In episode 18, our experts covered your questions on:

• When and how can electrodiagnostic medicine (EDX), including electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) help with spine care?
• How is EDX best used to diagnose and predict the extent of spinal involvement of symptoms?
• How is EDX best used to delineate lesions?
• Why do negative EDX studies NOT rule out spinal causes for symptoms?

Your expert panel for this February 3, 2026 webinar included:

• Jeffrey A. Strakowski, MD, Clinical Professor in the Department of PM&R at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio;
• Vincent Tranchitella, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of PM&R at Penn State College of Medicine, and Staff Physician at OSS Health in York, Pennsylvania; and
• Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division.

Besides this podcast, a video download is also available here.

© 2026 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only. 

In episode 18, our experts covered your questions on:

• When and how can electrodiagnostic medicine (EDX), including electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS) help with spine care?
• How is EDX best used to diagnose and predict the extent of spinal involvement of symptoms?
• How is EDX best used to delineate lesions?
• Why do negative EDX studies NOT rule out spinal causes for symptoms?

Your expert panel for this February 3, 2026 webinar included:

• Jeffrey A. Strakowski, MD, Clinical Professor in the Department of PM&R at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio;
• Vincent Tranchitella, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of PM&R at Penn State College of Medicine, and Staff Physician at OSS Health in York, Pennsylvania; and
• Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division.

Listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Besides the video, an audio download is also available here.

© 2026 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.

In episode 17, our experts covered your questions on:

• What are the spine and non-spine causes of shoulder pain?
• What history and exam features are important to differentiate cervical spine pain from other sources?
• How valid are landmark or image-guided analgesic/diagnostic injections to identify pain sources?
• When should we use ultrasound vs fluoro for shoulder intra-articular, subacromial or other injections?
• How do we evaluate and treat thoracic outlet syndrome, bursitis/scapulothoracic bursitis, and scapular winging?
• When should shoulder radiofrequency neurotomy procedures be considered

Your expert panel for this December 9, 2025 webinar included:

• Venu Akuthota, MD, Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine;
• Brian D. Steinmetz, DO, Chair of the Pain Medicine Department at OSS Health in York, Pennsylvania; and
• Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division.

Listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Besides the video, an audio download is also available here.

© 2026 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.

In episode 17, our experts covered your questions on:

• What are the spine and non-spine causes of shoulder pain?
• What history and exam features are important to differentiate cervical spine pain from other sources?
• How valid are landmark or image-guided analgesic/diagnostic injections to identify pain sources?
• When should we use ultrasound vs fluoro for shoulder intra-articular, subacromial or other injections?
• How do we evaluate and treat thoracic outlet syndrome, bursitis/scapulothoracic bursitis, and scapular winging?
• When should shoulder radiofrequency neurotomy procedures be considered?

Your expert panel for this December 9, 2025 webinar included:

• Venu Akuthota, MD, Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine;
• Brian D. Steinmetz, DO, Chair of the Pain Medicine Department at OSS Health in York, Pennsylvania; and
• Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division.

Besides this podcast, a video download is also available here.

© 2026 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only. 

In episode 16, our experts covered your questions on:

• What constitutes an appropriate acute spine injury on-field assessment?
• When is it necessary to immobilize the neck and transfer with a backboard?
• How do you diagnose and treat lumbar spondylitic injuries?
• What is an effective return-to-play protocol for spine injuries?
• Where are potential opportunities to prevent spine injuries in athletics?

Your expert panel for this October 15, 2025 webinar included:

• Stanley A. Herring, MD, a clinical professor in the Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington; 
• Scott Laker, MD, a clinical professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and 
• Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development Committee.

Besides this podcast, a video download is also available here.

Episode 16 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts.  

• Consensus Recommendations on the Prehospital Care of the Injured Athlete With a Suspected Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injury
• Best Practices and Current Care Concepts in Prehospital Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete in American Tackle Football March 2-3, 2019; Atlanta, GA
• Prehospital Trauma Compendium: Prehospital Management of Spinal Cord Injuries - A NAEMSP Comprehensive Review and Analysis of the Literature
• Expert opinion and controversies in sports and musculoskeletal medicine: the diagnosis and treatment of spondylolysis in adolescent athletes
• Team Physician Consensus Statement: Return to Sport/Return to Play and the Team Physician: A Team Physician Consensus Statement-2023 Update

© 2025 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only. 

In episode 16, our experts covered your questions on:

• What constitutes an appropriate acute spine injury on-field assessment?
• When is it necessary to immobilize the neck and transfer with a backboard?
• How do you diagnose and treat lumbar spondylitic injuries?
• What is an effective return-to-play protocol for spine injuries?
• Where are potential opportunities to prevent spine injuries in athletics?

Your expert panel for this October 15, 2025 webinar included:

• Stanley A. Herring, MD, a clinical professor in the Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington; 
• Scott Laker, MD, a clinical professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; and 
• Michael Furman, MD, MS, Ask the Experts moderator and Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development Committee.

Listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Besides the video, an audio download is also available here.

Episode 16 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts. 

• Consensus Recommendations on the Prehospital Care of the Injured Athlete With a Suspected Catastrophic Cervical Spine Injury
• Best Practices and Current Care Concepts in Prehospital Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete in American Tackle Football March 2-3, 2019; Atlanta, GA
• Prehospital Trauma Compendium: Prehospital Management of Spinal Cord Injuries - A NAEMSP Comprehensive Review and Analysis of the Literature
• Expert opinion and controversies in sports and musculoskeletal medicine: the diagnosis and treatment of spondylolysis in adolescent athletes
• Team Physician Consensus Statement: Return to Sport/Return to Play and the Team Physician: A Team Physician Consensus Statement-2023 Update

© 2025 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.

For actionable insights on raising your profile and getting started in interventional pain medicine research, stream this latest IPSIS Early Career Council video.

Your panel included:

• Robert Burnham, MD, of Vivo Cura Health in Calgary, Alberta, Canada;
• Alison Stout, DO, an attending physician at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, who serves as President of IPSIS and as a member of the Education Development Committee; and
• Patricia Zheng, MD, Chief of the PM&R Division at University of California San Francisco, who serves as Research Division Chair, Research Mentorship Committee Chair, and as a Patient Safety Committee member.

The panel was moderated by Taylor R. Burnham, DO, of Vivo Cura Health in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who serves as a member of the Research Division and the EBM Training Committee.

Other IPSIS Early Career Council videos include:

• The IPSIS Post-Residency Roadmap: Finding Your Optimal Pain Medicine Fellowship
• Navigating Your ACGME and NASS Pain Medicine Fellowship Interviews
• The IPSIS Post-Fellowship Guide: Succeeding as an Attending Physician

© 2025 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved
Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.

In episode 15, our experts covered your questions on:

• What are the spinal and non-spinal causes of buttocks pain?
• How do we evaluate and treat piriformis syndrome? Is it real?
• What is cluneal neuropathy?
• How valid are landmark or image-guided analgesic/diagnostic injections to identify pain sources?
• What history and exam results are important to differentiate spine-originating pain from other sources?
• Why is the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for treating sacroiliac pain the “easiest hard” injection?
• How do you evaluate and treat trochanteric bursitis/gluteal tendinitis, ischial bursitis/proximal hamstring tendinopathy?
• When should we use ultrasound vs fluoroscopic guidance for intra-articular sacroiliac joint injections, lateral branch blocks, and/or radiofrequency ablation?
• When should peripheral stimulators be considered?

Your expert panel for this August 20, 2025 webinar included:

• Allen S. Chen, MD, MBA, Chief of Interventional Spine in the Department of Orthopedics at UCLA, who serves as Vice-Chair of the IPSIS Education Division, Co-Chair of the CME Committee, and as a member of the Education Development Committee; and
• Lisa Huynh, MD, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division at Stanford University, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the Education Division, Conflict of Interest Committee, and Annual Meeting Program Committee.

The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development Committee. 

Besides this podcast, a video download is also available here.

Episode 15 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts.  

Cluneal Nerve:

• Nicolas M. Mas D Alessandro, Faria Nisar, Hesham Elsharkawy. Peripheral superior cluneal nerve stimulation for intractable low back pain: Combined fluoroscopy and ultrasound technique, A case series. Interventional Pain Medicine. Volume 4, Issue 1, 2025,100542,ISSN 2772-5944

Piriformis:

• Hicks BL, Lam JC, Varacallo MA. Piriformis Syndrome.
• Cassidy L, Walters A, Bubb K, Shoja MM, Tubbs RS, Loukas M. Piriformis syndrome: implications of anatomical variations, diagnostic techniques, and treatment options. Surg Radiol Anat. 2012 Aug;34(6):479-86.
• Smoll NR. Variations of the piriformis and sciatic nerve with clinical consequence: a review. Clin Anat. 2010 Jan;23(1):8-17.
• Ro TH, Edmonds L. Diagnosis and Management of Piriformis Syndrome: A Rare Anatomic Variant Analyzed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2018;8:6.
• Cass SP. Piriformis syndrome: a cause of nondiscogenic sciatica. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2015 Jan;14(1):41-4.
• Kay J, de Sa D, Morrison L, Fejtek E, Simunovic N, Martin HD, Ayeni OR. Surgical Management of Deep Gluteal Syndrome Causing Sciatic Nerve Entrapment: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy. 2017 Dec;33(12):2263-2278.e1
• PARSONS,F. G., AND SIR A. KEITH 1896-1897 Sixth Annual Report of the Committee of Collective Investigation of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. J. Anat. and Physiol., vol. 31,pp. 31-44, 1896
• Draghici NC, Bolchis R, Popa LL, Vacaraș V, Iluț S, Bashimov A, Domnița DM, Dragos HM, Vlad I, Mureșanu DF. Rare entrapment neuropathies of the lower extremity: A narrative review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Aug 30;103(35):e39486.
• Beaton, L.E. and Anson, B.J. (1937), The relation of the sciatic nerve and of its subdivisions to the piriformis muscle. Anat. Rec., 70: 1-5.
• Fishman LM, Dombi GW, Michaelsen C, Ringel S, Rozbruch J, Rosner B, Weber C. Piriformis syndrome: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome--a 10-year study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Mar;83(3):295-301. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.30622. PMID: 11887107.
• Jawish RM, Assoum HA, Khamis CF. Anatomical, clinical and electrical observations in piriformis syndrome. J Orthop Surg Res. 2010 Jan 21;5:3.
• Misirlioglu TO, Akgun K, Palamar D, Erden MG, Erbilir T. Piriformis syndrome: comparison of the effectiveness of local anesthetic and corticosteroid injections: a double-blinded, randomized controlled study. Pain Physician. 2015;18(2):163-171

SIJ Maneuvers:

• Schneider BJ, Ehsanian R, Rosati R, Huynh L, Levin J, Kennedy DJ. Validity of Physical Exam Maneuvers in the Diagnosis of Sacroiliac Joint Pathology. Pain Med. 2020 Feb 1;21(2):255-260. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz183. Erratum in: Pain Med. 2020 May 1;21(5):1089. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa010. PMID: 31393577.

US vs Fluoro:

• Jee H, Lee JH, Park KD, Ahn J, Park Y. Ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided sacroiliac joint intra-articular injections in the noninflammatory sacroiliac joint dysfunction: a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Feb;95(2):330-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2013.09.021. Epub 2013 Oct 9. PMID: 24121083.
• Perry JM, Colberg RE, Dault SL, Beason DP, Tresgallo RA.A Cadaveric Study Assessing the Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injections. PM R. 2016 12;8(12):1168-1172.
• De Luigi AJ, Saini V, Mathur R, Saini A, Yokel N. Assessing the Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Needle Placement in Sacroiliac Joint Injections. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Aug;98(8):666-670. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001167. PMID: 31318746.

© 2025 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.

In episode 15, our experts covered your questions on:

• What are the spinal and non-spinal causes of buttocks pain?
• How do we evaluate and treat piriformis syndrome? Is it real?
• What is cluneal neuropathy?
• How valid are landmark or image-guided analgesic/diagnostic injections to identify pain sources?
• What history and exam results are important to differentiate spine-originating pain from other sources?
• Why is the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure for treating sacroiliac pain the “easiest hard” injection?
• How do you evaluate and treat trochanteric bursitis/gluteal tendinitis, ischial bursitis/proximal hamstring tendinopathy?
• When should we use ultrasound vs fluoroscopic guidance for intra-articular sacroiliac joint injections, lateral branch blocks, and/or radiofrequency ablation?
• When should peripheral stimulators be considered?

Your expert panel for this August 20, 2025 webinar included:

• Allen S. Chen, MD, MBA, Chief of Interventional Spine in the Department of Orthopedics at UCLA, who serves as Vice-Chair of the IPSIS Education Division, Co-Chair of the CME Committee, and as a member of the Education Development Committee; and
• Lisa Huynh, MD, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division at Stanford University, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the Education Division, Conflict of Interest Committee, and Annual Meeting Program Committee.

The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development Committee. Listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Besides the video, an audio download is also available here.

Episode 15 Show Notes: These are the abstracts referenced by our experts. 

Cluneal Nerve:

• Nicolas M. Mas D Alessandro, Faria Nisar, Hesham Elsharkawy. Peripheral superior cluneal nerve stimulation for intractable low back pain: Combined fluoroscopy and ultrasound technique, A case series. Interventional Pain Medicine. Volume 4, Issue 1, 2025,100542,ISSN 2772-5944

Piriformis:

• Hicks BL, Lam JC, Varacallo MA. Piriformis Syndrome.
• Cassidy L, Walters A, Bubb K, Shoja MM, Tubbs RS, Loukas M. Piriformis syndrome: implications of anatomical variations, diagnostic techniques, and treatment options. Surg Radiol Anat. 2012 Aug;34(6):479-86.
• Smoll NR. Variations of the piriformis and sciatic nerve with clinical consequence: a review. Clin Anat. 2010 Jan;23(1):8-17.
• Ro TH, Edmonds L. Diagnosis and Management of Piriformis Syndrome: A Rare Anatomic Variant Analyzed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2018;8:6.
• Cass SP. Piriformis syndrome: a cause of nondiscogenic sciatica. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2015 Jan;14(1):41-4.
• Kay J, de Sa D, Morrison L, Fejtek E, Simunovic N, Martin HD, Ayeni OR. Surgical Management of Deep Gluteal Syndrome Causing Sciatic Nerve Entrapment: A Systematic Review. Arthroscopy. 2017 Dec;33(12):2263-2278.e1
• PARSONS,F. G., AND SIR A. KEITH 1896-1897 Sixth Annual Report of the Committee of Collective Investigation of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. J. Anat. and Physiol., vol. 31,pp. 31-44, 1896
• Draghici NC, Bolchis R, Popa LL, Vacaraș V, Iluț S, Bashimov A, Domnița DM, Dragos HM, Vlad I, Mureșanu DF. Rare entrapment neuropathies of the lower extremity: A narrative review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Aug 30;103(35):e39486.
• Beaton, L.E. and Anson, B.J. (1937), The relation of the sciatic nerve and of its subdivisions to the piriformis muscle. Anat. Rec., 70: 1-5.
• Fishman LM, Dombi GW, Michaelsen C, Ringel S, Rozbruch J, Rosner B, Weber C. Piriformis syndrome: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome--a 10-year study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Mar;83(3):295-301. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2002.30622. PMID: 11887107.
• Jawish RM, Assoum HA, Khamis CF. Anatomical, clinical and electrical observations in piriformis syndrome. J Orthop Surg Res. 2010 Jan 21;5:3.
• Misirlioglu TO, Akgun K, Palamar D, Erden MG, Erbilir T. Piriformis syndrome: comparison of the effectiveness of local anesthetic and corticosteroid injections: a double-blinded, randomized controlled study. Pain Physician. 2015;18(2):163-171

SIJ Maneuvers:

• Schneider BJ, Ehsanian R, Rosati R, Huynh L, Levin J, Kennedy DJ. Validity of Physical Exam Maneuvers in the Diagnosis of Sacroiliac Joint Pathology. Pain Med. 2020 Feb 1;21(2):255-260. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz183. Erratum in: Pain Med. 2020 May 1;21(5):1089. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa010. PMID: 31393577.

US vs Fluoro:

• Jee H, Lee JH, Park KD, Ahn J, Park Y. Ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided sacroiliac joint intra-articular injections in the noninflammatory sacroiliac joint dysfunction: a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Feb;95(2):330-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2013.09.021. Epub 2013 Oct 9. PMID: 24121083.
• Perry JM, Colberg RE, Dault SL, Beason DP, Tresgallo RA.A Cadaveric Study Assessing the Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injections. PM R. 2016 12;8(12):1168-1172.
• De Luigi AJ, Saini V, Mathur R, Saini A, Yokel N. Assessing the Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided Needle Placement in Sacroiliac Joint Injections. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2019 Aug;98(8):666-670. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001167. PMID: 31318746.

© 2025 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.

In episode 14, our experts covered your questions on:

• What is facet joint syndrome?
• What are the diagnostic and prognostic benefits of utilizing cervical and lumbar MBBs?
• Which history, exam, and imaging indications suggest patients who would benefit from cervical or lumbar facet procedures?
• What literature supports doing a “therapeutic” MBB?
• Do we need to stop anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents prior to cervical and lumbar MBBs?
• What are the appropriate imaging views needed for successful MBBs, and how do you deal with “difficult” cervical or lumbar anatomy?
• What local anesthetic volumes are recommended for cervical and lumbar MBBs?
• What is the role of contrast media in MBBs?
• How do we interpret MBB results?
• Why do we recommend dual MBBs?
• Why do some patients get prolonged relief with MBBs?

Your expert panel for this June 25, 2025 webinar included:

• Isaac Cohen, MD, Physiatrist at Connecticut Orthopaedics in Trumbull, Connecticut, who serves on the IPSIS Instructor Development Committee; and
• Adrian Popescu, MD, Physiatrist at the Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who serves on the IPSIS Evidence Analysis Committee and the IPSIS Instructor Development Committee.

The panel was moderated by Michael Furman, MD, MS, Fellowship Director at OSS Health, who serves on the IPSIS Board as a Member-at-Large, as well as on the IPSIS Education Division, and as Co-Chair of the Education Development Committee. Listen on the go — make "Ask the Experts" your new go-to podcast! Besides the video, an audio download is also available here.

© 2025 International Pain and Spine Intervention Society – All Rights Reserved Materials presented in this activity have been made available by the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society for educational purposes only.