Everything you need know about spine injections (Updated 2023)
When you suffer from neck or back pain and don’t respond to conservative treatments, your doctor may prescribe spine injections to ease the pain. Before a surgical procedure is an option, a pain management physician in Brooklyn may recommend a spine injection to relieve your pain.
What’s A Spinal Injection?
A Spinal Injection is a non-surgical procedure offered by specialists and pain management doctors. The injections contain an anti-inflammatory medication and an anesthetic. A specialist may use different types of spine injections depending on the location and source of your pain. Spinal injections may diagnose pain in the arm, back, leg, or neck. The injections may also be therapeutic and administered to relieve pain.
How Do Spinal Injections Work?
Spinal injections are a treatment to reduce pain, and restore function. A variety of back conditions can cause chronic back pain and limit mobility. An examination by a pain management doctor can diagnose the problem and determine the best treatment method. Many spinal injections are performed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan and have these health benefits:
- Blocking signals between the nerve cells and the brain
- Easing pinched nerves that are caused by herniated disc to reduce inflammation
- Reducing the pain with pain medications that are in the injection
- Suppressing nerve signals from irritated nerves
Conditions that may cause pain in the cervical spine include:
- Arthritis in the neck
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Muscle spasms
- Neck injury
- Neck strain
- Pinched nerve
- Spinal stenosis
Procedure Of Injections
A wide range of spinal problems can be relieved with spine injections, including a herniated disc, degenerative spine disease, spinal stenosis, or osteoarthritis. If you suffer from a form of failed back surgery syndrome or pain from a back or neck injury, you could be a candidate for spinal injections. Spine injections are an outpatient procedure that takes between 15 and 45 minutes. This is how the procedure works:
When you consult with your pain specialist, you’ll have a physical exam and a review of your medical history. Your doctor will ask about medical problems or allergies that could have an adverse effect. You lie on an x-ray table face down. The fluoroscopy guides the need, so the injection goes to the site of the pain.
The injection site is identified and sterilized. Medication is administered to numb the site. A pain management doctor injects contrast dye to ensure the medication flows to the site. Using the fluoroscopy as a guide, the doctor injects the pain medication. You’re free to leave when you’ve had some time to rest. The medication takes approximately five days to work. Pain management doctors in Brooklyn have the expertise to treat a wide range of spinal conditions.
Various Types Of Injections
The cervical spine is the top of the spine. The cervical spine controls movement in your head and neck. When there’s damage to the cervical spine from an injury or medical condition, it can cause severe pain. The range of motion to the shoulders and neck may be affected by damage to the cervical spine. Cervical spine issues may cause pain in your neck that can disrupt your sleep. These are the cervical spinal injections of top pain management specialists in Brooklyn.
A pain management specialist provides individualized treatments following a diagnosis. The procedure for spinal injections depends on several factors, including:
- The extent of nerve damage
- Location of the affected nerves
- The underlying cause of the injury
