Pain Injections Specialist

What are pain injections?

Pain injections are treatments that can help resolve persistent neck or back pain. There are several types, including:

Steroid injections

Steroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that are more powerful than oral medications. Injecting steroids directly into inflamed tissues in your spine provides long-lasting relief from pain.

Nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are injections that contain a local anesthetic. The anesthetic works quickly to numb the painful area for a short time. Nerve blocks can be part of the diagnostic process, as they help pinpoint the source of your pain. They can also give you a break from the intensity of your pain.

Many pain injections contain a mixture of a steroid and anesthetic, so you benefit from both approaches. Having pain injections can also help you do physical therapy, an essential aspect of most patients’ treatment programs.

What conditions can pain injections treat?

Pain injections could help with many causes of neck or back pain, including:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated/bulging discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Spondylolisthesis
• Radiculopathy (pinched or compressed nerves in your spine).

The Total Spine Institute team doesn’t begin your treatment with pain injections, as many people respond positively to conservative approaches like physical therapy and oral medication. If these methods don’t work, pain injections are often the next step.

What area of my spine does a pain injection target?

The type of pain injection that offers the most benefits depends on the cause and location of your pain. Options available at Total Spine Institute include:

Epidural steroid injections

Epidural steroid injections go into the narrow gap (epidural space) surrounding your spinal canal. The steroids bathe the nerves in this space to reduce inflammation and pain.

Facet joint injections

The facet joints are small joints linking your vertebrae. They’re a common source of pain and inflammation that could be due to facet joint arthritis or facet joint syndrome.

Sacroiliac joint injections

The sacroiliac joint is where your pelvic bones meet your sacrum — the bottom of your spine. The joints don’t move much, but a loss of flexibility due to injury or arthritis is a common cause of hip, buttock, and lower back pain.

Total Spine Institute also offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections that may help heal damaged tissues and naturally resolve neck or back pain.

What happens when I have a pain injection?

The Total Spine Institute team uses ultrasound image guidance technology to give you a pain injection. That allows them to see where the needle’s going to ensure your medication reaches the exact spot.

They numb your skin before the pain injection, so you shouldn’t feel too much discomfort. The entire process takes around 20 minutes. Pain injections containing steroids offer several months of relief, and the effects often last longer.

To find out more about pain injections and how they can help you, call Total Spine Institute today or schedule an appointment online.