the spine, joints, nerves, and soft tissues. Each procedure involves the precise delivery of medication — typically a local anaesthetic, a corticosteroid, or both — to a specific anatomical target identified on imaging.
Performed under real-time CT, or ultrasound guidance, these procedures offer two important benefits in one:
- Diagnostic clarity — confirming (or ruling out) a suspected pain generator based on your response
- Therapeutic relief — reducing inflammation and pain at the source, often for weeks to months
For many patients, image-guided injections offer an effective alternative to long-term oral medication or surgery, and a clear next step when conservative care has reached its limit.
Ideal Candidates
Pain Management at Life Medical Imaging is suited to patients whose pain has persisted despite conservative treatment, or where the source of pain needs to be confirmed before further treatment can be planned. We commonly see patients with:
- Chronic lower back pain
- Neck and cervical spine pain
- Sciatica and radicular leg pain
- Facet joint arthropathy
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
- Herniated, bulging, or degenerative disc disease
- Spinal stenosis
- Shoulder pain (rotator cuff disease, subacromial bursitis, AC joint arthritis)
- Hip pain (osteoarthritis, trochanteric bursitis, gluteal tendinopathy)
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Plantar fasciitis and chronic tendinopathies
Dr Vikram and the team review each referral individually, taking your imaging, history, and clinical picture into account before confirming the most appropriate procedure.
Procedures Offered
- Nerve Root Injections (Selective Nerve Root Blocks) — diagnostic and therapeutic injection around a specific spinal nerve root.
- Facet Joint Injections — direct injection into the small joints of the spine, used for axial neck or lower back pain that worsens with extension or rotation.
- Medial Branch Blocks — a diagnostic block of the nerves supplying the facet joints; a positive response indicates suitability for radiofrequency neurotomy.
- Sacroiliac Joint Injections — for confirmed or suspected SI joint dysfunction.
- Large and Small Joint Injections — hip, shoulder, knee, wrist, ankle and other joints, for osteoarthritis and inflammatory conditions.
- Bursal and Tendon Sheath Injections — for subacromial bursitis, trochanteric bursitis, tenosynovitis and related conditions.
- Soft Tissue and Plantar Fascia Injections — for chronic localised pain such as plantar fasciitis.
What to Expect on the Day
A typical appointment takes 15 to 45 minutes from arrival to discharge.
- Before the procedure — You’ll confirm your medical history, medications (particularly blood thinners), allergies and recent imaging. Dr Vikram or a member of the team will explain the procedure and answer any questions.
- Positioning and preparation — You’ll be positioned to give the radiologist the clearest access to the target site. The skin is cleaned and a sterile drape applied. Local anaesthetic numbs the skin and underlying tissue. Local anaesthetic is not always given
- Image-guided injection — Using CT or ultrasound, a fine needle is advanced precisely to the target. Contrast dye is often used to confirm correct placement before the medication is delivered. Precision is what separates image-guided injections from blind injections — the medication reaches exactly where it needs to.
- After the procedure — A small dressing is applied. You’ll need someone to drive you home, particularly after a spinal procedure.
Recovery
First 24 hours: Mild tenderness at the injection site is normal and usually settles with ice and simple analgesia. After spinal procedures, temporary numbness or weakness in the area treated is expected and resolves within a few hours.
24–72 hours: A brief flare in pain is common as the local anaesthetic wears off and before the corticosteroid takes effect.
Returning to activity: Most patients return to work and normal daily activities the day after their procedure.
Tracking your response: We provide a pain diary so you can record your response over the days that follow — particularly important after diagnostic procedures.
A follow-up with your referring doctor is essential to review your outcome and plan next steps.
Outcomes
The benefit of image-guided injections varies depending on the condition, the structure treated, and your overall health. Patients commonly experience:
- Meaningful pain relief within one to two weeks, lasting from a few weeks to several months
- Improved capacity to engage with physiotherapy and exercise, which underpins longer-term recovery
- Diagnostic clarity, even when therapeutic relief is short-lived, guiding the next phase of treatment
- Reduced reliance on oral pain medications, including opioids
Image-guided injections are most effective as part of a broader management plan. Dr Vikram works closely with referring doctors to ensure each procedure fits within your wider treatment pathway.
About Dr Vikram, Clinical Director
Dr Vikram Sagar joined Life Medical Imaging in early 2026, having previously practised on the Central Coast and in Queensland. He obtained his medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi, and became a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) in 2016. He has also completed the FRCR (UK).
His specialist interests include MSK and spinal interventions, CT guided and ultrasound-guided injections, aspirations, drainage procedures, fine needle aspiration (FNA), and core biopsy. Dr Sagar is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care with a focus on accuracy and safety.
Ultra-low Dose, High Definition CT Scans
Ultrasound
Interventional Radiology
Other Imaging
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A current referral from your GP or specialist is required before any pain management procedure.
Are the procedures painful?
Most procedures are well tolerated. Local anaesthetic is often used to numb the skin and underlying tissue, so discomfort during the injection itself is usually minimal. Some mild soreness afterwards is normal and typically settles within a day or two.
How quickly will I feel relief, and how long will it last?
If the targeted structure is the source of your pain, you may notice improvement within minutes from the anaesthetic, and again in the following one to two weeks as the corticosteroid takes effect. Duration varies — some patients experience relief for several months, while others use the diagnostic information from a shorter response to plan a definitive procedure such as radiofrequency neurotomy.
Can I drive home after the procedure?
Yes, with exceptions. NO driving after spinal procedures. Please arrange transport home on the day.
Booking and Referrals
Pain Management at Life Medical Imaging operates by referral. Once we receive your referral, our team will contact you to schedule the procedure, explain any preparation requirements, and answer any questions.
To refer a patient or book an appointment, contact Life Medical Imaging today.
Content disclaimer: The information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Decisions about whether an image-guided pain procedure is appropriate should be made in consultation with your treating doctor.