Pain Management

Spinal Injections

Spinal injections offer effective, temporary pain relief from a wide range of conditions, including disc herniation, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and more. They can also be used for diagnostic purposes to block pain signals and determine the cause of a patient's pain. There are several different types of injections available, each crafted to treat different types of back pain.

It is important for patients to realize that spinal injections cannot cure their condition, but rather provide temporary relief from pain, inflammation and other symptoms. These treatments can be repeated if desired in order to prolong the results.

Spinal Injection Procedure

Regardless of its purpose, an injection of a steroid is delivered directly into the affected area along with a local anesthetic to relieve any discomfort from the actual injection. The anesthesia provides immediate pain relief, while the actual relief from the steroids takes about four to six hours to begin and make take several days before relief is achieved.

Many of these procedures are performed under imaging (X-ray, MRI or CT) guidance to ensure precise delivery of the injection. By injecting medication directly into the affected area, patients can benefit from almost improved pain relief, as the medication does not have to travel through the body first.

After a spinal injection, patients may experience an initial increase in pain from the actual injection, but this usually subsides within three days. Tenderness and swelling may also occur at the injection site, but this is usually mild.

Epidural Steroid Injections

Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been used for decades to temporarily relieve lower back and leg pain (sciatica) in patients with lumbar disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal stenosis and more. They are also effective for pain in the neck (cervical spine) and mid-back (thoracic spine) as well.

Comprised of cortisone and a local anesthetic, ESIs work by reducing inflammation which may be the cause of pain. Relief from a single injection usually lasts from one week up to a year, depending on each patient's individual condition.

Facet Injections

A facet injection is a minimally invasive treatment option for back pain caused by inflamed facet joints, which may develop from spinal stenosis, sciatica or arthritis, and is characterized by neck, arm, low back or leg pain. Each vertebra has four facet joints that connect it to the vertebra above and below. The injection may also be used for diagnostic purposes.

Facet injections are composed of a combination of long-lasting steroid and a local anesthetic that are injected either into the joint capsule or its surrounding tissue. The steroid reduces inflammation and can relieve pain for a few days to a few years. This treatment can be repeated up to three times a year for those patients who experience successful but short-term pain relief.

Sacroiliac Joint Injections

Sacroiliac (SI) joint injections help doctors diagnose and relieve lower back pain caused by problems within the sacroiliac joint, which connects the base of the spine (sacrum) to the hip. Steroids, along with a local anesthetic and saline solution, are carefully injected into the SI joint to reduce swelling and pain. As with other spinal blocks, if an SI injection successfully improves discomfort, it may be given up to three times per year.

See Patient Information page for any necessary preparations.

To learn more about our Pain Management treatments and to find out if it is right for you, please call 401-738-3100 today to schedule a consultation.