Pain therapy
Interventional pain therapy Lugano
Ultrasound-guided injections, after the specialist visit: aspiration and injection of joints (for example the knee) and soft tissues, and spinal injections for disc herniation and canal stenosis, under ultrasound guidance, not under CT or fluoroscopy. Indication, site and technique are defined case by case.
- Under ultrasound, not under CT or fluoroscopy
- Joints, soft tissues and spinal injections
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound guidance (SGUM)
How it works
Assessment
History and clinical examination. Whether an injection is indicated, at which site, and whether it belongs in the pathway, is decided then.
Ultrasound guidance
Musculoskeletal ultrasound, with SGUM qualification, guides precise injections. That imaging is on the ultrasound page.
Joints and soft tissues
Aspiration and injection of joints and soft tissues.
Spinal injections
For disc herniation and canal stenosis, under ultrasound guidance. Site and technique are chosen at the visit.
When we offer it
Joints and soft tissues
Aspiration and injection when the clinical indication is clear.
Spine
Spinal injections for disc herniation and canal stenosis, the practice's second focus.
Combinations
When useful, alongside manual medicine and the rheumatology pathway. If indicated, also hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
How it is tolerated
As with any injection, local discomfort, redness or a small bruise can appear, usually short-lived. Say so at the visit if you take anticoagulants, if you have known allergies, or if you are pregnant.
Frequently asked questions
What is interventional pain therapy?
Aspiration and injection of joints and soft tissues, and spinal injections for disc herniation and canal stenosis, under ultrasound guidance. Whether it is indicated is decided at the visit.
Are the injections ultrasound-guided?
Yes. The practice performs them under ultrasound guidance, with SGUM qualification. Details on the musculoskeletal ultrasound page.
Can it be combined with other therapies?
Yes. When useful, alongside manual medicine and the rheumatology pathway. If indicated, also hyaluronic acid and PRP.
What is injected?
Depending on the indication, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid or exosomes, under ultrasound guidance: on the spine, on nerves, on damaged ligaments and muscles. The injection is followed by a laser session at different wavelengths. The aim is to reduce local inflammation and support tissue repair. Radiofrequency is not performed at the practice. On the studies: in low back pain radiating to the leg, a meta-analysis (2025) finds PRP similar to cortisone, which however improves function faster at first; for exosomes on the spine and nerves there are no controlled clinical studies yet.
What do studies say about spinal injections?
In low back pain that does not respond to basic care, epidural steroid injections are among the options described for neuropathic pain, such as pain radiating into the leg (Knezevic 2021). In lumbar spinal stenosis, a long-term benefit of epidural steroid injections has not been shown (Katz 2022). The indication is assessed case by case.
Is it covered by insurance?
The physician holds the RME quality label for acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and in Ticino the practice bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
Scientific sources
- Knezevic NN, et al. Low back pain. Lancet. 2021;398:78–92. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00733-9
- Katz JN, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Review. JAMA. 2022;327:1688–1699. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.5921
- Wang X, Zhang Y. Therapeutic interventions of platelet-rich plasma versus corticosteroid injections for lumbar radicular pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2025;20:306. doi:10.1186/s13018-025-05725-z
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Pain therapy and Rheumatology.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
Laser therapy
Laser light applied locally, in the joint or in the bloodstream, without drugs.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess interventional pain therapy together
Indication, site and technique are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable by car and by train from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
Saturday and Sunday closed
Phone
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