Procedures 
MRI provides precise target and trajectory information so that a small caliber needle can be guided directly into the disk space. Under X-ray guidance, much pain arises when the needle is used to "explore" along bone surfaces to find an opening. This step can be avoided with MRI guidance.
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Injection with anaesthetic can prove that a disk is the source of pain, while steroid medication can provide extended relief.
The contrast T2 image obtained after injection provides a detailed view of any anular tear in the disk.
The use of Open MRI guidance avoids considerable genital/pelvic irradiation necessary for disk injections under X-ray fluoroscopy.
Dr. Aaron Filler is the world’s leading expert in treatment of nerve pain. He has revolutionized nerve-pain treatment by inventing several new technologies. One such technology, MR Neurography, enables doctors to use an MRI scanner to examine nerves — previously a difficult-to-impossible tissue to see through MR imaging. Dr. Filler's research in axonal transport is leading to a whole new generation of advanced pain medications. He has developed many new “minimal access” surgery methods that allow him to treat complex nerve problems with small outpatient surgeries. He has also pioneered the use of the Open MRI scanner to do surgeries and other therapies with the ultra-high precision and safety of the magnetic resonance imaging. 
Do You Really Need Back Surgery? by Dr. Aaron G. Filler, MD PhD, is a best-selling paperback every sufferer of spine and nerve pain should read. Written in everyday language, the book is a must-read.